Verdict
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a earpiece that proffer benefits that other earpiece do n’t cede . It says " no " to the notch , " yes " to expandable storage and the headphone jack , and includes an optical soar photographic camera . However , photograph tone does n’t agree the best in most respect , and the gadget becomes hot all too often , narrowing its appealingness significantly .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Xperia 1 IV is Sony ’s top phone for 2022 . It continue the trend go down by previous models in this lineup , such as the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 1 II , and it ’s very like to the newerXperia 1 Vtoo .
This means you get a “ 4 K ” screen , an strange television camera array , and photography computer software signify to feel more like the interface of one of Sony ’s Alpha - serial mirrorless tv camera .
There ’s wad that ’s interesting here , with a unique periscope television camera the ace piece of hardware . It has a “ true ” opthalmic zoom , meaning the 3.5x to 5.2x range is handled by motivate lens elements inside the periscope camera , rather than digitally soar upwards in and hoping for the good .
good photographic camera phoneever ? Perhaps not . Sony ’s software takes some of the fun out of casual photography , and its comprehensive manual control condition is arguably more utilitarian for video than stills . As with zoom lenses made for “ right ” cameras , the sharpness of the varying field of view periscope is n’t nigh as full as that of more conventional meridian designs such as that of theHuawei P50 Pro .
In gain , the gadget often becomes hot , and like many Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 headphone , thermal strangulation erodes the item of having such a powerful CPU . It ’s an issue solved by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset within the Xperai 1 V , which may sway you towards the newer modelling .
Even at a reduced £ 880 stick with the firing of the Xperia 1 quint , the Sony Xperia 1 IV stay on a pricey option , especially given its poor thermal carrying into action . However , it has a bunch of interesting feature article that have n’t been examine elsewhere , and I ’ll take a look at a smattering of them in this critical review .
Design and Screen
You do n’t come to a Sony Xperia phone for design introduction and experiment . The Sony Xperia 1 IV looks very much like its predecessors ( as well as its successor , the Xperia 1 V ) and Sony has mined this severe black brick fashion for what feel like forever .
However , it ’s still distinctive among rivals . Some might even call it “ iconic ” .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV ’s back is a flat slice of flatness glass , and a bevel margin of aluminum sits between this rear glass and the front panel of Gorilla Glass .
Both bit of glass are Gorilla Glass Victus – the best you could get in a phone . And unlike some earlier versions of matt glass , the back of this gimmick does n’t pick up fingermark mark too readily .
This is an signally “ Sony ” blueprint , one that may seem sophisticated and elegant next to try - hard flagships such as the Oppo Find X5 Pro .
As in old years , there ’s no showing notch . And the shape of the screen answer in a very stretch form . The Sony Xperia 1 IV is only 71 millimetre wide , which makes it unco well to handle for a phone with straight - cut side .
This earphone also has a 3.5 mm earpiece diddlysquat , bucking the trend other manufacturer have been so quick to follow . Despite this , the Sony Xperia 1 IV still offersIP65/68water - resistance . No - one should be surprised by this ; Sony was the original master of water - resistant phones a decade ago .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV even has a microSD time slot , which model on the back of the SIM tray . Most wo n’t need to apply a card , since even the foot model comes with 256 GB of storage , but the flexibility is welcome . You could call this an “ old schooling ” approach , but this suggests it ’s go out in some way ; it is n’t . Offering expansile repositing is a consumer - friendly move .
The speakers mould a standard stereophony array – one on the bottom , another above the cover . These pop the question becoming maximal volume but poor sea bass liken to the estimable . Sony adds a dynamic quiver feature to even off , where the vibrate motor bombinate along to the round to increase the perception of bass when the phone is placed on a flat airfoil .
I ’m certain this had some welfare in previous Sony phones I ’ve used , but it does n’t here . It sound more like an nettlesome booster beg along to a song ’s drumbeat ; perhaps the Sony Xperia 1 IV ’s haptics are just too refined for it to function efficaciously .
The haptic feedback you get elsewhere is super - exact and snappy , supporting this mind . you could use either face unlock or the side - mounted fingerprint digital scanner to unlock the Sony Xperia 1 IV . This is another Sony trait : where other maker are big into in - screen fingerprint recognition , Sony sticks with its sometime style .
Sony is n’t out to meet with all of its competitors at some point in the future , just out of view . That said , I find curved glass a giving part of what makes an expensive speech sound feel expensive . The Sony Xperia 1 IV does n’t look “ £ 1299 expensive ” , skillful as it is .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a 4 special K sieve . Sony has trotted out such screens since 2015’sXperia Z5 Premium , and I ’ve never really found a compelling manipulation for such gamy pixel density . The headphone ’s actual answer is 3840 x 1644 pixels .
Years ago we had phone VR , which benefit from all those pixels ; but phone VR is n’t really a thing anymore .
Sony tries to prove its worth by using super - small fonts in the Sony Xperia 1 IV as standard . The airheaded matter is the Sony Xperia 1 IV does n’t actually render its user interface at 4 K most of the time , instead upscaling from 1080p – apart from in quality apps .
If you have a wind of long - sightedness then you ’ll require to find up the text size . And , unfortunately , this mess up the “ cool ” look of the interface .
showing timbre is excellent . This is anOLEDscreen with a 120Hz refresh pace , great maximal brightness and well - calibrated colour .
The Creator display mode has the warm - reckon colour tone you ’d see in the “ pro graduate ” modal value of a Sony TV , while stock mode is on paw for those who prefer a cooler tone of voice and high saturation . It can appear to have more pop , more puncher ; but Creator mode is technically superior .
Performance
The Sony Xperia 1 IV initially ran Android 12 out of the box seat , though it received the update to Android 13 in April 2023 . It ’s essentially a stock version of Android , though with a few custom Sony tweaks on top .
There ’s one distinct Sony variety in the port . The Sony Xperia 1 IV ’s app menu supports folders , for unspoilt organisation of your app program library . This also helps to half - hide some of the rubbish Sony has installed on the earpiece .
It includes LinkedIn , Booking.com , a twain of Amazon apps and Tidal . While these are n’t useless apps , when third - company apps are preinstalled unasked for , they ’re ads of a sort . Ads in a headphone that costs this much ? Not ideal .
Still , it is n’t worth fix broken about ; you may erase them . The phone also hasBravia Corepreinstalled , a video streaming app made for this phone and select Bravia tv set . you could stream a selection of Sony Pictures movies freely ( 12 months of access is included ) , and appear to get five “ credit ” to unlock newer titles such as the famously awful Morbius ; as well as much better picture such as Sound of Metal , at the time of review .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is powered by theSnapdragon 8 Gen 1processor , a super - capable top - end Qualcomm chipset . bench mark examination show the awesome in the buff power of the chipset . It scores 3283 ( 1141 per meat ) detail in Geekbench 5 , and a grand 7750 in 3DMark ’s Time Spy test , more or less matching other phones with this CPU such as theOnePlus 10 Proand Xiaomi Poco F4 GT .
However , the more I practice headphone with this chipset , the less I care it . That peak top executive does n’t really give a realistic indication of real - world carrying into action , as a 3DMark stress test indicates .
This 3DMark programme runs a 1 - minute test 20 times , and strangulation happens almost instantly in the Sony Xperia 1 IV . Its functioning stability is just 46.3 % , intend the phone miss more than one-half of its maximal power over fourth dimension .
Even the second mental testing , just one arcminute after the start , fancy a drop of roughly 25 % . Those Geekbench 5 scores are even more useless here as an actual indicator of performance than they usually are .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV ’s worst 3DMark heaps are actually low-pitched than those of a Snapdragon 870 , which I see recede virtually none of its king over the same 20 - minute test in the rather good Realme GT Neo 3T.
Reasons for performance throttling become obvious when you start using the Sony Xperia 1 IV . It gets live often , and not only when you work demanding 3D games . On one twenty-four hour period , just a minute or so of recording video clip with the camera saw the “ in high spirits heat energy ” qui vive pop up , disabling sure features . download stuff while you browse the internet make meaning heat anatomy - up .
This is a red-hot phone . It ’s an matter Sony phones brook for a while years ago , but this fourth dimension I blame the Qualcomm SoC more than the specifics of the hardware plan .
play , video chat , large Indian file downloads and video recording cause these problem most noticeably . The phone does n’t run hot 24/7 , but this still is n’t ideal . And those tasks mentioned wo n’t be performed only seldom .
It ’s worth remark that Sony has improved the thermic performance of the new Sony Xperia 1 V and its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset . We ’ve witness that it does n’t brook from the same fast-growing choking as the 1 IV , so it could be deserving opting for the unexampled model if you intend on putting the earphone through its rate on a daily basis .
Camera
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is led by its television camera . We get five of them here , although one of those is a prison term - of - trajectory sensing element , likely used for depth detection and possibly autofocus subject tracking .
A truthful optic rapid growth is the booster cable tie , but you may be surprised to pick up the Sony Xperia 1 IV actually uses the sameprimarysensor as the Sony Xperia 1 II and Sony Xperia 1 III . It ’s the Sony IMX557 , a 1/2.3 - inch chip that ’s a honest great deal smaller than the sensors of other top - tier up earphone , but one that also avoids pixel binning .
If you ’re looking for upgraded main sensor performance , the unexampled Xperia 1 V and its main 52MP Exmor T sensing element may better fit your needs .
comparatively stupid motion picture processing seems to be to pick , because having reviewed the hundreds of picture I ’ve taken with the Sony Xperia 1 IV , all sorts of subject pop up , depending on the type of view depicted . Sometimes delineation backed by a low-spirited sky display skew color that makes skies face unnatural with , for illustration , an excessively green tone .
Sometimes , there are bollix up high spot that should n’t be present take how in force competitor are at avoiding such issues . At other times , the darkness detail in a dark field of study set against a bright sky are n’t nearly lifted enough . Browns can seem too purple , and shots that do n’t have a clear “ bright ” reference point to use to gauge the exposure are routinely too bright , which flattens contrast and give the image appear lifeless .
Most of these exit , bar overexposure , can be fixed in the edit . I ’ve date some review say you call for to have experience of picture taking to get the best out of the Sony Xperia 1 IV . But the headphone itself does n’t help you , because the preview image in the app give you a flat - out poor account of what the final picture will attend like .
Here are some of the Sony Xperia 1 IV photo , alongside some speedy and dirty Photoshop cut to show how the software let down the computer hardware ’s bare-assed abilities :
With colour temperature / balance and exposure tramp all over the shop class , the Sony Xperia 1 IV ’s hit pace is disappointingly low-toned . However , it does have some important high - end capabilities , including a 12 - megapixel ultra - wide television camera that does n’t lag far behind the primary in terms of dynamical kitchen stove and point .
It ’s mi better than the extremist - wide of the much cheapermid - range phonesI’ve used of late . The main camera ’s non - pixel - bin coming also moderate to very good rendition of knavish , fine texture such as Gunter Wilhelm Grass and foliage . A more celluloid appearance up - close is common among phones that apply pixel binning , although topic have improved in the past yr or so . The Pixel 6 phones are a good example of this .
Next , let ’s lecture about the periscope rapid climb . The Sony Xperia 1 IV has an optical rapid growth that can shift from 3.5x to 5.2x . There ’s no audible mechanical whirr as this happens , of the form you ’d acknowledge in a ceremonious motorised rapid climb ; but you could see something moving inside , if you look directly down into the lens .
This is very nerveless technical school for a wandering phone . While I get laid zooms in telephone , and typically end up taking far more images with them than the broad or radical - wide , the Sony Xperia 1 IV ’s periscope zoom fall flat .
Part of this is down to the issues already mention . Blown - out surface area in pictures are common , as are too - vivid image that , while not shove off out , appear bland - calculate and lifeless . This camera often does n’t have the clearance for such an step-up in exposure , either . It has a small sensor , so undertake to create a hopeful picture can lead to the use of a higher ISO , which obliterate fine detail .
There are also some more fundamental issues . The optic zoom ’s genus Lens is soft . vivid light sources smear , there ’s significant chromatic aberrancy , and the softness of the look-alike means you ca n’t get the sort of keen point you ’d hope to see in such a “ lossless ” zoom style .
There are hardware compromises , too . While the soar uses a enceinte 40 - megapixel IMX650 sensor , it employs only a relatively small serving of it . This is because in club to match a 5.2x zoom with a 1/1.7 - inch sensor , you ’d require lense component far too great to fit in the Sony Xperia 1 IV .
While I would n’t recommend the Huawei P50 Pro to many westerly emptor , its 3.5x rapid growth is far practiced than the 3.5x mode here . It develop sharper , more elaborate pictures . As a roving speech sound rapid climb lover , I had more fun using Samsung ’s super - zoom earpiece than this one .
Here ’s a comparison :
The Sony Xperia 1 IV isn’tthatgreat at night , either . Its low - light epitome are n’t just beaten by the Huawei P50 Pro , they ’re bettered by theOnePlus Nord 2 T , too .
Some may reason that Sony has but avoided the affected tone of today ’s dedicated night modes . bonny enough – the Xperia does n’t over - clear image in the way most do . However , neither does it recover anything like the same level of shadow item , nor provide the same sharpness as those mood – and it still take longer than most to capture a gibe .
Here ’s another equivalence :
Sony just does n’t look to have the software and processing to vie at this level . But it does initially put up a convincing front in another surface area .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV has an strange coming to photographic camera software program . Its primary app is inspired by Sony ’s Alpha cameras . There ’s a “ basic ” mode that feel more like a received camera app , and “ priority ” modes that make manual ascendence easier to handle . Sony pairs this software package with a strong-arm shutter button that can be half - demoralise to initiate focus – as in previous model in the range .
The manual control software is found on the “ PASM ” criterion : Program , Aperture , Shutter Speed , Manual Exposure . But there ’s one part that ’s been impart out here , because the Xperia 1 IV does n’t have adjustable aperture . The idea is that in each of these you control one core property ( two in the subject of Program ) and rent the camera balance the rest .
These modes are mostly useful if you ’ll practice the Sony Xperia 1 IV on a tripod , because otherwise your originative options are extremely limit by what is possible when shooting handheld . And when shooting in bright locations , it ’s only aperture priority ( the miss one ) that offers particularly interesting creative avenue in my feeling .
This is the reasonableness I believe the Video Pro app is perhaps number more interesting . This is the dedicated telecasting gaining control app , and it again focuses on manual ascendance . The idea is that you plant the ISO , the shutter speed – or both – so the Sony Xperia 1 IV does n’t end up scale its vulnerability up and down all the time . This can extend to more professional - look resultant , if the scene has the lighting to suit .
You also have much better control over the focus and “ surge ” than normal . However , when you surge enough to flick to one of the other lens , there ’s a clash jump as the field of opinion shifts .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV camera array is a mixed affair , but the selfie camera is great . Again , it uses a 12 - megapixel sensing element . you could employ the CRT screen as a fond diffuse flash , but even without it persona hold up okay in muddied indoors alight .
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a 5000mAh battery and does n’t include a charger . Charging speed is piteous for a phone at this monetary value , with a maximum draw of 30W.
Exact charging speed may deviate between adaptor , but I tried one that perpetrate around 30W according to my index meter . The Sony Xperia 1 IV touch 50 % in 37 minutes , display 100 % charge at the 1hr 48min mark .
I ’ve used too many fast - charge Realme , Oppo , OnePlus and Xiaomi sound in the past to not see this kind of charging swiftness mildly uncheerful . But it ’s true that Samsung and Apple phones are also comparatively slow to buck .
The 5000mAh barrage fire ’s stamina is fine , but little more than that . On most days the telephone ’s battery life is in exclusive figures by bedtime , and while I ’m a fairly heavy drug user , I do n’t think this is going to be anything close to a two - day - manipulation phone for anyone .
Perhaps we should be grateful for the 5000mAh content , though . If it had 4500mAh , we ’d likely be looking at a twist that just did n’t last long enough . Real - world stamina here is roughly like with other recent top - end phone .
you may use a wireless Qi charger to power up the Sony Xperia 1 IV at up to 15W. If you work from home or in an office , using one of these is a room for ponderous users to annul any shelling life frustration .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
Sony offer a different kind of top - end Android phone , one that reject trends that have tump over many over the years . It has a headphone jack , expansible memory and some feature not seen elsewhere – such as almost over - the - top manual photographic camera control package .
This is an extremely expensive sound that becomes hot a lot of the time . And , despite being dressed up like a Sony mirrorless photographic camera , most of the pictures it produces need some editing to expect their proficient .
Final Thoughts
Sony has n’t transfer focussing with the Sony Xperia 1 IV , but it still offers several features you do n’t get elsewhere . It ’s a top - tier telephone set with a headphone jack , expandable memory and an unusual take on what a smartphone camera should feel like .
It has an optical zoom lens system and multiple apps that focus on manual command for stills and picture . While other earphone offer the same control , the Sony Xperia IV open them out to make them easier to use – much as they may seem intimidate at first .
However , actual image caliber is mixed . Image processing lags behind the best , the preview image in the app is miserable , and the special sharpness of the soar lens restrain the entreaty of the super - advanced sounding rapid climb .
The Sony Xperia 1 IV also suffers overheating issues and costs a low lot . While it ’s a great phone , you should have a special tolerance for such problems at this toll .
The newer Sony Xperia 1 V fixes some of the main complaints of the IV , include that abominable thermic execution and image processing , but it ’s also one of ( if not the ) most expensive candybar telephone set around at £ 1,299/$1,399 .
Trusted Score
How we test
We quiz every mobile phone we go over thoroughly . We use diligence stock tests to compare feature film decent and we use the phone as our main equipment over the critique period of time . We ’ll always tell you what we get and we never , ever , have money to review a ware .
FAQs
The Sony Xperia 1 IV propose first-class IP68 water resistance , meaning it ’s designed to wield submersion in water at a depth of 1.5 m.
Unlike most top - end phones , the Sony Xperia 1 IV features a Graeco-Roman 3.5 mm earpiece jack .
The earphone only has one SIM time slot , but the tray does have space for a microSD card .
Test Data
Full Specs
Sustainability
TrustedReviews ’ holds the fact that global warming is not a myth as a core value and will continuously endeavor to help protect our major planet from harm in its commercial enterprise drill .
As part of this foreign mission , whenever we review a merchandise we send the fellowship a serial publication of questions to help us gauge and make transparent the shock the twist has on the environment .
We currently have n’t received answer to the questions on this product , but will update this page the bit we do . you could see a detailed breakdown of the questions we need and why in oursustainability info Thomas Nelson Page .
