The best Android phone just got (slightly) better
Smartphone | £1299 | whf.cm/Xperia1IV
The Sony Xperia 1 Mk IV continues the brand’s reinvigorated take on the smartphone, making meaningful, if not mind-blowing, improvements on the 1 III and providing the tools to both create and consume content that verges on an obsessive level. But with the daunting task of outshining its predecessors, both of which received five stars and a smartphone Product of the Year Award from us, has Sony done enough to keep the momentum going?
If you want this phone you had better be prepared to pay for it, as it is retailing for £1299. This puts it in an immediate uphill battle, as the likes of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra undercut this.
For the asking price you are getting the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with 5G support, 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. With a powerful processor and plenty of RAM, the Xperia 1 IV should hopefully keep things running smoothly under the hood for a while.
If we were to sum up the design of the Xperia 1 IV in one word it would have to be ‘sleek’. It’s minimalist, with chunky, squared-off edges that are comfortable to hold; and the rear features a smooth, luxurious finish that wards off fingerprints. The metal rails and frosted-glass rear blend together to make the Xperia feel premium and weighty too.
Impressive spec sheet
Things are pretty stacked when it comes to features. They include the smooth, high-resolution 6.5in, 21:9 wide 4K OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, as well as the side-mounted fingerprint scanner, wireless charging support and textured camera shutter button.
There is also an upgraded stereo speaker system, as well as a comprehensive set of creator tools including what Sony is claiming to be the world’s first true optical zoom lens. The camera – capable of recording at 4K HDR 120fps on all lenses – is a standout, especially with the zoom lens which keeps things crisp, although the user interface can appear daunting at first.
Battery life on the Xperia is also excellent, with a 5000mAh cell stepping up to the all-day challenge. Even with constant use throughout the day the Xperia soldiers on with plenty of juice left for the evening. It’s just a shame that Sony has gone the way of Apple and Samsung by not including the fast charger in the box.
Sony has also included a feature from its high-end TVs in the form of Bravia Core, a streaming service that is home to a selection of movies produced by Sony. When you buy an Xperia 1 IV, you receive five film tokens to redeem on the service, which is
