On this Thursday, May 11, 2023, Sony confirms its ambition to shake up the competition in the segment of photophones high-end with the Xperia 1 V, a smartphone that stands out for its display quality, its audio experience as well as its photo and video part, at a slightly more affordable price than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (but still salty).
After years of successive innovations, the Sony Xperia 1 IV introduced last year an optical zoom of 3.5x to 5.2x. This year, the Sony Xperia 1 V (pronounced 1 mark V) focuses on portrait functionality. At the same time, the Japanese giant is launching a new smartphone aimed at the general public, at less than 500 euros: the Xperia 10 V.
During its presentation, the Japanese manufacturer did not mention the future of its Xperia 5 series; it is rather unsurprising, because its quality/price ratio was much more interesting.
Sony Xperia 1 V: a serious competitor to Samsung’s flagships?
Overall, the Xperia 1 V benefits from relatively few changes compared to last year’s model. Indeed, it embeds the same 4K HDR OLED screen clocked up to 120 hertz on which we find the same thick borders which make it possible to camouflage the selfie camera and the duo of stereo speakers; we gain in immersion. There is also the 3.5 mm jack port and the 5000 mAh battery offering – according to the Japanese manufacturer – an autonomy of 20 hours in video playback.
This is compatible with 30 watt wired charging, which recovers 50% charge in 30 minutes, as well as 15 watt wireless charging. Also according to Sony, the proposed charging optimization technology guarantees that at least 80% of the maximum battery capacity is maintained after 3 years of use. To power its high-end smartphone, Sony chose the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, coupled with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage memory.
And to ensure its durability, the smartphone is covered, on its front and back, with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. In addition, it is IP65/68 certified against dust and immersion in water. Of course, it is on the side of photography that the manufacturer is still trying to push the limits imposed by the format of the smartphone. The back unit incorporates three modules: a 48-megapixel wide-angle (24 mm; f/1.9; 1/1.35 inch) which automatically generates 12-megapixel shots (thanks to pixel-binning technology), a dedicated 12-megapixel module for portraits (16 mm; f/2.2; 1/2.5 inches) and a 12 megapixel telephoto lens (85-125 mm; f/2.3 – 2.8; 1/3.5 inches).
Thanks to its new 1.7 times larger sensor, the Xperia 1 V can increase the brightness captured and reduce the noise level, to obtain more beautiful shots in low light conditions. As for the portrait mode, it takes advantage of new features to improve the rendering of the shots, whether on the general atmosphere with predefined settings, or on the precision given to the tone of the skin.
The Sony Xperia 1 V will be available for pre-order from 1er June, at the recommended retail price of 1,399 euros. Three colors will be offered: black, platinum silver and khaki green. For any pre-order before June 29, or any purchase before July 16 inclusive, a Sony WH-1000XM5 headset will be offered.
The smartphone will be delivered with Android 13, but the duration of support for new major versions of Android and the application of security patches has not been communicated by the manufacturer.
A light and durable model for less than 500 euros: here is the Sony Xperia 10 V
Quickly presented, the Sony Xperia 10 V is a mid-range smartphone that is particularly light (159 grams) and has a long battery life. It is equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED screen, in 21:9 format, 1.5 times brighter than last year. It is coated with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus to prevent scratches and signs of wear. Again, there are thick borders at the top and bottom of the slab to integrate the duo of speakers and the selfie sensor.
It’s also equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery giving it up to 34 hours of video playback time, according to Sony testing. Its rear panel incorporates three sensors: a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens offering 12-megapixel shots (16 mm; f/2.2), an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens (26 mm; f/1.8) and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens ( 54mm; f/2.2). Certified IP65/68, it is protected against dust and immersion in water.
Again, a 1.6x larger sensor allows it to capture more light for a brighter, crisper result in dark environments. If it also includes a 3.5 mm jack port for fans of wired headphones, it should be noted that it is nevertheless separated from the charger in its box, which also contains no plastic.
The Sony Xperia 10 V will be marketed from mid-June in black, white, lavender and sage green colors, at the recommended retail price of 449 euros. An introductory offer will make it possible to obtain a Sony WH-CH520 headset free of charge to accompany the smartphone.
Source: press release
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