Sony’s Xperia 1 V is official with a focus on photo and video creation

Sony has today unveiled its brand new Xperia 1 V flagship which packs in a number of vlogging features taken from the brand's Alpha camera range. Sporting a brand new “Exmor T for Mobile” camera sensor which promises to be faster and better thanks to its computational photography chops, the Xperia 1 V also sports other flagship hardware such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a 120Hz 4K OLED display, and what Sony says is a “best in class” gaming performance. Let's take a closer look at the Xperia 1 V after the break.

Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the Xperia 1 V also sports 12GB of RAM plus 256GB of expandable storage. Yup, you read that right – the Xperia 1 V supports MicroSD cards up to 1TB and is one of the few flagships to do so. The Game Enhancer feature supports visual and audio output and allows gamers to stream their gameplay directly to YouTube.

Its 20:9 6.5-inch OLED display has a 4K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, with Sony's Bravia HDR remaster technology aiding contrast, color, and levels of clarity. There's a 5,000mAh battery which Sony claims is good for 20 hours of 4K video playback and can charge to 50% in 30 minutes. Wireless charging is also present.

That's all great but what about the cameras?

Photo and video are the main focus points of the Xperia 1 V which promises to be an appealing choice for vloggers. Its 52MP main sensor has a Type 1 (1.35-inch/12mm) Exmor T sensor that is 1.7 times larger than the one used on its predecessor. There's also a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP telephoto lens. If you've got a 4K 120Hz television you'll be happy to learn that the Xperia 1 V is capable of capturing 4K video at 120fps.

While the included Pro mode is suited for those who know about the vagaries of photography, the Basic mode is what most users will utilize. Basic mode is aided by computational photography (AI) which helps deliver real-time auto-focus and tracking, settings for Night mode, and enhancements for taking shots of the sky. The S-Cinetone feature has been tweaked for mobile use to take shots of the human skin without color grading.

That's also great, but the main addition is something called “Product Showcase” which is found on Sony's vlogging cameras. Product Showcase focuses on the product instead of the face of the reviewer (when facing the camera), and there's a new mic placed near the rear camera that recorders the creator's voice clearly.

And, when streaming your coverage live to YouTube via the Videography Pro feature, the chats from your viewers can be viewed in the comments section simultaneously which allows for real-time interaction, whether you are shooting in landscape or portrait mode.

It's not exactly cheap but if you are a vlogger or perhaps just want a modern, flagship smartphone that supports MicroSD cards, the Xperia 1 V could be the phone for you. Available in black, platinum silver, and khaki green, Sony's Xperia 1 V costs €1,399/£1,299 with pre-orders going live on June 1. What are your thoughts on Sony's new Xperia 1 V?