High-end smartphone with optical zoom: Sony Xperia 1 VI costs 1400 euros
Optical zoom, jack socket and memory card slot: The Xperia 1 VI is an exception in the high-end smartphone segment. But Sony has skimped on the display.
(Image: Sony)
Sony has unveiled the successor to the Xperia 1 V. However, the new flagship Xperia 1 VI is not a further development in every respect; the manufacturer has cut back here and there. And in one respect, it even lags behind some entry-level smartphones.
The most obvious change to the 1400 euro Xperia 1 VI concerns the screen: Sony is moving away from the elongated 21:9 format. Instead, there is a display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 in the casing. As a result, the Xperia 1 VI is slightly wider and shorter than its predecessor and has similar dimensions to other high-end devices. The front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, and the housing is protected against water and dust in accordance with IP65/68.
In contrast to other high-end smartphones, which are usually equipped with 6.7 or 6.8-inch screens, the screen of the 1 VI measures just 6.5 inches diagonally. The front camera is located in the housing frame above the display, which is why it is not interrupted by a camera hole. Sony has taken a step backwards in terms of display resolution: While the predecessors still displayed 3840 × 1644 pixels (644 dpi), the 1 VI has to make do with FullHD+. According to Sony, this should have a positive effect on runtimes. However, this could have been achieved differently: By providing the option to set the resolution yourself in the settings menu, as Samsung does, for example. According to the manufacturer, the panel completely covers the DCI-P3 color space. An automatic function regulates the refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hz.
Unique telephoto lens
Sony knows how to set itself apart from the competition with this camera. Once again, the manufacturer has built a genuine optical zoom into its premium model. The telephoto zoom covers the focal length range from 85 to 170 mm (according to KB). The telephoto of the predecessor only reached up to 125 mm. A 1/3.5" inch Exmor RS (12 MP) sensor is still used. What is new is that macro shots are also possible with the telephoto. In most smartphones, the wide angle also serves as a macro. However, as you have to get very close to the subject with these, they are hardly suitable for skittish animals such as insects. With the Sony telephoto lens, macro shots are possible from a greater working distance.
The main camera is equipped with an Exmor T sensor in 1/1.35-inch format. The sensor delivers a gross 52 megapixels (effective 48 MP), with a fixed 24-millimetre lens with an aperture of f/1.9. The 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module shoots photos at a focal length of 16 mm, with a 1/2.5-inch sensor and a f/2.2 lens. At least according to the data sheet, these two cameras do not differ from the previous model. The latter shone in the c't camera test with natural shots and extensive functions. These include, for example, the option of using a smartphone connected to a current Alpha camera via USB as an external monitor or recorder. Sony has, however, revised the user interface. Instead of several photo and video apps with a sometimes excessive range of functions, there is now a camera app as a central point of contact. This includes a Pro mode if you want more control over the motifs.
Memory can be expanded
A Snapdragon 8 Gen3 does its work nimbly in the belly of the smartphone. It is supported by 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of flash. The memory can be expanded by up to 1.5 TByte using a MicroSD card. Just like the memory compartment, the jack socket in the Xperia is a rarity among premium smartphones. The 5000 mAh battery should last for two days with normal use. It can be charged wirelessly via Qi, and the smartphone also charges other devices such as headphones wirelessly.
Once again, Sony is lagging behind the competition when it comes to updates. The Japanese company can't manage more than three new Android versions and four years of security patches. You don't need a high-end smartphone to top that. Even Telekom's T-Phone 2, which costs 200 euros, is supposed to get five years of security updates. The Sony Xperia 1 VI costs 1399 euros and can be pre-ordered now.
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