Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia 1 VI, brings some intriguing upgrades to the table, but also comes with a hefty €1,399 price tag. Let's dive into what this new device offers and whether it justifies its premium positioning.
Key Specifications
- 6.5 LTPO OLED display (1080 x 2340 resolution)
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
- 12GB RAM, 256GB storage (expandable)
- Triple rear camera system with variable optical zoom
- 5000 mAh battery with 30W charging
Display and Design
Sony has made a significant change to the display, moving from a 4K 21:9 panel to a more conventional 1080p 19.5:9 screen. While this may seem like a downgrade on paper, the new LTPO OLED offers better energy efficiency and higher peak brightness (1,310 nits vs 936 nits). The wider aspect ratio also improves one-handed usability.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Xperia 1 VI delivers about 25% faster CPU and GPU performance compared to its predecessor. However, our benchmarks showed it underperforming slightly compared to other flagships with the same chip.
Battery Life
Battery life is a strong point for the Xperia 1 VI:
- Web browsing: 18h 54m
- Video playback: 7h 46m
- Gaming: 14h 3m (best-in-class)
The 30W charging isn't particularly fast by today's standards, taking 81 minutes for a full charge.
Camera System
The headline feature is the new variable optical zoom telephoto lens, offering stepless zoom from 3.5x to 7.1x. This provides excellent versatility and detail retention across the zoom range. The main 48MP sensor and 12MP ultra-wide remain unchanged from the previous model.
Image quality from the main sensor is generally good, with realistic colors and decent detail. However, there are some issues with oversharpening and occasional exposure problems. The ultra-wide camera lags behind competitors in terms of detail capture.
Video performance is a mixed bag. While color accuracy is good, there are stabilization issues with the main camera, and detail levels could be better.
Software and User Experience
Sony has streamlined its camera app, integrating pro features that were previously in separate apps. The overall user interface remains clean and close to stock Android.
Verdict
The Sony Xperia 1 VI brings notable improvements in battery life, display brightness, and zoom capabilities. However, at €1,399, it's significantly more expensive than last year's model and most competing flagships.
For Sony fans and photography enthusiasts who value the unique features like the variable zoom lens and pro camera controls, the Xperia 1 VI could be worth considering. For most users, however, competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro Max offer more well-rounded packages at lower price points.
The Xperia 1 VI is a capable device with some standout features, but its high price and a few lingering issues make it a niche proposition in the crowded flagship market.
