San Diego, CA—Sony Electronics introduced the Sony Xperia 1 V as its first flagship smartphone. It features a stacked CMOS image sensor with 2-layer Transistor Pixel tech. The Xperia 1 V also benefits from other Sony imaging technologies to meet the needs of creators.
“We continue to prioritize the needs of our customers. The new Xperia 1 V allows for the next level of content creation, viewing experience, gaming performance, battery life and audio capabilities,” said Yang Cheng, vice president, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc.
“The opportunities and needs for smartphones are increasing. With the Xperia 1 V, the possibilities for both photo and video creation is truly endless.”
Sony Xperia 1 V: Elevated Content Capture
Sony developed the Xperia 1 V’s new sensor to depict the rich colors and textures of people, landscapes and scenes—even in dark locations. Moreover, its low-light performance is approximately double compared to the previous model. Combined with its high-speed multi-frame overlay procession, it’s possible to shoot a noise-resistant photo with a wider dynamic range that Sony says is equivalent to a full-frame camera.
The 24mm lens on the back of the Xperia 1 V uses a 2-layer Transistor Pixel stacked CMOS sensor called “Exmor T for mobile.” The sensor is about 1.7x larger than the Xperia 1 IV’s image sensor. In addition, an 85–125mm (f/2.3–2.8) optical zoom lens enables brighter portraits with less distortion.
Further, Sony adopted its S-Cinetone profile for cinematographers to mobile. Since the texture of the human skin is beautifully expressed when shooting, it’s now possible to record a cinematic image as it is, without color grading.
The Xperia 1 V also has other Alpha camera functions, including color presets, such as creative look, and real time AF (autofocus). Various color settings are preset, such as colorful flowers and clear blue sky, or creating a soft, transparent finish.
The phone’s real-time eye AF and real-time tracking now allow shooting with the focus on the eyes of a person or a specified subject. Plus, AI depth analyzes distance information, so distant subjects are clearly focused. Additionally, high-speed continuous shooting at 30 frames per second with AF/AE tracking is newly available.
Vlog Experience
Sony also sought to fill creators’ needs by including the Alpha’s product showcase setting. A popular function in Sony’s Vlogcam series, it shifts the focus on the camera to the product, instead of reviewer’s face, when shooting.
Additionally, a new voice priority mic was placed near the rear camera. Even when in a busy outdoor location, the creator’s voice is clearly recorded. Further, when doing a YouTube livestream via the video recording function, “videography pro,” chats from viewers are viewable in the comment section simultaneously. The user interface also supports vertical shooting.
Other Enhancements
The smartphone has a 6.5-inch, 4K OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hzv and less blur. A low-noise speaker amplifier also improves the spread and depth of the sound. In addition, it enhances the extension of the low and high frequencies, creating a more dynamic, clearer sound. 
On the backside, the phone has a functional tactile design that uses texture glass. Combined with the slits on the side, it provides a stable grip when holding the smartphone during shooting or viewing.
Moreover, despite using a 4K display, specs state the phone offers 20 hours of continuous video playback with its 5,000mAh battery. It also supports wireless charging and 30-minute quick charging up to 50%. Furthermore, the Xperia’s charging optimization technology supports users with a battery that maintains 80% or more of its maximum capacity after three years.
By improving its power consumption and heat dissipation, the phone allows for shooting for a longer time. It also suppresses heat generation. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen2 mobile platform, Sony improved the power efficiency of the CPU by 40%. It also improved power consumption during camera operation by approximately 20%.
Sony is also continuing its efforts to provide more accessibility. Consequently, the Xperia 1 V includes a function in its photo pro feature that uses sounds to inform users of the horizontal and vertical measurement of the screen.
Sony is making the Xperia 1 V available for preorder on May 11, 2023. It will retail for $1,399.99. Customer deliveries will begin July 28, 2023.
