Sony Xperia 1 IV makes its debut advertised with the slogan "Speed is everything" and speeds up with a more efficient processor and a larger battery. In many ways, however, it resembles the successful Xperia 1 III and, like it, it won’t be cheap.
Sony Xperia 1 IV - the best of generation III
It is impossible to talk about Sony Xperia 1 IV so as to avoid comparisons with its predecessor. Sony consistently stays with the OLED display with 4K HDR with a diagonal of 6.5 inches working with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Another hallmark is the cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio. A decent display that encourages you to watch movies should offer a perfect picture, but for the experience to be full, it will also be accompanied by stereo speakers.
The Japanese manufacturer also does not fail in terms of resistance to environmental factors. As in the case of the Sony Xperia 1 III, we find here the classes of resistance to dust and water: IP65/IP68, as well as Corning Gorilla Victus glass, which should provide basic protection against scratches and breakages.
Photos with smooth optical zoom
At first glance, it seems as if nothing has changed in the case of cameras: 3 Exmor RS sensors, 12 Mpx each, a ToF sensor and a dedicated physical shutter button, but in this case appearances are very deceptive. The cameras are similar when we take into account the main and wide-angle units, while the telephoto lens works in a periscope system and offers a real smooth optical zoom in the focal length range of 85-125 mm.
The main camera works with f/1.7 aperture and the equivalent focal length of 24 mm. It is equipped with an Exmor RS 1/1.7" matrix and optical image stabilization. The unit with wide-angle optics is also the Exmor, but this time with an f/2.2 aperture. 16 mm focal length and a 1/2.5" matrix. The 1/3.5" matrix has been equipped with a telephoto lens with optical stabilization. Apart from the smooth zoom in the focal length range of 85-125 mm, its aperture works in the f/2.3-f/2.8 range.
The front camera got a slightly better photo sensor: instead of the 8-megapixel 1/4" unit we have a 12-megapixel Exmor with a size of 1/2.9".
Sony Xperia 1 IV offers video recording in 4K resolution at 120 fps, but also automatic focus that tracks the eyes of the filmed person, regardless of the lens used. Additionally, the sound can be recorded in stereo.
New processor for the fourth generation
The Snapdragon 888 is still an efficient unit, but the fourth generation Sony Xperia 1 will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The battery capacity will also increase slightly: from 4500 to 5000 mAh. The manufacturer promises a wired charging with a 30 W charger to 50% of the capacity in 30 minutes, but only if you buy a suitable charger, because Sony's green policy excluded its presence in the set. It will also be possible to charge the smartphone wirelessly. During the press meeting, I was a bit scared by the information about the 3-year battery life. However, I assume, in line with the infographics, that only after 3 years it will start to noticeably decrease its capacity, and not that after 3 years it will refuse further cooperation.
Sony Xperia 1 IV will be available in black, purple and aquamarine in only one memory set: 12 GB RAM + 256 GB ROM, but with support for microSD cards. Ah - and there will be a 3.5 mm jack.
Sony Xperia 1 IV has probably evolved in a good direction, taking into account the technical specifications. The smooth zoom is something special, the processor and battery update as well as the facelift of the front camera are enjoyable, although these are not drastic changes. The Xperia 1 series remains a tasty morsel for rather wealthy enthusiasts or for anyone who appreciates high quality and is able to swallow an equally high price. It promises to be a great but again an elite smartphone. Sales of Sony Xperia 1 IV will start in mid-June 2022.
{SPEC:22711}
