Expected release date and what we know so far

Replace: Might 3, 2024 (4:30 PM ET): We’ve up to date our Xperia 1 VI hub with a brand new batch of official-looking pictures and all the newest leaked specs, together with horsepower and battery capability, cameras, and extra.

It’s been nearly a 12 months for the reason that Sony Xperia 1 V landed on retailer cabinets, and as such, we’re fascinated by Sony’s subsequent flagship smartphone. Whereas the present flagship is a superb Android smartphone, it’s arguably just a little stale. So, what may we count on from the Xperia 1 VI? Right here’s all the pieces we all know up to now about Sony’s future flagship.

Sony has earned a popularity for its predictable launch schedule inside the Xperia line. This consistency, together with a flurry of current leaks revealing the cellphone’s design and potential specs, closely factors in the direction of an imminent launch of a Sony Xperia 1 VI. What’s extra, Sony has lately introduced a significant upcoming occasion — a probable platform for the Xperia 1 VI’s official unveiling.

• Sony Xperia 1 III — July 1, 2021
• Sony Xperia 1 IV — June 1, 2022
• Sony Xperia 1 V — Might 11, 2023

Whereas Sony hasn’t confirmed the Xperia 1 VI’s existence but, the lately introduced “Xperia particular occasion” on Might 17 coincides with Sony’s custom of unveiling its flagship Xperia units through the early summer season months. With the previous three Xperia 1 fashions launching throughout Might, June, and July, we will count on the Xperia 1 VI to comply with swimsuit.

Whereas the cellphone may not be in the stores proper after Might 17, the occasion will possible showcase its options and probably supply particulars about its market availability.

Particulars have been considerably scarce till early Might 2024, when a significant report supplied a ton of obvious particulars. So between this report and different rumors, what do we all know in regards to the Xperia 1 VI?

Sony’s monolithic black slab makes the vary readily identifiable towards the competitors, but it surely’s fairly tough to inform any of its telephones from the previous 5 years aside. That’s not good if you’d like your newest cellphone to seem recent and thrilling. Nevertheless, Sony did tweak the components a bit with a brand new rugged again for the Xperia 1 V, however that hardly shakes issues up meaningfully. Thus far, there’s nothing to recommend that Sony will get any extra adventurous than that with the general look.

It’s potential there might be a minimum of one notable change to the design, which can find yourself being controversial for some. Leaker Zackbucks on Weibo claimed that the Xperia 1 VI’s dimensions will likely be 162 x 74.4 x 8.45mm. This is able to make the VI shorter and wider than its predecessor, which measures 165 x 71 x 8.3mm. The tipster went additional so as to add that Sony will drop the 21:9 display screen ratio in favor of a 19.5:9 ratio, making the show 149.6mm x 69.4mm (~6.5 inches diagonal).

One other rumor, courtesy of tipster OnLeaks (by way of Android Headlines), helps the concept the cellphone will likely be shorter and wider. In keeping with this rumor, the machine could have a 6.5-inch show and measure 161.9 x 74.5 x 8.4mm.

Extra lately,  X/Twitter user @MysteryLupin posted a whole album of official-looking pictures of the Xperia 1 VI, confirming key particulars in regards to the cellphone. It does appear to be its predecessors and is available in three colour variants, together with basic black, silver, and olive inexperienced. We additionally acquired a glimpse of an official Sony case with a built-in kickstand. All colour variants of the cellphone appear to function a frosted matte end on the again. The trusty 3.5mm headphone jack additionally makes its return on the prime edge.

A 3rd-party Chinese language cellphone case maker put up a list for a Sony Xperia 1 VI case on March 29, 2024. On the time of writing, the itemizing remains to be up and viewable. Whereas the pictures may give us one other have a look at the handset, it’s potential these pictures aren’t precise renders and are simply artist interpretations.

A leaker who goes by @INSIDERSONY on X (previously Twitter) shared a tip on what might be the smartphone’s digital camera specs. In keeping with the tipster, all three rear cameras will likely be Exmor T 48MP lenses.

The principle shooter is claimed to be 1/1.4 inches with a 1.12 μm pixel measurement and an aperture of f/1.4. This sensor reportedly additionally has full-pixel dual-PD autofocus and might ship 2x optical zoom. Whereas the ultrawide is available in at 1/2.7 inches with a 0.6μm pixel measurement. The leak says it options Sony’s 2×2 on-chip lens tech, which permits the digital camera to focus rapidly and precisely. Lastly, the third digital camera is claimed to be a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and 6x sensor crop zoom.

One other rumor, this time from a Japanese publication known as Smartphone Digest, suggests the Xperia 1 VI could have a function that provides a digital signature to altered pictures. It’s unknown how this function will work, however Sony did put out a press launch a few similar-sounding in-camera digital signature chip. This signature additionally permits individuals to see the place the picture has been tampered with. It’s possible this might be one thing used for AI-edited pictures.

A current report by MSPoweruser delivered a ton of purported specs. The cellphone is claimed to pack a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with improved cooling, a variable refresh price OLED display screen (1 to 120Hz) that’s 1.5 occasions brighter, a 5,000mAh battery with wi-fi and reverse wi-fi charging, and a 3.5mm port.

Switching to the cameras, the outlet claims that the Xperia 1 VI will convey a 16mm ultrawide digital camera, a 24mm primary digital camera (no shock right here), and an 85mm to 170mm variable telephoto digital camera. The latter corresponds to ~3.5x to ~7x telephoto zoom. Moreover, the web site asserts that Sony is ditching its varied Professional digital camera apps in favor of a single digital camera app that additionally helps pose estimation for higher focusing.

What would possibly the Sony Xperia 1 VI value be?

We don’t see Sony charging below $1,000, and it’s unlikely it might cost greater than $1,600. Rumors declare the 4K show goes away in favor of a 2K show, which means that Sony might be aiming to make the worth just a little extra aggressive this time round. On condition that final 12 months’s entry bought for $1,400, we may see the worth falling someplace below that.

One obvious leak by Sumahodigest means that the cellphone will retail for TWD 39,900 (~$1,233 USD) in Taiwan.

With Might 17 not being too distant, it is sensible to attend for what Sony has in retailer with the Xperia 1 VI. That being mentioned, the Xperia 1 V ($1398 at Amazon) remains to be round, and Sony followers can’t go flawed choosing up the present mannequin if they will discover it for a less expensive value. If finances is a priority, Sony’s extra reasonably priced Xperia 5 V ($799.94 at Amazon) is out there for European clients.