Sony's candidate for the best phone of 2024 has already landed: the flagship Sony Xperia 1 VI was presented alongside the mid-range Sony Xperia 10 VI.
It's the first of these that's the most interesting, with highlights including a telephoto camera that can move between focal lengths of 85mm and 170mm, which at the top end equates to a 7.1x optical zoom.
That's more zoom than you get with models like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, both of which reach 5x optical zoom. It's also on pace with the Sony Xperia 1 V, which maxes out at 5.2x.
The same lens can also take macro photos, offering a maximum magnification of around 2x and a minimum focusing distance of 4cm.
There's also an ultra-wide-angle camera, and the main camera sounds impressive too, with Sony claiming the new phone's 24mm lens can deliver “image quality equivalent to that of full-frame cameras.”
This is achieved, in part, through AI processing, but while the Sony Xperia 1 VI also uses AI to improve autofocus tracking (it can recognize the human skeleton and poses) and to improve contrast, color and screen clarity, It doesn't look like Sony has packed the Xperia 1 VI with flashy AI features. Rather, it uses AI primarily behind the scenes.
Speaking of the screen, this OLED screen can be 1.5 times brighter than the screen on the Sony Xperia 1 V, and a new 'Sunlight Vision' feature uses AI to avoid overexposed lights, analyzing frames and ambient brightness in real time . .
The Sony Xperia 1 VI also has a 5000 mAh battery designed to last two days between charges, enabling continuous video playback for over 36 hours. It also charges quickly, squeezing up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Other specifications include the high-end Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and a 3.5mm headphone port which, combined with support for numerous audio industry technologies and formats, make it a promising option for audiophiles.
A higher price
This all sounds impressive, but it should be for the price – the Sony Xperia 1 VI costs £1,299. There's no word on availability in the US or Australia, but it's the same price as its predecessor, which was $1,399 / AU$2,099.
So at least there hasn't been a price increase, but that still makes the Sony Xperia 1 VI more expensive in most regions than the starting price of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
If that's too much for you, then you might want to consider the Sony Xperia 10 VI, which costs just £349 (around $440 / AU$665). That phone has a 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED display, a 3.5mm headphone port, and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset.
Pre-orders for both phones start today (May 15) and the Sony Xperia 1 VI will ship in early June.
