Sony Xperia 1 IV Review: A Flagship Phone Experience

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a powerhouse of a phone, with a 6.1-inch 4K OLED display that's a joy to look at. It's got a 3800mAh battery that will keep you going all day.

This phone is built with durability in mind, featuring an IP68 rating that can withstand dust and water. The phone's design is sleek and minimalist, with a focus on functionality.

The camera system is one of the standout features of the Xperia 1 IV, with a quad-camera setup that includes a 12-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a time-of-flight camera.

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The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a design that's both professional and premium, with a grippier matte frame and rear frosted glass finish.

The phone has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on both the front and back, as well as IP65 and IP68 certifications for water resistance.

The display still features symmetrical bezels on the top and bottom, with a 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display that looks great, regardless of whether you're gaming or playing back HDR video.

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Sony's suite of color and white balance options is available to further tweak the panel to your taste.

The display has a 642ppi resolution, a 21:9 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it one of the nicest-looking displays on the market.

The phone also features a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner.

The Xperia 1 IV's design is a masterclass in professionalism. It features a grippier matte frame and rear frosted glass finish, a significant improvement over its predecessors.

The phone's boxy design is a departure from the previous flagships, giving it a unique look. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection is present on both the front and the back, ensuring durability.

The display still has symmetrical bezels on the top and the bottom, a hallmark Xperia design. The front-facing dual stereo speakers and the front camera are placed in these bezels.

The left side of the phone is completely devoid of any controls or ports, with only antenna bands present. The microSD/SIM card combo tray is now found at the bottom, along with the USB-C 3.2 port and the primary microphone.

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A fingerprint reader is embedded into the power button on the right side, along with a volume rocker and a dedicated 2-stage shutter button. The phone is available in three colors: Black, White, and Purple, with only Black and Purple being available in the North American market.

Here are some key design specs:

The matte back is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet, but less so than glossy models. The metal chassis adds an extra premium touch to the phone.

Sony's 4K OLED display is a standout feature, offering a 6.5-inch screen with a 3,840 x 1,644 resolution and 642ppi. This results in a crisp and vibrant viewing experience, perfect for gaming or watching HDR video.

The display's 21:9 aspect ratio is a unique feature, making it ideal for multitasking and scrolling through social media. However, it can also make the notification shade harder to reach with one hand.

The screen's 120Hz refresh rate is a nice touch, providing smooth scrolling and a more immersive experience. But, it's worth noting that the phone is locked to 60Hz out of the box, requiring users to manually switch to 120Hz for optimal performance.

Here are the key specs of Sony's 4K OLED display:

The display's increased screen brightness is a welcome addition, offering better outdoor viewing and making it suitable for use cases like shooting video or using the phone as a monitor for your Sony Alpha camera.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is powered by the 4 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and an Adreno 730 GPU, accompanied by 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. This powerful combination makes it suitable for everyday apps and multitasking scenarios.

The phone features a large 5000 mAh battery, which is an improvement over the 4500 mAh battery of the previous model. This increased battery life is a welcome addition, especially for heavy users.

The Xperia 1 IV's display is a 21:9 4K CinemaWide HDR 10-bit 120 Hz OLED display, which is improved with 50% more brightness compared to the previous model. This makes it ideal for watching movies and videos.

The phone has a touch sampling rate of 240 Hz, which is faster than many other smartphones on the market. This means that the display responds quickly to touch inputs.

Here are some key specifications of the Xperia 1 IV:

Unfortunately, the phone's performance is not without its issues. In stress tests, the phone's GPU performance is below par, with scores falling to below previous generation handsets after just a handful of runs. This is likely due to the phone prioritizing temperature and power consumption over peak performance.

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The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a triple camera setup, with all three cameras being 12 Megapixels. The main camera has a 24 mm f/1.7 lens with optical image stabilization, while the ultrawide camera has a 16 mm f/2.2 lens.

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The Xperia 1 IV's continuous zoom telephoto lens is a major improvement over its predecessor, allowing for zooming between 85mm and 125mm without stepping or digital zoom. This is achieved through a periscope design, and the telephoto sensor is rumored to be an IMX650, a 40-MP sensor with a 1/1.7-inch optical format.

All three cameras use ZEISS T✻ (T-Star) anti-reflective coating on each lens. The main camera can digitally zoom up to 300mm with the "AI super resolution zoom" feature. The telephoto lens has phase-detection autofocus, and the ultrawide camera also has phase-detection autofocus.

The Xperia 1 IV can record 4K video up to 120 FPS and 2K video up to 120 FPS. It also has improved Realtime Tracking with enhanced Eye AF for human, animals, and birds.

The front-facing camera is a 12 MP sensor, the Sony IMX663, which is the same sensor used in the Xperia 1 III's telephoto camera and the Xperia PRO-I. This makes it comparable to the Google Pixel 6 Pro's front camera.

Here's a breakdown of the ISO range and its corresponding image sizes:

The sample images from the Xperia 1 IV camera showcase its capabilities, with a range of settings and conditions.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV runs on the latest Android 12, with promise for 2 major Android software revisions and 3 years of software support.

This ensures the device stays up-to-date with the latest features and security patches for a long time. The Xperia 1 IV also comes with 3 different camera apps, each designed to take advantage of its advanced camera hardware.

These camera apps include "Photo Pro", developed by Sony's α (Alpha) camera division, which offers full manual control, and "Cinema Pro", developed by Sony's cinematography division CineAlta, which is geared towards professional movie-making.

Here are the different camera apps available on the Xperia 1 IV:

The Xperia 1 IV runs on the latest Android 12, with promise for 2 major Android software revisions and 3 years of software support.

This means you can expect regular updates and security patches to keep your phone running smoothly for a long time.

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The phone also comes with three different camera apps, each designed to take advantage of its advanced camera hardware.

These apps include "Photo Pro", which offers manual control settings similar to those found on Sony's professional cameras; "Cinema Pro", developed by Sony's cinematography division CineAlta, for professional movie-making; and "Basic Mode", a more accessible camera app with additional controls.

Here are the three camera apps available on the Xperia 1 IV:

Ease of Use is a top priority for any software, and for good reason. A user-friendly interface can make all the difference in getting work done efficiently.

A cluttered interface with too many features can overwhelm users, leading to frustration and decreased productivity. This is evident in the example of Project Management software, which should have a clean and organized layout to help users stay focused.

Intuitive navigation is key to making software easy to use. For instance, a well-designed search function can save users a significant amount of time searching for specific features or tasks.

Some software developers take it a step further by incorporating tutorials and guides to help users get started. This is a great way to onboard new users and ensure they feel comfortable using the software from the beginning.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a massive 5,000mAh battery, giving you a full day of use and often more.

The battery has seen a significant increase from the previous generation, which had a 4,500mAh battery.

With the 120Hz display mode enabled and taking plenty of photos and 4K video, the battery life will be affected, but you'll still have some juice left at the end of the day.

Sony claims the battery will still have more than 80% capacity after three years of charging, which is great for long-term use.

Here are the battery specs at a glance:

Fast-charging at 30W is decent, but it's not the fastest. It takes about one hour and 36 minutes to fully charge the battery.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV camera is quite impressive, with a range of sample images showcasing its capabilities.

The camera has a 12 megapixel JPEG setting, allowing for high-quality images to be captured.

Sample images are available in various formats, including 1/25s · f/1.7 · ISO 200 and 1/100s · f/1.7 · ISO 80.

These images demonstrate the camera's ability to handle different lighting conditions, from bright to low-light situations.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV also enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files, giving them more flexibility when editing their photos.

Some sample RAW images are available for download, including 1/25s · f/1.7 · ISO 200 and 1/100s · f/1.7 · ISO 80.

These RAW images can be edited using software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, allowing users to enhance their photos to perfection.

The camera's ISO range is quite impressive, with settings available from ISO 32 to ISO 200, making it suitable for a wide range of photography scenarios.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV's camera also features a range of focal lengths, including 5.11mm, 2.67mm, and 14.5mm, giving users more creative control over their shots.

Users can download the original sample images to see the full resolution and quality of the camera's output.

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The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a premium phone that's packed with features, but it's not for everyone. It's available in the US, UK, and Europe, with three color options: Black, Ice White, and Purple.

You can get the phone in two storage configurations: 12GB/256GB or 12GB/512GB. The price varies depending on your region, with the 12GB/256GB version costing £999/€1,099 and the 12GB/512GB version costing $1,399.

One of the standout features of the Xperia 1 IV is its camera, which boasts a new variable focal length periscope zoom camera. This is perfect for content creators who want to take their mobile photography to the next level.

The phone also has a robust camera system, with features like live streaming support for gaming and video. It's also compatible with Sony Alpha camera supporting features, making it a great choice for photographers.

In terms of performance, the Xperia 1 IV is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and 12GB of RAM. This provides smooth and efficient performance, but it's worth noting that you can get similar specs at a lower price point elsewhere.

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The phone also has a few unique features that set it apart from other flagships. For example, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot, which is a rare combination in the premium tier.

Here are some key specifications of the Sony Xperia 1 IV:

Overall, the Sony Xperia 1 IV is a great choice for content creators and photographers who want a phone that can keep up with their demands. However, it's worth considering the price and whether it's worth the investment.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a 6.5-inch OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate, making it a great option for watching videos and gaming.

The display is also protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, which is known for its durability and resistance to scratches and cracks.

In terms of performance, the Xperia 1 IV is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which provides fast and efficient performance.

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The phone has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, with support for microSD cards for expandable storage.

Here's a quick rundown of the Xperia 1 IV's key specs:

Overall, the Sony Xperia 1 IV seems like a solid choice for anyone looking for a high-end Android smartphone with impressive specs and features.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a 6.5-inch OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate, making it a great choice for watching videos or playing games.

Its processor is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which provides robust performance. The phone also comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, although the US version has 512GB.

You can expand the storage further with a microSD card, which is a nice feature for those who need more space. The phone also has a 5,000mAh battery, which should last a long time.

Here are the key specs at a glance:

The phone also has stereo speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a nice touch for those who still use wired headphones.

The Xperia 1 IV is a pricey phone, originally priced at $1,599, which is a significant amount for most people.

In the US, it's hard to recommend the Xperia 1 IV over the newer Xperia 1 V, which has improved specs and a similar price point of $1,398. The Xperia 1 V also comes with pre-order bundled goodies, making it a better value.

If you're looking for a more affordable option in Europe or the UK, the Xperia 1 IV's discounts as low as £999 might make it a more viable choice. However, this is still a significant investment.

Samsung's Galaxy S23 Ultra is a notable competitor, offering a competitive camera setup, faster performance, and a host of other comparable features for hundreds of dollars less in the US.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra also comes with a four OS and five-year security update pledge, making it a more attractive long-term investment. You can even get the top model with 1TB storage for the same price as the Xperia 1 IV.

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If you're willing to spend top dollar, the foldable Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Google Pixel Fold offer genuine design innovation in the smartphone space.

For those in the Apple ecosystem, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers a robust camera setup, powerful performance, and long-term updates for a lower price of $999.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a generous internal memory, with the UK/European model offering 256GB and support for up to 1TB micro SDXC cards.

In the US, the version ships with an even larger 512GB of internal memory, which is a significant upgrade for users who need more storage space.

The phone also features a single front-facing 'selfie' camera with improved 12MP resolution, 78° field of view and f/2.0 maximum aperture.

This improved camera will come in handy for taking high-quality selfies, and the wider field of view will allow for more people to be included in the shot.

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