Design and display: Bye 21:9 format
The Xperia 1 VI takes the bold step and says goodbye to its elongated 21:9 format. Instead, it relies on a more traditional 19,5:9 display. The decision comes as a surprise because the 21:9 format was characteristic of Sony's Xperia series.
However, the change also brings advantages in terms of usability. With dimensions of 162 x 74 x 8,2 mm and a weight of 192 grams, the device is more compact in the hand, which should make it easier to use in portrait format. Typing with one hand will probably be a little trickier.
The smartphone comes in khaki, platinum silver and goji black
The 6,5-inch OLED display shines with an FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels) and a fast refresh rate of 120 Hz. Even though Sony has removed the 4K display from the previous model, users benefit from improved battery life and significantly higher brightness. The new “Sunlight Vision” function ensures that the display remains easy to read even in direct sunlight.
Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides additional protection against scratches and breaks. The Xperia 1 VI is also IP68 certified and therefore protected against dust and water.
Protected from dust and water according to IP68.
Camera: AI-powered photography
The Xperia 1 VI takes a leap forward with the camera. The main camera uses a 48 MP 1/1.35" Exmor T sensor with an aperture of f/1.9 and pixel binning technology, which results in 12 MP recordings as standard. This means that several pixels are combined into one, which increases the light sensitivity and thus The quality of the photos in poor lighting conditions has been improved again.
The main camera is complemented by a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 1/2.5" Exmor RS sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. The camera offers a wide viewing angle with a focal length of 16 mm, ideal for landscape photos.
The highlight this year is the telephoto lens with a variable 85 - 170 millimeter focal length.
The real highlight is the new telephoto camera. It uses a 12MP 1/3.5" Exmor RS periscope sensor that covers a variable focal length of 85 millimeters to 170 millimeters. This enables an optical zoom of 3,5x to 7,1x, providing exceptional flexibility when photographing distant objects . Additionally, this camera supports macro shots with a minimum focus distance of 4 cm.
Sony has also completely overhauled the camera app and introduced new features such as predefined color schemes (“Creative Look”) and AI-powered autofocus. It detects body and head movements and keeps moving subjects precisely in focus. The Xperia 1 VI also supports 4K video recording at 120 fps on all three cameras, allowing for impressive slow-motion shots.
The Pro mode with its numerous camera settings is retained.
The front camera has a resolution of 12 MP and also supports 4K video recording, which promises razor-sharp and detailed selfies.
Performance, battery and software: Enduring and powerful
The internal hardware consists of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, supported by 12 GB of RAM and either 256 GB or 512 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by up to 1,5 TB using a microSD card. In terms of connectivity, it is well positioned with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and USB-C with DisplayPort support.
Music lovers can be happy because, unlike most manufacturers, Sony remains true to the 3,5 millimeter headphone jack. It also supports High-Resolution Audio, LDAC and Bluetooth LE Audio.
The SIM tray can be equipped with SIM and microSD cards.
According to Sony, the 5.000 mAh battery should last up to two days. It supports fast charging (50% in 30 minutes), wireless charging and reverse charging. Thanks to improvements in energy efficiency and the new display, the smartphone should enable up to 36 hours of continuous video playback.
On the software side, the Xperia 1 VI runs Android 14 and Sony's sleek user interface. The update policy remains a downer. Only three years of operating system updates and four years of security updates are disappointing compared to the competition. Especially given the high price of the device (approx. 1.399 euros).
Technical data at a glance
| Display | Size | 6,5 inches (103,7 cm²) |
| aspect ratio | 19,5:9 | |
| Resolution and technology | 1080 x 2340 pixels, LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 (~396 ppi pixel density) | |
| Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass Victory 2 | |
| Features | Sunlight Vision, Always-On Display | |
| color depth | 1 billion colors | |
| measures and weight | Size | 162 x 74 x 8,2 mm |
| Weight | 192 g | |
| battery and charging | Battery life | Up to two days |
| capacity | 5000 mAh | |
| Features | Fast charging (50% in 30 minutes), wireless charging, reverse wireless charging | |
| RAM and internal storage | RAM | 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB / 512 GB UFS, expandable via microSDXC (shared SIM slot) | |
| Processors and security | processors | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), Octa-core |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor (side mounted), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, barometer, compass, color spectrum sensor | |
| Updates | Three years of operating system updates, four years of security updates | |
| Camera | main camera | 48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide angle), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, none AF 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 123˚ (ultra wide angle), 1/2.5", 1.4µm, Dual Pixel PDAF |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f / 2.0 | |
| Main camera video | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-Achsen-Gyro-EIS, OIS | |
| Front camera video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-Achsen-Gyro-EIS | |
| Connectivity and location | Technologies | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, Tri-Band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| mesh | GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G | |
| What's in the box | USB-C cable, charger, SIM tool |
Price and availability
The Xperia 1 VI is released in Europe in the 256GB version. Pre-orders start on May 15th and shipping will begin in June. The price for the Xperia 1 VI is around 1.399 euros.
Source: Press Release
