No company in the smartphone space sticks to its guns more than Sony. The OEM does what it wants, avoiding the pressure of industry trends like punch-hole selfie cameras and reliance on Bluetooth audio. However, it also means it runs away from trends like super-fast charging and silicon-carbon batteries.
The Xperia 1 VII is official, and at a glance, it retains almost all the DNA of its predecessor. However, how much changes that we can't see? And does the device finally justify Sony's traditionally expensive price tag this year? Let's see about that.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII Melds All of Sony's Electronics Expertise Into One Device
Sony has been in the tech business for longer than most of us have been on earth, and in those years, it has gained plenty of expertise in making cameras, audio devices, televisions, and more. All of that expertise gets thrown into the Sony Xperia 1 VII, so it's bound to be an interesting device.
The Design
At first glance, the Xperia 1 VII looks just like its predecessor, the Xperia 1 VI. However, if you really look at it, you'll notice a few minor design differences. For one, the textured frame is no longer chamfered; instead, it melds with the tactile back panel, as with most devices. The flash and the text on the camera module get moved around, too.
The fingerprint reader remains embedded in the power button, and way below it, on the same side of the phone, is the shutter button. That's one aspect where Samsung staying away from trends has paid off. You get IP68 certification against water and dust. The device is available in three colorways: the relatively laid-back Moss Green and Slate Black, and the more vibrant Orchid Purple.
The Screen
The display of the Sony Xperia 1 VII is where the Japanese OEM calls on the expertise of its engineers from its Bravia division. This is the brightest Xperia display, and Sony says you get the same picture quality that you'll get from its flagship Bravia TV. The phone supports HDR, BT.2020 colors, and 10-bit tonal gradation, making it perfect for creators.
But if you don't care about all of that, the display comes down to these major specs:
- 6.5-inch diagonal
- OLED technology
- FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2340)
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio
- LTPO, 120Hz refresh rate
- HDR10 support, 10-bit color
The Hardware
Inside the Xperia 1 VII, you'll find Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite. It's a powerful chip, but with power comes heat, so Sony has put a vapour chamber and graphite diffusion sheets inside the device to keep things cool. The phone comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Apparently, the UK only gets the 256GB model.
One thing that makes the Sony Xperia 1 lineup stand out from all other flagships is the fact that it comes with not only a microSD slot but also a headphone jack. There are very few phones in the market with both of these features, let alone a flagship. This is one place where Sony's stubbornness benefits the people.
Here are some aspects where the hardware in the Xperia 1 VII is exceptional:
- Bluetooth 6.0
- Wi-Fi 7
- USB Type-C 3.2 with Video Out support
- Walkman® audio; support for High-Resolution Audio (wired and wireless), and LDAC
The Battery and Charging
The battery sticks to the 5,000mAh mark of its predecessor, and its predecessor, all the way back to the Xperia 1 IV. It'd be nice to see Sony bump things up, but it has decided to take the Samsung route. However, if the device is anything like last year's, the battery will provide a surprising amount of endurance for its size—Sony's estimate is 36 hours of continuous viewing. The device supports 30W fast charging and 15W wireless charging.
The Cameras
The screen gets Bravia expertise, and the audio gets Walkman love, so what does the camera get? That's right, knowledge from Sony's Alpha division. This brings a bunch of features like AI Camerawork, which helps keep the subject in focus and framed even when moving. You get a dedicated two-stage shutter button and Pro Photo and Pro Video interfaces for the pros in the crowd.
The primary camera brings an Exmor T sensor again, and the ultrawide gets upgraded this year, with a new sensor that's more than double the size of the last one. The telephoto stays the same as last year, though. The Zeiss partnership is still around, too. On paper, these cameras should be excellent.
| Main | Ultrawide | Telephoto | Front | |
| Resolution | 48MP | 48MP | 12MP | 12MP |
| Focal Length | 24mm/48mm | 16mm | 85mm-170mm | 24mm |
| Aperture | f/1.9 | f/2.0 | f/2.3-f/3.5 | f/2.0 |
| OIS | Yes | No | Yes | No |
The Pricing and Availability
The biggest issue with Sony's flagships is the pricing. In the UK, the 256GB model costs £1,399. In Europe, it'll be €1,499. That's a lot of money for any non-foldable Android flagship, perhaps with the exception of 1TB models.
The device is available for pre-order starting today, but will only begin shipping next month. But hey, you'll get the flagship Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for free when you do. At least that might make the pricing a little easier to swallow.
