Sony’s Xperia series has always stood out with unique designs and features. However, the Xperia 1 VI takes a different route, shedding some of its distinctiveness for more mainstream appeal. This shift doesn’t mean it’s a bad phone, but it raises the question of whether it’s the right choice for everyone.
Design & Build
The Xperia 1 VI marks a departure from Sony’s trademark tall, narrow design. Instead, it adopts a more conventional 19.5:9 aspect ratio, making it similar to competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
The dimensions are slightly altered—3mm shorter and 3mm wider than its predecessor—but it feels significantly different in hand. The new design is easier to hold and use with one hand, despite being a bit heavier at 192g.
The back of the phone sports a textured matte coating, available in Platinum, Black, or Khaki Green, which adds grip and resists fingerprints.
However, this didn’t prevent damage when dropped from a low height, despite the Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The phone also includes practical features like a 3.5mm headphone jack, an easily accessible SIM tray, and a reliable side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Screen & Speakers
The Xperia 1 VI’s display has taken a step back from the 4K resolution of its predecessor to a Full HD+ (1080 x 2340) 6.5-inch OLED panel.
This might disappoint 4K enthusiasts, but the LTPO technology allows the refresh rate to drop to 1Hz to save battery. The screen can reach up to 723 nits, ensuring good visibility even in bright sunlight.
The dual stereo speakers provide clear and balanced audio, though they aren’t as loud as some rivals and can distort at higher volumes. The 3.5mm jack and support for Hi-Res LDAC audio will please audiophiles.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12GB of RAM, the Xperia 1 VI delivers excellent performance across all tasks. Whether it’s web browsing, gaming, or multitasking, the phone handles everything smoothly. However, it tends to overheat during intensive use, such as gaming or charging.
With 256GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1.5TB via a microSD card, and the latest connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the Xperia 1 VI is well-equipped for modern needs.
Cameras
The Xperia 1 VI features a 50Mp main camera, a 12Mp telephoto lens with 3.5x to 7.1x optical zoom, a 12Mp ultrawide lens, and a 12Mp front camera.
The main and telephoto lenses produce excellent photos with great detail and dynamic range, while the ultrawide lens is a bit weaker, especially in low light. The telephoto lens excels in macro photography, offering some of the best close-up shots available on a smartphone.
Video recording is possible up to 4K at 60fps, but this consumes a lot of storage. The default 1080p at 30fps mode is adequate for most needs, though it sacrifices some detail and exposure quality.
Battery Life & Charging
The Xperia 1 VI boasts a 5000mAh battery, providing impressive two-day battery life with moderate use. This is a significant advantage over many competitors.
However, the 30W wired charging is relatively slow, taking around 80 minutes to fully charge. The phone also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Software & Updates
Running on Android 14, the Xperia 1 VI offers a clean and uncluttered user experience, close to Google’s vision for Android. Sony’s ‘Side sense’ feature and a few pre-installed apps add some unique touches, but they can be easily disabled or removed.
Sony promises three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, which is decent but falls short compared to competitors like Samsung and Google, which offer longer support.
Specifications
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- RAM: 12GB
- Storage: 256GB (expandable up to 1.5TB via microSD)
- Display: 6.5-inch Full HD+ LTPO OLED, 120Hz
- Main Camera: 50Mp
- Telephoto Camera: 12Mp (3.5x-7.1x optical zoom)
- Ultrawide Camera: 12Mp
- Front Camera: 12Mp
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Charging: 30W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wireless
- Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC
- Dimensions: 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm
- Weight: 192g
- Operating System: Android 14
- Water and Dust Resistance: IP65/IP68
Verdict
The Xperia 1 VI is a compelling device with strong performance, excellent battery life, and versatile cameras. However, its high price and some shortcomings, like slow charging and occasional overheating, make it a tough sell compared to rivals.
If you’re looking for a phone that balances unique features with mainstream appeal, the Xperia 1 VI is worth considering. But for many, other flagship options might offer better value.