Sony Xperia 1 V stands among the flagship smartphones that bring a good combination of new-age technology, high-class hardware, and unique design. Sony Xperia is a popular choice for professionals who have a keen eye for creativity and practicality. For those who are passionate about photography and videography usually rely on the complex features of Sony Xperia.
But the camera is not all for the show, and there are some cool features of this phone that make it a prominent choice in the legacy line of Sony Xperia.
In this article, I will discuss everything you need to know about the Sony Xperia 1 V, like features, specifics, and price tag. At the end, I will compare some factors to see if this phone is worth buying in this day and age.
So, let’s get started!
Xperia 1 V Features Table
| Launched date | 2023, May 11 |
| Size | 165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 187 g (6.60 oz) |
| Display | 6.5 inches 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio |
| Processor | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) 3.2 GHz Octa Core |
| Software | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory Variants | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | Triple Camera 52x48x12 MP HDR Supported with 4K recording |
| Front Camera | 12 MP HDR Supported with 4K recording |
| Audio | Stereo Speakers with 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
| Battery | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Max Charging Support | 30W Wired |
Design and Build Quality
Starting right off from the looks, Sony Xperia phones are popular for their tall and narrow design, which is much like their signature look. A similar shape and design concept can be seen with the Sony Xperia 1 V, where Sony delivered a sleek design with refined details that give it a premium look overall.
The Xperia 1 V has a matte finish on the back with fingerprints fingerprints-resistant design that gives it a clean, sleek, and premium look. The aspect ratio of the Sony Xperia 1 V is 21:9, which is pretty suitable for media consumption in the modern day. Moreover, it is ergonomic to hold the phone with such an aspect ratio using one hand only.
The durability is another major factor that makes Sony Xperia 1 V popular, as this phone comes with a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both front and back. This phone is sturdy enough to withstand scratches, minor bumps, and falls. And the most impressive part is the IP65/IP68 water and dust resistance rating which makes it even safer against external effects.
Display
Sony Xperia 1 V has certainly done well with the display technology because you need a better screen to display all those crisps and vivid images. The Xperia 1V carries this tradition with a stunning 6.5-inch 4K OLED display, which supports a maximum 3840 x 1644 resolution. Xperia 1 V is one of the few phones currently available in the market that truly offer a 4K display in their screen resolution.
And that’s not all, this massive 4K screen comes with 120Hz refresh rate support for buttery smooth animations. To make the colors more vibrant, the Sony Xperia 1 V screen also has HDR support, making the display color accuracy truly on point. The special thing about Sony’s displays is Sony’s Creator Mode, powered by CineAlta, which brings professional-grade color accuracy and is perfect for editing photos and videos.
Performance
The whole beautiful display of Sony Xperia 1 V is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which is one of the fastest mobile processors in its range. With this processor comes a massive 12GB RAM, which makes this phone a skyrocketing machine for gaming, multitasking, and intensive application use.
With such powerful hardware on board, you can easily record and edit high-resolution videos, play graphic-intensive games, and run multiple applications in multi-window at the same time.
Speaking of performance, the storage capacity is yet another factor that shouldn’t be ignored. The starting storage capacity of this phone is 256GB, which comes with an extendable MicroSD card slot to increase up to 1TB. Such an ample space gives you enough storage to record high-resolution photos and videos.
Software
Sony Xperia 1 V comes with the Android 13 software OS, which is upgradable to Android 14. Xperia’s comes with optimization options to keep the battery consumption optimized by the powerful Snapdragon processor.
Besides the basic Android, Sony has integrated a range of its cool features like Photography Pro and Cinema Pro apps, along with Game Enhancer, to deliver the true flagship experience. The operating system also lets you use multiwindow on the 21:9 screen to run two applications side-by-side at the same time.
Camera System
The camera system is probably the most impressive function of the Sony Xperia 1 V, which is exclusively designed for videography and photography enthusiasts. The Xperia 1 V comes with a triple-lens back camera featuring a 48MP wide sensor, a 12MP telephoto, and a 12MP (ultrawide). The special thing in this camera is the new Exmor T mobile sensor that is perfect for capturing low light images.
As for the front camera, the phone offers 12MP which is capable of capturing good images and videos as well.
Another unique piece of hardware is Sony’s real-time Eye AF (Auto Focus) and object tracking technology taken from its Alpha series cameras. This technology ensures to capture of sharp images and blur-free videos with a strong focus on objects.
Since Xperia 1 V supports 4K recording, it would certainly shoot and display some amazing slow-motion videos.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 V has a massive battery capacity of 5000 mAh, which is pretty standard in every flagship smartphone nowadays. For a power-hungry phone with a 4K display, 5000 mAh is a necessity. To give you an idea, the battery life of Xperia 1 V lasts about 6 to 7 hours on medium to heavy usage.
It offers you a life span of around 12 hours according to GSMArena. The phone does support 30W fast charging, which is not as impressive as compared to other phones that support up to 100W and 120W chargers. However, the battery life can be maintained and drained by the software capabilities of the phone.
Audio and Multimedia
You might be shocked to hear that the Sony Xperia 1 V has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, which is quite rare for many flagship smartphones in 2024.
Sony also holds a history of presenting unique audio devices with their iconic Walkman, which is why the company has kept its original headphone jack hardware alive. For music listeners with wireless hardware, Sony brings high-resolution audio, DSEE Ultimate, and LDAC for wireless high-res audio for enhanced quality.
Pricing
Last but not least factor is the price tag of the Sony Xperia 1 V, which is $1399 in the United States, far more expensive as compared to other smartphones in 2024.
The reason for such an expensive price tag is the 4K display, expensive camera hardware, and stunning display screen. However, it is not easy to accept that an Android phone could cost this much in 2024.
Sony Xperia 1 V is it Worth Buying?
If you are a videographer who wants to record stunning photos and videos, then the Sony Xperia 1 V is certainly worth buying. This phone offers everything from a professional camera setup powered by one of the fastest processors to a massive battery pack. However, for regular phone users who just want to listen to Spotify and scroll Instagram, the Sony Xperia 1 V could be a slightly more expensive option.
What I Liked:
● Stunning 4K OLED display
● Professional-grade camera with manual controls
● Excellent performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
● Clean, near-stock Android experience
● Durable build with IP65/IP68 rating
● 3.5mm headphone jack and high-res audio support
What I Didn’t Like:
● Expensive compared to competitors
● Fast charging speeds could be better
● A tall aspect ratio might not appeal to all users
Conclusion
Sony Xperia 1 V is a solid phone with unique features and so far, it’s the best flagship phone of its lineup. The phone offers everything from premium hardware to a sleek look, and let’s not forget the 3.5mm headphone jack.
However, if I compare the Xperia 1 V with its other competitors, then the phone is not worth its price tag. Yet, it depends on your choice and preference to go with this smartphone.
