Sony has officially announced its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VII, a device that perfectly aligns with the company’s established design philosophy. This new smartphone features a signature design, cutting-edge technology derived from various Sony hardware brands, and a price point that may cause some sticker shock.
In recent years, Sony’s flagship smartphones have emerged as true technological powerhouses. Unlike many competitors in the tech industry, Sony prioritizes enthusiast features such as expandable storage, headphone jacks, and a strong reliance on its extensive hardware expertise. The Xperia 1 VII is no exception, continuing this tradition while incorporating enhancements from Sony’s renowned Alpha camera and Bravia TV teams.
One of the standout features of the Xperia 1 VII is its advanced camera capabilities, bolstered by the integration of AI technology. The inclusion of an AI-based auto-framing mode allows the device to recognize human subjects and automatically crop videos to keep them centered. However, it is worth noting that this feature does limit the maximum resolution to Full HD due to the cropping.
The phone also boasts a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with a sensor that is twice as large as its predecessor, addressing a previous weak point in the Xperia 1 VI’s camera setup. While the main and variable telephoto lenses remain unchanged, the upgrade in the ultrawide lens is significant for photography enthusiasts.
Audio performance has seen substantial improvements in the Xperia 1 VII as well. Utilizing high-end components from Sony’s latest line of Walkman audio players, this smartphone delivers enhanced sound quality. Features such as AI-based DSEE Ultimate upscaling, Hi-Res audio, LDAC, and Dolby Atmos formats are all supported, making it an attractive option for audiophiles. Additionally, the stereo speakers have been upgraded with a bass boost to enhance listening experiences.
The Xperia 1 VII features a stunning 6.5-inch OLED display that benefits from smarter adaptive brightness technology borrowed from the Bravia division. Equipped with light sensors on both the front and back, the phone can accurately assess surrounding light levels, allowing it to adjust brightness, color gamut, and color temperature for optimal viewing.
In terms of hardware, the Xperia 1 VII is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, complemented by 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Users can expand the storage by up to an additional 2TB using a microSD card. The device also features an impressive 5,000mAh battery, IP65 / 68 water and dust resistance, and wireless charging capabilities.
Despite its impressive hardware, one drawback of the Xperia 1 VII is its limited software support. The device is committed to providing only four years of OS updates and six years of security patches, which is notably less than the support offered by competitors like Samsung and Google.
As for availability, the Xperia 1 VII is currently available for order in the UK and Europe at a price of £1,399 / €1,499 (approximately $1,700). However, there are currently no indications that the phone will be released in the US market.
