A year after the Xperia 1 V, Sony has introduced its successor, the Xperia 1 VI, with a notable shift in its design philosophy. While retaining the familiar sleek design of previous models, the Xperia 1 VI features a frosted back panel and a slightly shorter body, measuring 162 x 74 x 8.2mm. This change, however, comes at the expense of the aspect ratio,which is now 19.5:9, deviating from the previous 21:9.
The most controversial change is the replacement of the 4K display with a FHD+ OLED screen. Sony justifies this decision by citing power constraints that affected camera shooting and gaming performance on the 4K display. Despite this change, the new FHD+ display boasts Sony’s BRAVIA color reproduction technology, utilizing AI to enhance contrast, color, and clarity. The screen also offers a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz, a 50% increase in brightness compared to its predecessor, and improved energy efficiency.
In terms of camera capabilities, the Xperia 1 VI retains the triple rear camera setup with Exmor T sensors. It comprises a 16mm ultrawide camera, a 24mm main camera, and an 85mm to 170mm variable telephoto camera, capable of 3.5 to 7.1 optical zoom. The front camera features a 24mm lens. Notably, the main camera supports 48MP shooting for the first time.
Sony has incorporated AI processing into the camera system to enhance picture quality, reduce noise, and expand dynamic range in low-light conditions. AI also plays a role in improving autofocus tracking for more accurate and consistent image capture.
The Xperia 1 VI simplifies the camera software experience by consolidating the previously separate Photography Pro,Videography Pro, and Cinema Pro apps into a single, user-friendly application. A Pro mode for video, providing detailed controls, will be available in a future Android update.
Under the hood, the Xperia 1 VI is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and comes with options for 12GB of RAM with either 256GB or 512GB of storage, expandable up to 1.5TB via microSDXC. The phone is equipped with a standard 5,000mAh battery, which Sony claims can last up to two days, and supports Qi wireless charging and battery sharing.
Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the FPS optimizer, designed to dynamically adjust CPU usage and frame rate based on the game being played. Additionally, the touch controls have been refined for better responsiveness and accuracy, and a new vapor chamber helps keep the phone cool during intensive gaming sessions.
Audiophiles will be pleased to find the return of the 3.5mm headphone jack and full-stage stereo speakers with balanced left and right channels. Sony has implemented enhancements to reduce distortion at high volumes and optimize low-frequency output. The phone also incorporates various audio technologies like DSEE Ultimate, 360 Reality Audio,LDAC, Hi-Res wireless audio, Bluetooth LE audio, and Snapdragon sound.
The Xperia 1 VI will be available for purchase in early June in select markets like the UK and US.
