Sony Xperia 1 V: Next gen sensor and imaging with classic features
Sony Xperia 1 V: Next gen sensor and imaging with classic features
While sporting the latest camera tech, we also find a microSD card, 3.5mm audio port, and classic Sony styling
Nine years ago I was sporting a Sony Xperia Z3 as my daily driver, but I haven’t gone back to that classic Sony styling since then. Sony just announced the new Sony Xperia 1 V (aka Mark 5) and it’s great to see Sony continue to offer a microSD expansion card slot and a 3.5mm audio port. There are very few phone makers releasing new models with these classic design elements.
Of course, the Sony Xperia 1 V brings the latest and greatest specifications available for Android phones with a continued focus on advanced camera technology, enhanced audio, and gaming. These are all features Sony continues to promote with its sleek narrow and long smartphones and one is scheduled to arrive tomorrow for testing.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Display: 6.5-inch, 21:9 classic Sony aspect ratio, 4K 120Hz HDR OLED
Operating system: Android 13
Internal storage: 256GB with microSD card slot
Cameras: 52MP 24mm main, 12MP 16mm ultra-wide, 12MP 85mm-125mm optical telephoto, and 12MP front-facing
Audio: 3.5mm audio port, amplified stereo speakers
Durability: IP65/68 with Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Battery: 5000 mAh with 30W wired charger and wireless charging support
Dimensions: 165 x 71 x 8.3 mm and 187 grams
Colors: Black and Khaki Green (Sony Direct exclusive)
Features and improvements
The specifications look solid, but it’s going to take some testing to evaluate whether or not the phone is worth the price. I love the potential for advanced camera functionality, especially when it comes to the real-time eye auto-focus and tracking. I purchase a Sony Alpha 7 last year and it has significantly improved my still and video quality. Having some of that Sony Alpha goodness on a phone is compelling.
Like many past Sony Xperia phones, this one is optimized for content creators with a 2-layer Transistor Pixel stacked CMOS image sensor that is about 1.7 times larger than the sensor found on the Mark IV. Video creators are also targeted with S-Cinetone, a feature previously only found in select Sony cameras.
Some improvements detailed by Sony include external monitor feature for recording, focus peaking on photo/video/external monitor, and a vertical shooting UI for photo and video. With all of the available platforms for sharing vertical content, it’s great to see Sony embracing this approach for content creation.
Price and availability
The Sony Xperia 1 V will be available for pre-order today with a launch date of 28 July 2023. The price will be $1,399.99 in the US.
Those who pre-order will also get a free pair of the excellent LinkBuds earbuds, a $180 value. I reviewed these earbuds on ZDNET and found them to be quite handy for my commute.
I’ll have the new Sony phone in hand tomorrow so stay tuned for a full written article and YouTube videos coming soon.