Sony just took the wraps off of its flagship smartphone for 2023, called the Xperia 1 V. As with most Xperia phones, the 1 V puts a strong emphasis on mobile photography and introduces a one-of-a-kind Exmor T series image sensor. It promises to elevate low-light smartphone photography to a new level. Let’s delve into the specifics of the Sony Xperia 1V to learn more about this impressive smartphone.
Sony Xperia 1 V Camera
As mentioned earlier, the Xperia 1 V stands out primarily for its exceptional cameras. The camera phone market is rife with intense competition. It features established players like the Google Pixel 7 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro on one side. Whereas there are new entrants such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra and the Vivo X90 Pro trying to make a mark in this space. Nevertheless, Sony’s Xperia smartphones have consistently catered to the needs of both casual users and seasoned professionals.
The Xperia 1 V comes with a new 52MP Exmor T-series sensor as its primary camera. The sensor is 1/1.35″ in size which is 1.7x larger than the sensor in its predecessor, the Xperia 1 IV. Sony has gone the extra mile by revamping the sensor structure to enhance picture quality. The brand has innovatively divided the photodiodes and transistors into two distinct layers. This results in twice as better performance than its predecessor in low-light conditions.
By the way, this 52MP main camera has a slightly different aspect ratio of 4.3:3 instead of the usual 4:3 ratio. And interestingly enough, it only uses 48MP to capture photos and videos. That too, when you’re not using the camera in default mode, which captures pixel-binned photos at 12MP.
Completing the triple camera setup on the back is a 12MP telephoto lens with an 85-125mm focal length. And another 12MP 16mm ultrawide lens with autofocus. Sony has decided to remove the Time-of-Flight (TOF) sensor this time around, as the company believes that its advanced AI algorithms have rendered it unnecessary.
Pro Features
As mentioned earlier, the Xperia 1V is not only geared toward regular users but also caters to professionals. And it offers various features to justify this positioning. For starters, there are some of Sony’s Alpha camera features available in Xperia 1 V. One of them is Vlog mode, which intelligently adjusts the focus on the creator and the product demonstrated in the frame.
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Moreover, the smartphone can connect directly connect to YouTube Live through its Video Pro app. To top it off, there’s a separate chat window within the app.
Besides that, the phone can serve as an external monitor and record an Alpha camera. These features empower professionals with greater control and flexibility in their creative process.
Design and Display
Moving on, Sony is offering a 6.5-inch 120Hz display on the front. This is an AMOLED panel that retains the X1 mobile engine from the Xperia 1 IV. As per Sony, the engine brings some clever software enhancements to improve video quality. But unlike, most flagship phones, this is not an LTPO panel. It can only switch the refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz.
Regardless, Sony has opted to maintain the classic full bezel design approach with a 21:9 aspect ratio on the Xperia 1 V. The top bezel houses a 12MP selfie camera with a 1/2.9” sensor. Sony has covered the back and front of Xperia I V with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for protection.
The rear of the phone also has a unique finish for a stronger grip. You also get IP65 and IP68 ratings to protect the phone against dust and water.
Performance
Furthermore, powering the smartphone is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There’s also a microSD card option to increase the storage. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack option. Both of the latter options are rare to find in modern-day flagships.
Sony has equipped the phone with a cooling mechanism to handle the power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The phone has a 60% larger heat diffusion sheet compared to its predecessors. The brand has also put in efforts to minimize the power consumption of the camera. For starters, cameras tend to generate heat when capturing high-resolution photos and videos.
Battery
Moving on, the smartphone comes with a 5000mAh battery and supports 30W wired charging. As per Sony, the devices take about 30 minutes to go from 0 to 50%. The Xperia 1 V also supports wireless and reverse wireless charging. Sony ensures the longevity of the battery by promising that it will retain at least 80% of its capacity even after three years of regular use.
Sony Xperia I V Price and Availability
The Sony Xperia 1 V is priced at $1,399 in the US and will be available for purchase in late June. It will be offered in three color options: Black, Khaki Green, and Platinum Silver.
