Sony Xperia 1 V: Comprehensive Review. The Sony Xperia 1 V arrives in the summer of 2023 as the new flagship from the Japanese company, adhering to its philosophy of progressive improvement rather than reinventing itself every year. With a unique design and high-end specifications, this device promises to be one of the best smartphones of the year. Below is a detailed analysis of its features and performance.
Sony Xperia 1 V
Sony Xperia 1 V Technical Specifications
Display:
- 6.5-inch OLED panel
- 3,840 x 1,644 pixels resolution
- 643 pixels per inch
- 21:9 aspect ratio
- HDR BT.2020
Dimensions and Weight:
- 165 x 71 x 8.3 mm
- 187 grams
Processor:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM:
- 12 GB LPDDR5X
Storage:
- 256 GB UFS 4.0
Front Camera:
- 12 MP f/2.0
- 1/2.9-inch sensor
- 4K30 recording
Rear Camera:
- Main: 48 MP f/1.9, OIS, equivalent to 24 mm
- Ultra-wide: 12 MP f/2.2
- Telephoto: 3.5x zoom f/2.3 to 5.2x f/2.8, OIS
Battery:
- 5,000 mAh
- 30W wired charging
- Wireless and reverse charging
Operating System:
- Android 13
Connectivity:
- WiFi 6e
- NFC
- Bluetooth 5.3
- GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
- Headphone jack
- USB-C with video output
Other Features:
- Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen
- IP68 certification
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Easily removable SIM and microSD card
- No charger in the box
Price:
- $1,539
Design That Maintains Tradition
Since 2019, Sony has adopted a unique design with a 21:9 screen ratio, which is still present in the Xperia 1 V. This elongated design offers a different feel when holding the phone, which might be liked or disliked by users, but it is undoubtedly distinctive.
The Xperia 1 V retains the matte black finish and camera module arrangement similar to its predecessors, with slight changes. The back is made of glass with Gorilla Glass Victus protection and a textured surface that improves grip and prevents fingerprints. The aluminum sides and grooved design offer a premium feel.
In terms of ergonomics, the Xperia 1 V is not slippery and is comfortable to hold. The left side is clear, while the right side has volume buttons, a lock button (which acts as a fingerprint sensor), and a dedicated camera button with a rough texture for ease of use.
4K Display and 21:9 Aspect Ratio
The display of the Xperia 1 V is one of its standout features. With a 4K resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio, it offers an impressive visual experience. The 6.5-inch OLED panel is bright, with spectacular color reproduction and HDR BT.2020 support, making it ideal for consuming multimedia content.
While the 21:9 format might be uncomfortable for some users, especially when typing with both hands, it facilitates one-handed use and split-screen content viewing. However, when playing videos in popular formats like 16:9, black bars appear on the sides.
The panel is not LTPO, which limits the refresh rate to 60 Hz or 120 Hz fixed, without dynamic adjustment. This could affect energy efficiency, but the image quality is exceptional.
Surround Sound and Dynamic Vibration
The Xperia 1 V features front-facing speakers designed to deliver 360 audio and enhance the horizontal content experience. Although the maximum volume is not as high as expected, the sound quality is good and does not distort at higher volumes.
Additionally, Sony has included a vibration system that enhances immersion in certain applications. Users can connect high-definition headphones to enjoy a superior audio experience.
Performance and Temperature Management
Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Xperia 1 V offers excellent performance, although it has temperature management issues. During intensive use, such as gaming or 4K video recording outdoors, the device tends to heat up, which can cause throttling and affect sustained performance.
Other phones with the same processor manage temperature better, indicating that Sony's cooling system could be improved. Despite this, the RAM and storage are fast, allowing for handling heavy files without problems.
5,000 mAh Battery
The 5,000 mAh battery of the Xperia 1 V provides decent autonomy, allowing for an average use of one day and 14 hours with approximately five hours and 38 minutes of screen time. The 30W wired charging can recharge 50% in 32 minutes and 100% in 96 minutes. It also supports wireless charging, although at a slower rate.
Sony has included several battery care modes that can be activated to prolong battery life. These modes are well explained in the device settings.
Software and User Experience
The Xperia 1 V comes with Android 13 and Sony's customization layer, which largely respects the pure Android experience. The interface is clean and smooth, with some well-explained customization options. However, it lacks facial recognition, relying solely on the side fingerprint sensor, which is somewhat slow.
In terms of bloatware, Sony does not overload the device and allows the user to decide which applications to install during the initial setup. Some creative applications like Music Pro, Cinema Pro, Video Pro, and Photo Pro come pre-installed, offering useful tools for content creation.
Camera System
The main camera of the Xperia 1 V features a new 1/1.35-inch 52-megapixel Exmor sensor, delivering impressive results thanks to pixel binning, producing 12-megapixel images with great detail and low-light performance. The Photo Pro camera app allows both automatic and manual shooting, offering an experience similar to that of a professional camera.
The Sony Xperia 1 V follows the Japanese philosophy of progressive perfection. Although it has some temperature management issues and lacks certain modern features like the LTPO panel, its unique design, 4K display, sound quality, and camera system make it an attractive option for those seeking a premium phone with distinctive features.
