The Sony Xperia 1 V (One Mark Five) was launched in the summer of 2023 as Sony’s latest flagship smartphone, tailored to photography and videography enthusiasts. With its sleek, rectangular design, it sports a stylish, minimalist look.
Powering the Xperia 1 V is the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, paired with a substantial camera upgrade: a new 48 MP main sensor, significantly larger than its predecessor’s. Interestingly, while the base storage has been reduced to 256 GB (down from last year’s 512 GB), the starting price has dropped by $100—though it still sits at a premium $1,400.
Is it worth the high price? We’ll dive into its specs, display, camera performance, and battery life to help you decide.
Sony Xperia 1 V Highlights
Pros:
- Elegant, lightweight design
- Extensive manual camera controls for photography and videography
- Quick, responsive eye-tracking autofocus
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other premium phones (excluding foldables)
- Camera quality lags behind competitors despite its focus on photography
- Limited to just two years of Android updates
What’s New
- 48 MP sensor, almost 1 inch in size
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 upgrade
- Focus peaking added to camera apps
- Minor design tweaks with a textured back and ribbed frame
- Base storage cut to 256 GB
- No more Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor due to the improved main camera sensor
Detailed Review Breakdown
- Design & Colors: The Xperia 1 V sticks to its signature classy aesthetic with colors like Black, Platinum Silver, and Khaki Green.
- Display: A 6.5-inch 21:9 OLED screen, featuring a sharp 4K resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate.
- Camera: The phone’s highlight, with a 48 MP sensor, manual control options, RAW export, and variable optical zoom from 3.5x to 5.2x.
- Performance: Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offering smooth performance.
- Software & Battery Life: Sony’s software combined with decent battery endurance, but with only two years of updates.
- Audio & Charging: Stereo speakers and good audio quality, though charging speeds could be faster.
In essence, the Xperia 1 V is a premium flagship that remains geared towards camera enthusiasts, though its high price tag and camera performance relative to competitors may give some buyers pause.
The Sony Xperia 1 V was launched with a price tag of $1,400 USD. This premium price reflects its flagship features, including the upgraded 48 MP camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and sleek design. However, despite the $100 price reduction compared to its predecessor, it’s still positioned in the upper price tier, which might make it a tough sell for some buyers.
Conclusion
The Sony Xperia 1 V is undoubtedly a powerhouse, especially for photography and videography enthusiasts who appreciate manual controls and raw output capabilities. With its upgraded 48 MP sensor, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and stunning 4K display, it’s a flagship device that offers a unique experience, particularly in terms of camera performance. However, the $1,400 USD price tag is steep, especially considering its competition offers similar or even superior features, particularly in image quality, for less.
While the Xperia 1 V delivers in terms of design, display, and camera flexibility, the high price, limited software updates, and camera performance that doesn’t always surpass its competitors may give potential buyers pause. If you’re a Sony fan or a camera enthusiast who values manual control, this phone could be worth it. Otherwise, there are other premium phones that offer better value for money.
