The Sony Xperia 1 VII smartphone has arrived, presenting an updated version that visually resembles its predecessor. While the overall blueprint remains unchanged, including the same 6.5-inch display diagonal and 5,000mAh battery, the Xperia 1 VII introduces several key improvements across its features. The phone comes in two new colors, Moss Green and Orchid Purple, in addition to the existing Slate Black, making it easier to distinguish from the previous model.
Triple Camera System Details
The camera system retains a triple configuration on the back. The main shooter and continuous optical zoom lens are reportedly the same as before, a 24mm f/1.9 wide-angle camera featuring a 1/1.35-inch Exmor T sensor, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF). The telephoto lens has an 85mm-170mm focal range with an f/2.3-f/3.5 variable aperture and a 1/3.5-inch Exmor RS imager. This telephoto lens reportedly retains telemacro abilities, offering a 4cm minimum focusing distance at 120mm for detailed close-up shots. What’s new this year is the ultrawide camera. It’s still a 16mm lens but comes with a brighter f/2.0 aperture (compared to f/2.2 on the previous model) and features a larger 1/1.56-inch Exmor RS sensor, reportedly 2.1 times larger than the previous ultrawide sensor.
Camera AI Features and Button
The camera system is equipped with AI-infused Alpha smarts, leveraging technology from Sony’s Alpha camera line. Features include Sony’s real-time eye autofocus (AF) for both humans and animals, AI main subject recognition, AI white balance, AI exposure, and AI depth estimation. The camera also supports Ultra HDR, ensuring images “pop” on any supported HDR screen. Sony has also kept the physical two-stage camera button, which is described as being ever-so-slightly wider and more comfortable this year.
Audio and Storage
On the topic of features retained and enhanced, the Xperia 1 VII includes a 3.5mm audio jack. This year, it reportedly uses a higher-quality solder with added gold, a change intended to thoroughly minimize transmission loss for audio signals. Inside, the phone retains a premium-grade audio integrated circuit, consistent with its predecessor. For storage, the device includes a built-in microSD card slot, allowing users to greatly expand the phone’s 256GB of built-in storage capacity.
Durability and Performance
The Xperia 1 VII is built with durability in mind, featuring an IP68 rating for water and dust tightness. The display on the front is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and the back is safeguarded by GG Victus glass. For performance, the phone is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, which includes a vapor chamber cooling system to help keep the device cool during demanding tasks. It is paired with 12GB of RAM. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth with twice the transmission throughput of the previous Xperia 1 VI model.
Display and Sensors
The display is a 10-bit 6.5-inch 1080x2340px Bravia 120Hz OLED panel. This panel is described as nearly identical to the one on the previous Xperia 1 but is reportedly 20% brighter. Sony has integrated two illuminance sensors, one on the front and one on the back, to assist with precise brightness adjustment in different lighting conditions. There is also automatic color adjustment in different lighting, which increases both the brightness and the saturation in strong light to maintain visibility and vibrancy.
Speakers and Battery
Audio output is delivered through front-facing full-stage stereo speakers. These speakers are stated to have 10% richer bass and mid-bass compared to the previous model and were tuned in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment. The Xperia 1 VII retains the 5,000mAh battery capacity and supports 30W charging, neither of which is described as groundbreaking in the current market. However, Sony says users can expect 2 full days of endurance from the power pack, including up to 36 hours of continuous video playback.
Battery Health and Software Updates
Sony includes a set of battery-safety features, Xperia Adaptive Charging and Battery Care, that are stated to ensure 4 years of battery health. Sony says its battery will lose less than 20% of its capacity after 48 months of use. For software, the Xperia 1 VII ships with Android 15 out of the box. Sony pledges to provide at least 4 OS version updates and 6 years of security fixes, offering a commitment to long-term software support for the device.
Configuration, Price, and Availability
The Sony Xperia 1 VII is available in three color options: Slate Black, Moss Green, and Orchid Purple. It comes in a single configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage. A 512GB model will be available specifically for the Asian market. The phone is available for order in Europe and the UK and is scheduled to start shipping in June. The price is set at £1,399 in the UK and €1,499 in Europe.
