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Sony has introduced its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VII, integrating advancements from its Alpha camera, Walkman audio, and BRAVIA display technologies. The device is now available for order in the UK and Europe, priced at £1,399, but it is still unclear if it will make it to the US market.
Camera: AI Features and Sensor Improvements
The Xperia 1 VII features a triple-lens rear camera system, including a new 48MP ultra-wide sensor with a larger 1/1.56-inch sensor size, approximately 2.1 times larger than its predecessor which should improve low-light performance and reduce image noise. The telephoto lens offers optical zoom ranging from 85mm to 170mm, which equates to about 2x. Whils
Sony has introduced AI-based features such as ‘AI Camerawork’ and ‘Auto Framing.’ ‘AI Camerawork’ uses image stabilisation to assist in maintaining steady and centred videos whilst ‘Auto Framing’ automatically tracks and centers the subject within the frame.
These are relatively modest upgrades, but the 48MP ultrawide is distinctive and could offer something special. We’ll have to wait and see how good it is when we get hands-on.
Display: Brighter Screen with Adaptive Technology
The Xperia 1 VII is equipped with a 6.5-inch OLED display that incorporates technology from Sony’s BRAVIA televisions. The display features dual light sensors on the front and back, enabling it to adjust brightness, colour gamut, and colour temperature based on ambient lighting conditions. In other words, this is Sony’s version of an adaptive display.
Sony claims the screen is 1.5 times brighter than its predecessor but no specific nits rating has been provided yet. The 4K display from the Xperia 1 V hasn’t made a return either after some speculation that it might.
Battery and Performance: Newer Chip, Same Battery
The Xperia 1 VII packs the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, much like other Android flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 series and OnePlus 13. This is an upgrade over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip found in the Xperia 1 VI. It also comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage via a microSD card.
As for the battery, it remains at 5,000mAh which is still sizeable but doesn’t hit the heights of the 6,000mAhs+ in some Honor, Huawei and OnePlus phones. However, efficiency improvements from the newer chip and software upgrades should mean that battery life is longer than that of the previous generation.
Conclusion
Overall, this seems like a solid release from Sony with some minor upgrades in places and fairly major ones when you consider the 48MP ultrawide. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip brings it in line with competitors from a performance point of view, as do the AI capabilities. Keep your eyes peeled for our full review!
