Sony‘s flagship Xperia 1 line has provided professional photograph and video options and a 21:9 4K display screen for years, however for its 2024 installment, the Xperia 1 VI, Sony has made an altogether extra mainstream telephone. Whereas competitor gadgets just like the Xiaomi 14 Extremely are leaning into superior guide photograph and video seize with variable apertures, 1-inch sensors and LOG mode, Sony appears to be taking part in it a bit secure with the Xperia 1 VI, no less than on paper.
Costing £1,299, which is roughly $1,650 or AU$2470, the Sony Xperia 1 VI is considerably costlier than an iPhone 15 Professional Max with the identical 256GB storage.
In relation to {hardware}, the principle digital camera and ultra-wide are similar to these of the Xperia 1 VI, although Sony has prolonged the continual zoom vary to a formidable 85-170mm. Sony additionally ditched its three digital camera apps this 12 months – Cinema Professional, Photograph Professional, and Video Professional – and opted for a single all-in-one answer that is lacking pro-grade video options till an Autumn replace.
Even the Xperia 1 VI’s display screen spec is extra pared again than its predecessor, with a FullHD+ panel as an alternative of the 4K show Xperia 1 collection telephones have change into recognized for. However is that this mainstreaming a foul factor, and may Sony actually command an asking value that makes the iPhone 15 Professional Max look inexpensive?
Sony Xperia 1 VI: design and display screen
In contrast to each different trendy flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VI is loaded with conventional parts like a superb, spongy, and clicky two-stage digital camera button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, front-firing audio system, and a SIM card slot that may be eliminated with a fingernail – no fiddly pins required – plus microSD card growth. These parts alone will make it an apparent selection for a sure sort of consumer.
The primary design distinction between the 1 VI and previous Sony telephones is the display screen side ratio, which has gone from 21:9 to 19.5:9. This makes the telephone somewhat wider, somewhat shorter, and somewhat bit higher for typing, watching, gaming, and capturing or enhancing pictures.
In contrast to the iPhone 15 Professional and Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely, the Xperia 1 VI is not fabricated from titanium, however its steel body nonetheless feels strong and premium. Textured sides give it some grip, and the matte glass again (additionally textured) feels nice.
Sony was the primary smartphone maker so as to add IP68 water resistance to its telephones, and the Xperia 1 VI carries ahead flagship sturdiness with a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 show and a Gorilla Glass Victus again panel. The telephone’s digital camera bump can also be very modest, particularly when in comparison with options just like the Honor Magic 6 Professional and Vivo X100 Professional.
All of the Xperia 1 VI’s buttons are on the correct aspect, with that wonderful digital camera button, a fingerprint scanner/energy button combo, and a quantity rocker. On the high of the telephone is the three.5mm headphone jack, on the base is a USB-C port (with MHL/video out assist), and the NFC level is across the again.
Out there in three colours: black, Khaki Inexperienced, and Platinum Silver, Sony additionally sells matching kickstand circumstances for the Xperia 1 VI. Nonetheless, the telephone would not ship with a case or a pre-fitted display screen protector, neither is there a charger or cable within the slimline, totally recyclable field.
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The Sony Xperia 1 VI’s new 19.5:9 OLED display screen measures 6.5 inches, and advantages from no notches or punch-hole selfie cameras. As a substitute, Sony places the entrance digital camera and audio system within the bevels on the high and backside of the show.
The transfer from 4K to Full HD is an fascinating one. Once we have been briefed on the telephone, Sony defined that the 4K panel prevented battery saving and brightness advantages the Full HD decision makes attainable. Aspect-by-side with an Xperia 1 V, the Xperia 1 VI does look much less crisp when viewing photos and 4K video content material. Nonetheless, the distinction is imperceptible to the bare eye for day-to-day duties.
There is no getting across the truth the Xperia 1 VI has the least sharp show of any modern-day flagship telephone with 396 pixels in each inch. Most individuals will not discover this, particularly since many parts inside trendy telephones are rendered at Full HD, but when you recognize your eagle eye is a stickler for readability, you may need to think about a sharper different just like the OnePlus 12 or Google Pixel 8 Professional.
The 1 VI’s show is optimized by Sony’s Bravia division, is 50% brighter than final 12 months’s Xperia, and has a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh charge, a primary for Sony. Out of doors viewing was nice even on a sunny day, although the telephone’s auto-brightness does take a bit longer to regulate than different telephones. The display screen was additionally very responsive, and colours regarded vibrant and punchy set in opposition to deep blacks and brilliant highlights.
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Open the Xperia 1 VI’s show settings and you may allow Creator Mode, which shows every thing in a 10-bit BT.2020 shade area, and customise white steadiness to fit your eyes.
Until you intend to shoot in 21:9 (which the telephone will not have the ability to do till autumn 2024), the brand new side ratio is an excellent transfer in our opinion. Previously, when watching 16:9 YouTube movies in both portrait or panorama orientation, the tall 21:9 screens of Xperia telephones of outdated had us squinting. Now, now we have just a bit bit extra width when holding our telephone in portrait, and somewhat bit much less letterboxing when holding the telephone in panorama.
Sony Xperia 1 VI: digital camera overview
The Sony Xperia 1 VI has three cameras across the again:
Extremely-wide: 16mm, f/2.2 lens with a 12MP 1/2.5-inch sensor.
Broad: 24mm, f1.9 lens with a 52MP (48MP efficient) 1/1.35-inch sensor
Telephoto: 85-170mm, f/2.3-f/3.4 steady zoom lens with a 12MP 1/3.5-inch sensor.
With its steady zoom telephoto, you could possibly argue that Sony’s optical vary offers you the advantages of quad-camera or penta-camera programs like that of the Xiaomi 14 Extremely.
24mm vast digital camera
In contrast to the 1-inch sensor packing competitors from Xiaomi and Vivo, the Xperia 1 VI has a 52MP 1/1.35-inch sensor. This is not a standard 4:3 sensor – it incorporates a 4.3:3 side ratio, barely wider than a standard digital camera to provide extra space for digital stabilization in video, and it shoots 4:3 pictures with a 48MP decision, which is then pixel-binned right down to 12MP.
As the complete 52MP sensor is 1/1.35″ and the telephone captures stills at 48MP, that is an 8 p.c discount in utilized sensor for pictures. In flip, relative sensor dimension is roughly 1/1.45″. This is not horrible, however neither is it class-leading, so we anticipate extra modest dynamic vary than 1-inch sensor competitors.
16mm ultra-wide digital camera
Whereas Xiaomi opts for a 12mm ultra-wide in its 14 Extremely and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely has a 13mm equal focal size, the Xperia 1 VI’s is a good 16mm. This is not notably ultra-wide and provides modest worth when the principle digital camera has a 24mm angle of view whereas promising such superior image high quality given its spec. On the plus, the Xperia 1 VI ultra-wide does pack autofocus and may take spectacular macro photographs in brilliant environments.
85-170mm telephoto digital camera
Sony’s showstopper digital camera on the Xperia 1 VI is the 85-170mm digital camera. Purely as a technological showcase, a steady zoom periscope digital camera with this a lot attain and a large f/2.3-f/3.4 aperture is spectacular. The very fact the digital camera additionally helps macro focus when set to 120mm, supplying you with guide focus as close to as 4cm from a topic is the icing on the cake.
Contemplating competing periscope cameras are inclined to cap out on the 120mm mark, the very fact Sony’s goes additional and does extra is undoubtedly spectacular.
As for the Sony digital camera app expertise, three apps have been consolidated into one, and photographers will not thoughts because it retains loads of guide management. Videographers who want extra management than guide focus and shutter pace, nevertheless, most likely will. Sony’s pro-grade video options aren’t out there on the Xperia 1 VI on launch, with an replace dropping in Autumn that may deliver it nearer parity with previous Xperias.
Sony Xperia 1 VI: digital camera efficiency
Sometimes, when the sunshine is true, from 16mm by means of to 170mm and past, Sony delivers a dependable point-and-shoot expertise.
Sony leans in the direction of cooler tones than the competitors. There’s a little bit of inconsistency within the white steadiness between lenses, and the telephone does expose brightly, so the publicity slider within the digital camera interface is a good instrument to dial issues again. Sony’s saturation is not overly boosted and neither is distinction or sharpening when in comparison with Apple and Samsung.
Whereas Sony has built-in some computational pictures smarts in its auto processing, it is much less noticeable than the extra HDR-heavy competitors. This implies you’ll have to tweak outcomes to get something near a Google Pixel look from pictures taken on the Xperia 1 VI. The necessity for edits will not attraction to typical smartphone customers, however fans who like to take the reigns might recognize it.
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The brand new telephoto digital camera system is significantly better than that of the Xperia 1 V. In a position to compete with the perfect on the market proper as much as the 7.1x optical vary, pair it with good mild and/or a gradual hand, and the outcomes ought to impress.
Sony appears to not use AI zoom, which has change into a preferred instrument utilized by manufacturers like Asus, Honor and Samsung to scrub up digital zoom photographs. The result’s softer photos past the 7.1x optical zoom, particularly given the 12MP decision within the telephoto digital camera, leaving no scope for in-sensor cropping.
When the lights drop, the Xperia 1 VI’s essential digital camera can maintain its personal, nevertheless, the secondary cameras actually wrestle. That is the place the Xperia 1 VI feels much less like a sturdy system than the perfect from Xiaomi or Oppo for instance. We recognize that with a view to preserve its telephones slim, Sony cannot use large sensors, however Xperias have began to fall behind at night time, so that is one thing Sony wants to deal with in future both by means of extra aggressive computational processing, or bigger, higher digital camera {hardware}.
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The 48MP mode, new to the Xperia line, captures full-resolution JPGs, and so they seize big quantities of element in brilliant environments. It could have been ideally suited if RAW pictures may have been captured at full-resolution, however they’re restricted to 12MP.
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The telephone’s celebration trick, its macro telephoto digital camera is an actual spotlight for photographers. Whereas it may be finicky to seize stills owing to an extremely shallow depth of area, the very fact it information at 4K decision as much as 120fps means stills pulled from it look incredible. The guide focus slider means you’ll be able to manually rack focus in video, and it additionally means you’ll be able to pinpoint focus for stills.
The Huawei P60 Professional and Xiaomi 13 Professional put telemacro on the map, with Huawei’s efforts blowing us away once we examined its telephone. The Xperia 1 VI brings Sony as much as Huawei’s degree and past in some respects, particularly in terms of video. Our essential gripe with Sony’s macro photographs is that they give the impression of being a bit gentle and wish enhancing to crisp them up. In the meantime, Huawei masterfully processes its macro photographs to look as textured as attainable, which makes for a extra wow end result out of the digital camera.
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Regardless of the shortage of pro-grade video seize, the Xperia 1 VI nonetheless impresses with its 4K footage throughout all cameras, and its rear cameras capping out at 120fps. Higher nonetheless, with the continual zoom, gliding between 85-170mm is buttery clean, and the telephone’s stabilization can also be good, particularly from the principle sensor.
There are some guide video instruments. For instance, you’ll be able to alter publicity, white steadiness (with a slider, not with Kelvin values), focus, and shutter pace. Sony’s product showcase function can also be out there on the rear digital camera, and topic monitoring is superb, as is eye AF. The 399 focus factors when taking pictures with the principle digital camera and bodily digital camera button lock on rapidly, however we do want Sony included a zoom slider slightly than simply the on-screen zoom numbers.
Selfies are additionally respectable from the telephone, and it is a boon that the entrance digital camera can shoot 4K video. Sadly, it lacks autofocus, a function that may have paired effectively with the Product Showcase perform.
Sony Xperia 1 VI: further options
The Sony Xperia 1 VI’s processor is a top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, matched with modest 256GB storage and a good 12GB RAM. With microSD card growth, you’ll be able to bump up the storage by 1.5TB at an extra price, however SD storage is not as quick, so it may end up in slowdown until you stump up for the nippiest storage round.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is responsive, and with a big 5,000 mAh battery that Sony states is fabricated from a brand new, dense battery materials, the telephone lasts a really snug day when utilizing it closely – loads of pictures and video – and in case you’re going straightforward on it, you may get two days out of it, which is critically spectacular.
With 30W charging, the Xperia 1 VI powers up full in round 82 minutes, although can cost up by 50 p.c in 22 minutes. Wi-fi charging is even slower, so Sony positively is not catering to anybody who must cost and sprint.
Gaming on the Xperia 1 VI and normal warmth administration was reliably good, with regular efficiency, modest throttling, and no overheating shutting down the digital camera in our time with it, in contrast to the 2022 Sony Xperia 1 IV.
The Xperia 1 VI runs Android 14 and guarantees three years of software program updates and 4 years of safety updates, which is up a 12 months when in comparison with previous Xperias however nonetheless falls behind Apple, Google, and Samsung by some margin.
Sony’s interface is clear, clean, and straightforward to navigate. It does really feel a bit dated in some areas – similar to previous Xperias – however we might take its dialed-down expertise over an overbearing one like that of the Xiaomi 14 Extremely.
Sony Xperia 1 VI: verdict
Sony’s flagship for 2024 is a good telephone that is a pleasure to make use of with no main chinks in its armour past its value, however that’s one massive £1,299 chink.
The Xperia 1 VI might be the perfect telephone for macro pictures in the marketplace, but it surely positively is not the greatest digital camera telephone of 2024 given how fierce the competitors is. Specifically, the 1 VI’s lowlight efficiency from the tele and ultra-wide cameras and the shortage of professional video options maintain it again, even with that tremendous macro seize.
If the Sony Xperia 1 VI was cheaper, it will be an incredible choice for anybody who needed a formidable all-rounder. Photographers who love pared-back photograph processing and wish a wonderful display screen and speaker setup will take pleasure in what Sony’s doing right here too. It is also ideally suited for gaming and watching on, and Alpha digital camera homeowners who need a telephone to double up as an exterior monitor and recorder might effectively discover the worth simpler to swallow.
So whereas the Xperia 1 VI is probably the most accessible Sony telephone of late with its extra snug show, improved battery life, and less complicated digital camera expertise. Till Sony both bests the competitors on spec and options or drops the worth, its telephones look set to stay area of interest choices regardless of all their deserves.