Sony reveals new Xperia 1 VI with long list of practical upgrades, not to mention some top-shelf specs — but the display loses a talking point.
Last year’s Xperia 1 V and its yet older siblings included a 4K resolution display. Sadly the new Xperia 1 VI has downgraded from that 4K OLED panel with a 21:9 aspect ratio. As solid as the Xperia 10 V is, that 1080p screen, there should be no saving graces here. Unfortunately, it’s no longer competitive in the flagship race, with phones sporting a 1080p resolution, however excellent they may be, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Pixel 8 Pro.
Silver Linings
It’s not all bad news—the screen on the Sony Xperia 1 VI supports LTPO tech, allowing it to change its refresh rate dynamically between 1 and 120Hz for better battery life. Coupled with the lower resolution, the more power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset as opposed to the 8 Gen 2 on the Xperia 1 V, and a 5000mAh cell, Sony says it offers the best battery life of any Xperia 1 phone – up to two full days.
More Room to Zoom in Sony Xperia 1 VI
The same Exmor T sensor still sits on the Sony Xperia 1 VI; it crops a 52MP sensor to make it a 48MP one. It has an unparalleled 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP selfie lens but is equipped with an upgraded 12MP telephoto lens. The variable focal lengths on it now extend from 85 to 170mm, providing optical zoom of 3.5x to 7.1x.
This is among the highest of any phone, and it means you probably won’t need to fall back on digital zoom for most zoom shots. This brings flexibility to portrait-style shots, and Sony specifically suggests it’s great for close-up macro photos, staying in focus up to 4cm away from the subject.
But who’s Sony Xperia 1 VI for?
It’s hard to know who’s going to buy the Xperia 1 VI except loyal fans. The predecessor suggests photography will be a step down from the absolute best camera phones, and the display no longer stands out from its rivals.
The improvement to commit to three Android OS updates from Android 14 and four years of security updates would still not let it catch up with Google and Samsung, which promise seven years on their newest flagships.
Above all, the price tag was massive for one of the priciest Android phones out there, with the Xperia 1 VI coming in at £1,299/€1,399.
Given that, the new Xperia 10 VI might be more palatable. It’s a mid-range phone that comes with a starting price of £349/€399, retaining the 21:9 display but downgrading the resolution to 1080p and further downgrades to the chipset and cameras.
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Pre-orders for both phones are live now. The Xperia 1 VI will go on sale in “early June,” with the Xperia 10 VI coming later in “mid-June.”