In May 2024, Sony announced the Xperia 1 VI smartphone with three powerful cameras, and began pre-orders. One is a 48-megapixel main camera with an Exmor T lens and ZEISS optics, another is a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with a 16mm lens equivalent, and finally, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with telemacro capability. With little breathing space to welcome the new phone, the Xperia 1 VII is rumored to be in the works. Recent leaks show us what to expect from the next flagship
Sony Xperia 1 VII’s cameras are what the Xperia 1 VI’s should've been
A leaker has taken to his Weibo account to share the anticipated specifications for the upcoming Xperia 1 VII. They've also shared a virtual sketch of the smartphone's camera module design. According to them, the telephoto camera will now be completely independent and fully protruding. It will allow for a larger 1/2.3 double-layer transistor complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor.
Rather than putting photodiodes and pixel transistors on the same layer, Sony now places them on separate layers, stacked on top of each other — kinda like what the Realme 12+ 5G and similar phones are doing, which is pretty cool.
In the Realme’s case, the sensor is unusually large at approximately 8.2 millimeters diagonally with 50 million pixels. It uses pixel binning technology for improved low-light performance, and the stacked CMOS design puts the image capture layer right on top of the processing layer, unlike the usual side-by-side arrangement in traditional CMOS sensors.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s sensor will now have a wider dynamic range, which means it can capture more detail in both bright and dark areas of a photo. So, your pictures will have more depth and contrast between light and dark colors, making them look more realistic and vibrant. Also, it should help with better anti-shake features and offer a focal length of 70-200mm. Sony has been using the existing 1/3.5-inch sensor in previous models for a long time, and it really is time for an upgrade.
Sony will upgrade main and wide-angle cameras with 3D scanning and double flash area
The Xperia 1 VII’s main camera stays the same with a 1/1.3 sensor. But it will have a circular protrusion similar to what Samsung does. We've seen this design numerous times on its Galaxy phones. Meanwhile, the wide-angle camera gets the same 1/2.3 double-layer transistor sensor as the telephoto. Yet, all three cameras will have a symmetrical design for smooth continuous zoom like Apple's.
Sony is also adding a 3D scanning module for the first time. That means enhanced object recognition, AR experiences, 3D printing, camera features, and many other creative possibilities for you. Plus, they've doubled the flash area on the phone's rear. Not only will it produce more light, but it'll reduce shadows and recharge quicker between shots so you can take pictures in rapid succession.
It's worth nothing that these specs are mostly unconfirmed and there's no official word from Sony concerning the phone's release date. But the upgrades are much welcomed as many users would want better cameras than the first Xperia flagship.
