It has been a while since we last review a Sony handset. In this review we will take a look at the Sony Xperia 1 V.
The Sony Xperia 1 V – a compact smartphone designed to snugly fit in your hand, boasting sleek dimensions of 165x71x8.3mm and a weight of 187g.
This device showcases an elongated design enhanced by a 21:9 wide-screen 6.5″ 4K HDR OLED display with a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, it houses a substantial 12 GB of RAM and a capacious 256 GB UFS memory, expandable via microSDXC storage to accommodate up to 1 TB. Fueling its performance is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, paired with a 5000 mAh battery that charges rapidly through USB PD fast charge technology.
The Xperia 1 V is equipped with an ensemble of cameras – three on the rear and one on the front.
At the forefront is a 52 MP f/1.9 Exmor T sensor, measuring 1/1.35″, and offering a 24mm focal length with an expansive 84-degree field of view.
The secondary camera sports a 12 MP 1/3.5″ Exmor RS sensor, spanning apertures from F2.3 to F2.8. It provides focal lengths ranging from 85mm to 125mm, with field perspectives of 28 degrees (at 85mm) to 20 degrees (at 125mm).
The third rear camera boasts 12 MP and a 1/2.5″ Exmor sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. It captures a wide field of 123 degrees, maintaining a focal length of 16mm.
For selfies and video chats, the front-facing camera is a 12 MP 1/2.9 Exmor sensor, featuring an f/2.0 aperture, 24mm focal length, and an 83-degree field of view.
Diving into its video capabilities, the Xperia 1 V supports S-Cinetone for mobile, granting videos a cinematic aesthetic in terms of tone and color. All three rear cameras can handle up to 30fps AF/AE burst shooting, Real-time Eye AF & tracking, and 4K HDR 120fps video recording.
Co-developed with the engineers behind the Alpha 1 series cameras, and benefiting from insights from professional photographers, the Xperia 1 V offers superior autofocus across all its lenses. Leveraging advanced computational processing, it excels at reducing noise and enhancing dynamic range, enabling vivid imaging even in dimly lit environments.
Unveiling the “Music Pro” feature, the Xperia 1 V empowers users to record high-quality vocal sounds without an external microphone, accommodating settings ranging from quiet spaces to those with reverberations. This extends to acoustic guitar and piano recording, broadening musical possibilities.
On the networking front, the Xperia 1 V supports common LTE bands used worldwide and boasts sub-6 NSA and SA 5G support across various bands. 5G BAND
NSA: n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n28, n38, n40, n41, n77, n78, n79
SA: n1, n3, n7, n8, n28, n40, n77, n41, n78, n79
Rounding out its features, the Xperia 1 V exhibits durability with its water-resistant (IPX5/IPX8) and dust-proof (IP6X) attributes. The device incorporates Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2 for the front and Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® for the rear, ensuring robust protection against wear and tear.
[nextpage title=”5G NSA, VoLTE and Speedtest”]
In 2023, numerous smartphone manufacturers are introducing new models. However, not all of these phones will be compatible with the existing telecommunications networks in every country. It is essential to conduct compatibility tests with the respective Mobile Network Operator (MNO) or Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO).
The screenshot provided below demonstrates successful connections to both the SIMBA 5G NSA network, with VoLTE provisioned and functioning properly. These tests have been conducted multiple times, and the results shown are the average performance observed at 10 a.m. in the morning
We also tested it on ZYM in 5G NSA. VoLTE is not supported on ZYM. This might change as 3G networks wil be shut down July next year. We attained a speed of 1.0456 Gbps and uplink speed of 68.6 Mbps.
[nextpage title=”Photos and Video Shot”]
Photos app
The main camera app on the Xperia 1 V is called Sony’s Photo Pro. In its Basic mode, you’ll use it for quick point-and-shoot photos when you don’t want to mess with advanced settings. There’s a new feature here called Night View, which can be set to Auto or turned off. Night View is like a special mode for low-light photos, and Sony says it’s more careful about when it activates compared to other phones. The only way to know if Night View is about to turn on is by the color change of its shortcut button (from white to orange).
The buttons for adjusting things like white balance, exposure, blurring the background (bokeh), how the camera takes continuous shots (drive mode), using the flash, and changing the photo’s shape are right next to the button you press to take a picture. The zoom control is also nearby, so you can do almost everything with just one hand, and you can use either the physical buttons on the phone or the on-screen buttons.
Video app
The Xperia 1 V also comes with the Video Pro app. This app gives you precise control over how your videos look, with options for adjusting exposure and choosing different frame rates. There is another app called Cinema Pro for that which is more complex and is meant for movie shoots.
You can even use the Video Pro app for live streaming on YouTube. Just log in with your YouTube account, set the video name and quality, hit the Record button.
The Video Pro app has a simple layout with the camera view on the left and controls on the right. In the Menu, you can choose which camera to use, the video resolution, frame rate, whether you want standard or high dynamic range (SDR/HDR), stabilization, and whether to use the flash. You can even record video at up to 4K120 resolution. For users in Asia and Europe, video shoot can be made in 25 fps instead of 30 fps or 60 fps. This reduces lots of flickering when you have a scene with a flourscent lamps or lights
In the video presentation below, we compared the recording of standalone photos and videos using the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G and compare it to the Sony Xperia 1 V.
A video shot shot using Xperia 1 V from default to maximum zoom at 125mm.
[nextpage title=”Geekbench Performance”]
The Sony Xperia 1 V is based on the Qualcom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Our score of 1962 / 5087 has topped the charts of Geekbench beating Galaxy S23 Ultra (single core) and Vivo X90 Pro+ (multicore).
Single/Multi Core
OpenCL
When it comes to the speed of OpenGL, it seems that the other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 devices seemed to be more optimised for performance.
[nextpage title=”Conclusion”]
Final Thoughts
I appreciate the elongated form factor of the Sony Xperia 1 V; it’s comfortable to hold due to its slim profile and narrower screen width.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance is commendable, with no noticeable heating issues. It maintains a comfortably warm temperature during regular usage, similar to other smartphones we use daily.
The camera impressively captures realistic photos with minimal post-processing. While this approach may occasionally result in overexposed shots under certain lighting conditions, it faithfully reproduces what it captures. Although computational photography has its merits, it can sometimes produce inaccurate results.
First-time users may find it confusing to have two separate photo apps on the phone. To simplify the user experience, Sony should consider consolidating these into a single app with both novice and professional modes.
Notably, the ability to shoot video at 25 fps reduces flickering under certain lighting conditions compared to 30 fps or 60 fps. The video stabilization is exceptional, ensuring steady footage even while walking. However, it falls slightly short in capturing fine details under low-light conditions (e.g., during sunset) compared to competitors like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+.
Additionally, the Sony Xperia 1 V offers compatibility with SIMBA for both VoLTE and 5G NSA, which is a pleasant surprise considering some newly launched devices still struggle with VoLTE support. This is crucial, especially with the impending shutdown of 3G networks next year, as users must rely on VoLTE for voice calls.
In summary, the Sony Xperia 1 V stands out as an outstanding smartphone designed with the user in mind. Its innovative SIM slot design, which doesn’t require an ejection pin, showcases Sony’s unique approach. The elongated design and slim bezels enhance its ergonomic feel. With its powerful processor, this phone is undeniably one of the fastest on the market, though it comes with a premium price tag of S$1939.
It is also available on Amazon – Sony Xperia 1 V 256GB 5G Factory Unlocked Smartphone [U.S. Official w/Warranty],Black USD 1398
Pros
Design
Performance
4K video shoot stabilisation
Innovative SIM Slot
Cons
Confusing Camera Apps
Pricing is too high
Ratings
- Performance 10
- Design 9
- Features 10
- Usability 7
- Value for money 7
- Score : 8.6 / 10
