Launch date, rumors, specs, value, what we wish to see

Sony launches the Xperia 1 collection of flagship telephones yearly, providing a high-end, premium-priced expertise. 2022 noticed the Japanese big ship maybe its most compelling Xperia 1 system but within the Xperia 1 IV. However what ought to we count on from the 2023 system? Right here’s the whole lot we all know and assume we all know concerning the Sony Xperia 1 V.

Sony has supplied an Xperia 1 collection flagship Android telephone yearly since 2019, so we have now no purpose to imagine that the corporate will cease in 2023. The model’s cellular division additionally seemingly turned a nook in 2021, making a quarterly revenue for the primary time since 2017. You subsequently should assume that the corporate is dedicated to launching the Xperia 1 V with the intention to proceed this comparatively current run of economic success.

The Japanese big hasn’t confirmed the Xperia V launch simply but, but it surely is perhaps slightly too early for that affirmation to be forthcoming. Extra on that under.

• Sony Xperia 1 — February 25, 2019
• Sony Xperia 1 II — February 24, 2020
• Sony Xperia 1 III — April 14, 2021
• Sony Xperia 1 IV — Might 11, 2022

Sony tends to be everywhere in the case of really revealing Xperia 1 collection handsets. The primary two gadgets have been revealed in late February, whereas the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 1 IV have been revealed in Q2.

We’re guessing that Sony will skip a MWC 2023 reveal for the Xperia 1 V, because the occasion is just some weeks away on the time of writing and we haven’t seen any teasers from the corporate simply but. So we’d count on a reveal between March and Might.

However Sony has a status for making customers wait a very long time between the reveal and the on-sale date. For instance, the Xperia 1 V arrived in some international locations on June 16 (slightly below a month after the reveal) however solely hit the US on September 1. The Xperia 1 III was unveiled on April 14 however solely landed within the US on August 19. In different phrases, don’t be stunned if it’s important to wait a month or 5 after the reveal till the precise Xperia 1 V launch date.

Design

An obvious Sony Xperia 1 V picture was leaked earlier this month through a Weibo person, and it means that Sony is sticking with the identical elementary design because the earlier handset. Meaning what seems to be a matte glass again and a plain, vertically stacked rear digital camera system. Try the leaked image under.

The picture doesn’t give us a full concept of what to anticipate from a design perspective, but it surely positively suggests extra of the identical. So these hoping for a drastic overhaul is perhaps disillusioned right here.

Specs

Maybe probably the most notable Xperia 1 characteristic is the 4K/120Hz OLED display screen, and we’re anticipating the Xperia 1 V to supply this show once more. This implies you possibly can really view 4K content material in native 4K in your telephone.

Our foremost grievance with the Xperia 1 IV and III was that the telephone didn’t supply a dynamic refresh price. You have been both caught with 60Hz on a regular basis or 120Hz on a regular basis, so hopefully a dynamic choice is added that robotically switches between varied refresh charges as wanted.

As is the case with many high-end Android telephones in 2023, we’re anticipating the Sony Xperia 1 V to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. So that you shouldn’t have any complaints about gaming efficiency or efficiency typically if that is so.

Both approach, we’re cautiously optimistic that the Xperia 1 IV’s disappointing sustained efficiency and efficiency typically will likely be a factor of the previous. We additionally hope the telephone doesn’t run as scorching as final 12 months’s handset. Different Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 telephones appear to do a good job of warmth dissipation, however a telephone’s design, inner cooling programs, and software program tuning all play an element right here. So we’ll simply have to attend and see.

One of many prime causes to purchase a Sony smartphone is for the digital camera expertise, with Sony’s previous couple of Xperia flagships providing professional digital camera apps and extra. We’re subsequently anticipating these professional apps to make a return.

Sony has additionally doggedly caught to a triple 12MP digital camera system for just a few generations now, so don’t be stunned if we see the identical digital camera resolutions this 12 months. However the firm might want to supply a higher-resolution foremost digital camera if it decides to undertake 8K video recording on the brand new telephone.

The Xperia 1 IV stood out from the pack because of its use of a 12MP variable telephoto digital camera, able to switching from 3.5x all the way in which as much as 5.2x. One explicit rumor factors to Sony providing a slim variable periscope digital camera module from LG able to repeatedly zooming from 4x to 9x. The aforementioned picture leak additionally reveals a triple rear digital camera system with a periscope digital camera. So it appears like a periscope shooter is on board on the very least.

• Sony Xperia 1 II — $1,199.99
• Sony Xperia 1 III — $1,299
• Sony Xperia 1 IV — $1,599

You solely want to have a look at the value pattern above to comprehend that the Sony Xperia 1 V will possible value an arm and a leg. The Japanese agency has embraced a premium technique to its smartphones, prioritizing excessive costs and a premium expertise over a volume-driven strategy.

The pattern of value will increase from 12 months to 12 months means that the Xperia 1 V would possibly even be costlier than the $1,600 Xperia 1 IV. However we additionally wouldn’t be stunned if the corporate sticks with the present (nonetheless super-expensive) value level.

In different phrases, you shouldn’t maintain your breath for the Xperia 1 V to dip under the $1,000 mark and even match the Galaxy S23 Extremely‘s $1,200 price ticket.

Nonetheless, if Sony can repair the place it went improper with final 12 months’s telephone (efficiency, zoom high quality, trendy digital camera modes, software program updates) whereas bettering its strengths, then we could possibly be in for an excellent expertise.

A protracted-term replace pledge

Sony has at all times disillusioned in the case of replace commitments, with the Xperia 1 IV solely providing a measly two main OS updates and three years of safety patches. That’s completely mediocre in 2023 when Google, OnePlus, Samsung, and others are providing far longer Android replace insurance policies.

We’re subsequently holding out for Sony to carry a long-term replace pledge to the Xperia 1 V. This isn’t simply because it’s a flagship Android telephone, but in addition as a result of the telephone is anticipated to value $1,200 or extra. By comparability, even Samsung’s $300 telephones outlast Sony’s flagship telephones for software program updates.

The Xperia 1 III actually blazed a path with its variable telephoto digital camera, able to switching between 2.9x and 4.4x however not really stopping at any interstitial zoom ranges. Sony mounted this downside with the Xperia 1 IV, providing a variable telephoto shooter with steady zoom capabilities.

The primary concern with this present variable digital camera is that it provides a comparatively slender zoom vary (3.5x to five.2x). So we’d prefer to see the corporate providing a wider zoom vary, doubtlessly delivering 9x or 10x optical zoom. This manner, the Galaxy Extremely vary can have some competitors on its arms in the case of long-range zoom.

Extra launch markets

Sony retreated from a bunch of locales in 2018, selecting to stay with the likes of North America, Europe, and Asia. You have been subsequently out of luck for those who needed to purchase a Sony telephone in Latin America, Africa, the Center East, and India.

The corporate’s present technique appears to be paying dividends, so we are able to’t count on the corporate to return to an enormous geographical footprint. However we’d positively prefer to see just a few extra markets return to the desk so extra fans can simply purchase the Xperia 1 V.