The Sony Xperia 1 VI is out now, however lots of you might be most likely questioning if the hefty price ticket (€1,399) is basically value it or if final 12 months’s Xperia 1 V would just do advantageous—particularly contemplating the cheaper price tag of round €850. That is practically twice as low-cost.
If it had been that easy, we would not have carried out an intensive comparability between the 2. The newer Xperia 1 VI does issues a bit in another way, and we consider that many of the modifications are for the higher. Nonetheless, it is laborious to justify the large value hole, so we dive deeper into the totally different features like show, battery life, efficiency, digital camera, and so forth. Nothing trumps real-world expertise.
So how a lot better is the Sony Xperia 1 VI to deserve its value premium? Let’s look into it.
Desk of Contents:
For starters, you possibly can examine the whole specs sheets or straight proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.
Measurement comparability
Regardless of the Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 1 V sharing the identical display diagonal, dimensions are fairly totally different, and maybe everybody may have an opinion on which one feels nicer to carry.
Since Sony modified the show’s facet ratio, the newer 1 VI turned out to be wider and shorter. That is in step with the present design requirements and steers away from the “remote control” really feel of its predecessor. The latter is sensibly slimmer and taller, making it straightforward to carry, however reaching the highest a part of the show along with your thumb is a problem.
No important change in thickness and weight, although. At the very least not a noticeable one.
Show comparability
That is maybe the largest change on this 12 months’s Xperia 1 VI. Some could say it is a downgrade, however it’s for the higher.
The brand new Xperia 1 VI presents a 6.5-inch OLED show like final 12 months, however dials down on decision. It is now 1080 x 2340px with a extra in style 19.5:9 facet ratio. The older Xperia has a 21:9 facet ratio and a 1664 x 3840px decision – a standout configuration within the smartphone world as an entire.
Nevertheless, the 4K decision was hardly ever utilized. The truth is, there are solely a few situations (video playback included) that triggered the complete 4K decision. The remainder of the time, the system prefers 1080p. So, on the finish of the day, you are not lacking out on pixels.
Furthermore, the latest Xperia employs a extra energy-efficient LTPO OLED panel with a variable refresh charge and achieves significantly larger brightness in auto mode – 1,310 nits vs. 936 nits, in response to our exams.
Battery life
The 2 Xperia’s have reliable battery lives, however the clear winner is the newer 1 VI. It isn’t solely higher when it comes to general endurance (17:27h vs. 12:24h Energetic Use Rating), however it additionally beats its predecessor in most situations.
The Xperia 1 VI’s internet searching and video playback runtimes present an enormous enchancment during the last technology in addition to a measurable one within the gaming take a look at. Our greatest guess is that the extra environment friendly FHD+ LTPO show is the one responsible. Curiously sufficient, the final 12 months’s 1 V scored higher within the 4G speak state of affairs.
Charging pace
Each handsets aren’t significantly aggressive on this regard, so it is secure to say that the Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 1 V are equally gradual to the end line. The 2 telephones are each rated at 30W of max charging energy, however in our testing, the newer Xperia is a tad quicker to cost to 100%. The distinction is simply 7 minutes, although.
Upon additional testing, we discovered that the Xperia 1 VI performs effectively with faster-charging adapters, so it is possible for you to to squeeze out a few share factors for those who use a higher-rated USB Energy Supply charger.
Speaker take a look at
Though Sony did not emphasize a lot on the improved sound system on the Xperia 1 VI, we observed a couple of issues.
Firstly, the 1 VI is notably louder than its predecessor, and secondly, it has good tuning general. The truth is, it is most likely secure to say that the Xperia 1 VI has top-of-the-line audio system we have heard shortly. The sound is hotter, fuller and extra energetic in comparison with the Xperia 1 V., which sounds boring and flat in comparison with the 1 VI.
Efficiency
Naturally, the newer Xperia 1 VI is quicker than the older 1 V because it employs a more moderen chipset. Now we have the newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs final 12 months’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Xperia 1 V. Each the CPU and GPU promise a noticeable bump in uncooked efficiency.
No change within the reminiscence configurations, although. Each gadgets ship with 12GB/256GB. Storage continues to be expandable – a rarity amongst flagship smartphones. Sadly, the 512GB variant is offered solely in Japan in the intervening time.
Benchmark efficiency
There is a measurable distinction between the 2 telephones, with the Xperia 1 VI providing about 25% quicker CPU and greater than twice the GPU efficiency; our 1 VI unit did not appear to make the most of the SD8 Gen 3’s full potential because it posted decrease benchmark scores than different flagships. Nonetheless, our CPU and GPU throttling exams confirmed favored the Xperia 1 VI over the 1 V.
Digital camera comparability
The 2 Xperias share the identical digital camera {hardware}, however there are a few modifications to the telephoto digital camera on this 12 months’s 1 VI that add worth to the general consumer expertise. The brand new telephoto is able to 7.1x optical zoom and 4cm focusing distance at 120mm, which suggests some stable macro capabilities.
The primary digital camera makes use of a 48MP, 1/1.35″, 1.12µm sensor coupled with f/1.9 aperture. The telephoto is 12MP f/2.3-3.5, 1/3.5″ with variable optical zoom 85-170mm, which roughly interprets to three.5x-7.1x. The older Xperia makes use of the identical setup however with as much as 5.2x zoom.
The third digital camera is 12MP f/2.2, 1/2.5″ ultrawide and likewise stays unchanged between the 2 generations. The identical goes for the 12MP f/2.0 selfie unit.
A notable distinction between the 2 telephones lies in software program. Sony has streamlined the digital camera expertise this 12 months and is placing all of the Professional-oriented options within the default digital camera app. No want for apps like Cinema Professional, Video Professional, and so forth. All options and settings can be found within the newly designed digital camera app. A few of the Professional video capturing choices obtainable on the Mark V will solely be added to the brand new digital camera app on Mark VI this Fall.
Nevertheless, the Xperia 1 VI will get a brand new full-res 48MP mode on the first digital camera. The ultrawide digital camera has additionally gotten an automated Closeup mode. And general, the brand new digital camera app feels so much snappier than earlier than.
Picture high quality
In terms of high quality, the primary and ultrawide cameras output virtually equivalent stills. It is laborious to note any distinction in any respect, however we did see a unique tonal curve on the Xperia 1 VI, resulting in brighter and crisper highlights.
Xperia 1 VI: 0.7x • 1x • 2x • 3.5x • 5.2x • 7.1x
The Xperia 1 VI pulls forward on this comparability with significantly sharper and extra detailed 2x crop zoom stills from the primary cam. The standard enchancment is well seen.
Xperia 1 V: 0.7x • 1x • 2x • 3.5x • 5.2x • 7.1x
Curiously sufficient, the Xperia 1 V appears to supply nicer 3.5x zoom photographs. The samples are cleaner and extra detailed. The 5.2x comparability between the 2 is a reasonably shut name, however the Mark V’s 5.2x photos once more look a tad higher. And in good gentle, the 7.1x optical zoom offered by the 1 VI is marginally higher in comparison with the digital zoom from the Xperia 1 V on the identical zoom stage.
Xperia 1 VI: 0.7x • 1x • 3.5x • 5.2x
Nighttime pictures appears to be comparatively the identical this 12 months, with little to no distinction in the primary and ultrawide cameras’ processing. The newer Xperia has a slight benefit over its predecessor within the telephoto division with nicer noise discount and a tad higher sharpness and element within the 3.5x zoom mode. Nevertheless, the 5.2x lowlight zoom photographs come out unsatisfactory from each telephones.
Xperia 1 V: 0.7x • 1x • 3.5x • 5.2x
Sony deserves reward for the brand new telemacro mode supplied by the Xperia 1 VI. It’s most likely the primary cellphone in the marketplace to supply telemacro pictures with such a excessive magnification. Nevertheless, getting good pictures out of it requires a tripod and good lighting.
Xperia 1 VI telemacro mode
Video high quality
The 2 cameraphones report identical-looking movies with their primary and ultrawide cameras, however there is a noticeable distinction within the telephoto’s output. Neither zoom digital camera delivers standout video high quality, however for some motive, the older Xperia has a tad clearer and extra detailed movies throughout all zoom lengths – 3.5x, 5.2x, and 7.1x included.
Xperia 1 VI: 0.7x • 1x • 3.5x • 5.2x • 7.1x
Xperia 1 V: 0.7x • 1x • 3.5x • 5.2x • 7.1x
Verdict
The Xperia 1 VI is definitely Sony’s greatest Xperia but. It arrives with loads of upgrades – the higher show general (we do not miss the hardly ever used 4K decision), the longer battery life (among the many greatest there’s), the extra simplifсed and versatile digital camera expertise (with telemacro mode and as much as 7.1x stepless optical zoom) and top-of-the-line audio system we have skilled.
The Xperia 1 V, nevertheless, presents largely the identical consumer expertise as its successor, so the query stays whether or not these upgrades are definitely worth the €550 value premium. If the value hole between the 2 wasn’t as vast, we might have simply really helpful the newer Xperia, however in the intervening time, that is not the case.
- The brighter show with typical facet ratio.
- The longer battery life.
- The nicer audio system.
- The longer optical zoom.
- The brand new telemacro mode and automated Closeup mode on the ultrawide.
- The extremely detailed full-res 48MP photographs from the primary cam.
Get the Sony Xperia 1 VI for:
- The significantly cheaper price.
- The higher telephoto high quality in some circumstances.
- The distinctive tall design and facet ratio.
Get the Sony Xperia 1 V for: