Introduction

Ease of Use

Front of the Sony Xperia 1

One of the first things you’re likely to notice about the Xperia 1 is its long and thin shape. Indeed, the screen uses a 21:9 ratio, while most smartphones stick with a more traditional 16:9 ratio. Sony says the reason for this is because movies are designed to be seen in 21:9, as well as giving you more space on the screen for your apps. The result is something which feels awkwardly long, and will more than likely have trouble staying neatly in your pocket - still being narrow means you can use it with just one hand fairly easily, and it does feel fairly balanced.

From the locked screen, you can swipe up from the bottom right hand corner to access the Xperia 1’s native camera app. The native camera app is not the most comprehensive on the market, but it does offer a few different shooting modes and options to change for those that require it.

By default, the app will open in the standard photo mode, which works much in the same way as a point and shoot camera. You’ll see at the bottom of the screen (or to the right if holding it in landscape orientation), a “x1” in a circle - tap this and you’ll be able to move between the different lenses offered by the phone - first “x2” and then “W” for the ultra wide angle lens.

Rear of the Sony Xperia 1

Alternatively, if you pinch on the screen you’ll be able to zoom in and out (and in between) the different focal lengths. If you use something between 1x and 2x, or anything greater than 2x, you’ll be working with a digital zoom.

Both the standard lens and the telephoto lens allow you to work in the same way - you can tap around the screen to change focus point and adjust exposure by sliding up and down the screen. For some reason, the wide angle lens removes these options, leaving everything up to the camera. Perhaps this is something that will be altered or fixed in an upcoming update.

Along the top of the Sony Xperia 1's screen there’s a set of different icons which allow you to make other changes. You can switch a flash on or off (or enable red-eye reduction), switch on the “bokeh” mode (you can also control the intensity of the blur), change aspect ratio (your choices are 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1), a sun icon which allows you to change colour temperature and brightness, an icon for switching to the selfie camera, and a cog icon which gives you the opportunity to adjust more in-depth settings.

The Sony Xperia 1's Camera Mode

In this further menu, you’ll find options such as the self-timer, still image size, soft skin effect, save location and so on. Some interesting settings here include Predictive Capture, which can be set to automatically turn on when capturing subjects that are moving, to help you get the perfect moment, Lens Correction (photo), which helps to correct distortion issues when using the super wide-angle lens, and the opportunity to control how the camera buttons work - such as using the volume key to take a shot, and the dedicated camera button to record a burst.

At the very bottom left, you can tap to change into a different shooting mode. You’ll see Portrait Selfie, Google Lens, Slow Motion, Manual, Creative Effect and Panorama. The Creative Effect option gives you different digital filters to choose from - mostly they are strange and a bit old fashioned (in a 1990s way), but it’s here that you’ll find the black and white offering. Slow Motion is for video, while Panorama is pretty self-explanatory. In the bottom left hand corner of the screen, you’ll see an icon reflecting the mode you’ve used most recently so you can quickly jump back to using it.

With manual mode, you can change several parameters. You’ll be able to change AF point, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation and white balance. Aperture is fixed to wither f/1.6 or f/2.4 depending on the lens you’re using. Again, for some reason, it’s not possible to access these parameters when shooting with the ultra wide-angle camera. Although compatible with raw-format shooting, it’s not possible to shoot it directly in the native app - you can use something like Lightroom for mobile if you need it, though.

The Sony Xperia 1 In-hand

Portrait Selfie gives you the opportunity to add bokeh and “beauty effects”, such as enlarging your eyes and slimming your face. Finally Google Lens is something which you can use for a variety of functions, including copying text, searching for products to buy, identifying plants and so on.

Back to the Sony Xperia 1's main shooting screen, a couple more things to note include Eye AF, which is included in a smartphone for the first time. You’ll know when it appears as a small green box will appear around the subject’s eye. Although you can’t change which eye you have a preference for, it works very well in locking on to the subject and proves useful when photographing other people. It’s a shame not to see Eye AF in the selfie camera as that would have made a lot of sense for capturing self-portraits. If you want to switch Eye AF off for some reason, you can do that.

Another useful function is burst shooting, which you can access by either holding down the virtual shutter button or programming the dedicated camera button. With 10fps available with full AF and AE tracking, it is quite useful for moving subjects. It fares best when the subject is moving in a reasonably predictable pattern, but it’s pretty good at keeping up.

The Sony Xperia 1's Shooting Modes

To record video in this app, you tap the video icon next to the camera icon. You can switch on HDR video recording if shooting in 4K or Full HD at 30fps, it’s not available when shooting Full HD at 60fps. Those who are bit more enthusiastic about video recording may be interested in the CinemaPro app which comes with the phone. With this, you’ll get full control over several different parameters and is ideal for budding videographers. You can’t edit the clips you create with it in this app, though, which is a shame.

Despite the large body size of the Sony Xperia 1, the battery rating is on the low side at 3300 mAh. While you may find it lasts a full day if you’re a relatively light user, it’s worth packing a portable power charger, particularly if you want to shoot a lot of video.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 12 megapixel JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 4Mb.

While the overall image quality directly from the Sony Xperia 1 is very good, for photographers who are specifically looking for a smartphone based heavily on the quality of the on-board camera, there are still arguably better options on the market.

When shooting in good light, colours are nice and vibrant with a satisfying amount of detail displayed across the scene. Eye AF does very well to pick out eyes in a portrait making it a good choice for that kind of shot. In various lighting conditions, automatic white balance does a good job of keeping colours on the right side of accurate, too.

Where the camera (in automatic mode) seems to struggle is in very bright or backlit conditions, where highlights can often appear blown out. This is something you can compensate for by taking manual control, but it’s something which other models, such as the Huawei P30 Pro, seem to cope better with.

In low light, the Sony Xperia 1 does reasonably well providing there is at least some kind of light source, but it’s a big shame not to see a dedicated night mode, such as we find on other Android phones like the Google Pixel 3, Huawei P30 Pro, Honor View 20 and the Samsung S10+. You can take manual control and shoot long exposures, but there’s no handheld option so it’s less flexible if you don’t happen to have a tripod with you. On the plus side, thanks to raw processing, noise reduction is automatically applied to produce fairly clean (if a little lacking in detail at times) results.

The “main” camera produces the best quality images, but both the 2x telephoto and super wide angle lens also put in some good results. Digital zooming is best avoided unless you’re desperate to get closer to the action - the performance here is not as good as we’ve seen from some other hybrid optical and digital zoom systems. It’s worth switching on the distortion control for the extra wide-angle lens as this does a great job of helping to keep your shots looking more natural, especially when shooting quite close to the subject.

Overall, the Xperia 1 puts in a competent performance, but in most areas the camera doesn’t significantly beat any of the other high-end smartphones currently on the market.

Noise

The Sony Xperia 1 has 7 manually-selectable ISO sensitivity settings available at full resolution, ranging between ISO 64 and ISO 3200.

ISO 64 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

Focal Range

The Sony Xperia 1's fixed focal length lens is equivalent to 28mm in 35mm camera terms. It also offers an ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2x and 6x digital zoom.

16mm Super-wide-angle Lens

26mm 1x Standard Lens

52mm 2x Telephoto Lens

16mm Super-wide-angle - No Distortion Correction

16mm Super-wide-angle - Distortion Correction

Macro

The Sony Xperia 1 is able to focus as close as 5cm from a subject.

Macro

Flash

The Sony Xperia 1 only uses a single LED flash, and as usual for this technology, it gives a weaker flash burst than a standard xenon camera flash.

Wide-angle Lens - Flash Off

Wide-angle Lens - Flash On

Selfie - Flash Off

Selfie - Flash On

Long Exposures

The Sony Xperia 1 performs pretty well at night. This image was taken at the camera's ISO 64 sensitivity using a shutter speed of 30 seconds.

Long Exposure

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Sony Xperia 1 camera, which were all taken using the 12 megapixel JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample Movie & Video

Product Images

Conclusion

Although Sony seems to be finally waking up to the benefits of sharing its tech between its internal brands, in use the Xperia 1’s camera still feels a little way behind the other high-end smartphones which are continuing to dominate the market in 2019 - even if some do have some other problems to contend with.

The long and slim design won’t be to everybody’s tastes and certainly makes the phone stand out - but if you’re somebody who captures and watches a lot of movies, it could be something to consider.

In terms of stills, the images from the Sony Xperia 1 are nice enough, producing some great results in good light. Eye AF is something which is fantastic to see on a mobile phone, especially if you’re somebody who photographs a lot of people. Being able to shoot at 10fps also has its uses too, and we can see that being particularly appealing for those with children or pets that they frequently photograph.

During the course of this review, I have also been using a number of other phones, including the Samsung S10+, iPhone XS, Google Pixel 3a and the Huawei P30 Pro - while the Sony has some advantages in terms of fast shooting and Eye AF, in terms of overall image quality it doesn’t generally have any of these models beat in most situations.

Not being able to take manual control while in the super wide angle camera is a bit strange, while not including raw format shooting in the native app is also an odd choice. The shooting modes leave a lot to be desired, with old-fashioned filters that feel a little bit outdated in 2019. We’d much prefer to see some kind of night mode here considering low light shooting is better handled by others on the market.

Now that Xperia and Alpha have started to work together, we’re keen to see how this relationship develops. Hopefully further iterations of the Xperia camera will become even more refined and include more Alpha technology - perhaps this is just a first step in the right direction.

Just thinking about the on-board camera alone, we’d consider the closest competitor to the Sony Xperia 1 to be the Samsung S10+, which uses a very similar three-lens array and unlike Huawei is not facing tough sanctions from the US which might put off lots of users. Although there’s a few things to like about the Xperia 1, it’s hard to recommend it too enthusiastically over the Samsung, but if the idea of Eye AF and a 21:9 ratio screen appeal to you, it’s worth checking out. Similarly, you may also find it appealing if you’re heavily into your videography. Of course, you may be interested in other features of the phone, completely unrelated to the camera, too.

In terms of pricing, at £849 it’s not cheap but it competes well in this sector of the market, being cheaper than an iPhone and about on par with the Samsung S10. Overall, the Sony Xperia 1 has some excellent points, but in other areas it’s a little underwhelming - but we’re excited to see what develops as part of the new relationship with Alpha.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	3.5
Features	4
Ease-of-use	3.5
Image quality	4
Value for money	4

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Sony Xperia 1.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Sony Xperia 1 from around the web.

Specifications

News

The Sony Xperia 1 smartphone features technologies from the Alpha range of mirrorless cameras, including the World’s first Eye AF in a smartphone, triple lens camera and up to 10 fps burst shooting with AF/AE tracking.

The Xperia 1 comes in Black, Purple, Gray, and White (only Black and Purple available in U.S.) with Android 9.0 Pie, and will be available in the U.S. from late Spring 2019.

Sony Press Release

Sony Redefines Its Smartphone Vision with the New Flagship Xperia™ 1 Which Delivers Creative Entertainment Experiences with Unprecedented Professional-Grade Technologies

Sony also Launches Two New Super Mid-Range Smartphones also Featuring New Technology

• World’s first 4K OLED smartphone1 with 21:9 CinemaWide™ display (6.5”) and HDR remastering technologies
• World’s first Eye AF in a smartphone2 with triple lens camera and up to 10 fps burst shooting with AF/AE tracking for precision focus and exposure
• Enhanced display setting Creator mode (ITU-R BT.2020 support and 10-bit3 tonal gradation) and new cinema recording function Cinema Pro “Powered by CineAlta” to reflect the creator’s intent
• New Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus, two super mid-range models also feature 21:9 Wide Full HD+ display expands viewing area for enhanced entertainment and is ideal to run two apps simultaneously
• Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus feature dual camera with Bokeh effect for dramatic shooting experience and Sony’s High-Resolution Audio with DSEE HX™ and LDAC technologies for listening just as the artists intended

BARCELONA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sony Mobile Communications (“Sony Mobile”) redefines its smartphone vision with the latest flagship Xperia™ 1, delivering Sony’s proven professional display and cinematography technologies in a beautiful, sleek smartphone powerhouse.

“We have established a new vision for our Xperia™ brand, which is to bring our customers experiences beyond imagination”

“We have established a new vision for our Xperia™ brand, which is to bring our customers experiences beyond imagination,” said Mitsuya Kishida, President of Sony Mobile Communications. “We are continuing to push the boundaries in pursuit of innovation, and our new Xperia 1 delivers genuine technological advancements with a multitude of professional-grade features for creative entertainment experiences that are only possible with Sony.”

Experience an unrivalled 21:9 CinemaWide 4K HDR OLED display

Enjoy movies in their original format in the palm of your hand with a 21:9 CinemaWide 6.5” 4K HDR OLED display. Xperia 1 delivers cinematic aspect ratio and accurate color reproduction that films are created in, for a viewing experience that’s true to what creators envisioned. The unparalleled display is powered by Sony’s award-winning BRAVIA® TV technologies and the X1™ for mobile engine, bringing HDR (High Dynamic Range) remastering technologies to ensure everything you watch, including streamed content, can be enjoyed with more contrast, color, and clarity.

Inspired by Master Monitor color reproduction from Sony’s professional technology, which is used in leading Hollywood studio productions, Xperia 1 lets you experience unprecedented color accuracy with our new Creator mode to bring content to life exactly as it was envisioned. The display, together with originally developed image processing, supports 10-bit tonal gradation and wide color space ITU-R BT.2020, as well as DCI-P3 with Illuminant D65. The sleek display is encased by durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 on front and back, while IP65/IP68 certified water resistance4 guards against the elements.

Tell more stories with cinema recording and precise photo shooting

Experience pro-level quality in every photo with an advanced triple lens camera (12MP) for any situation and light conditions: 16mm for wide landscapes, a versatile 26mm lens, and a 52mm lens telephoto shooting (35mm equiv.).

Technologies from Sony’s acclaimed α (“Alpha”) interchangeable lens camera are inherited in Xperia 1 as BIONZ X™ for mobile. The algorithm enables the world’s first Eye AF (Auto Focus) in a smartphone to bring sharp focus exactly at eye level and delivers continuous burst shooting with up to 10 fps AF/AE tracking (Auto Focus and Auto Exposure), giving precision focus and optimal exposure. Capture better low light images with the bright F1.6 lens and large pixel pitch 1.4μm Dual Photo Diode image sensor, ensuring that even moving subjects are blur-free, while RAW noise reduction delivers beautifully clear images.

Xperia 1 takes motion pictures to the next level via the developer’s collaboration with engineers from Sony’s professional digital cinema camera division, known for its CineAlta brand and for its Full Frame digital cinematography camera “VENICE”. You can shoot with natural cinematic tone and further apply expression-based color management pre-sets with the new Cinema Pro feature. Create the intended mood from a total of eight different expressions to turn your clips into cinematic stories. All of this can be shot in 4K HDR at 24 frames per second (fps) in 21:9 format.

Xperia 1 also lets you grab a 21:9 still image off the live view or recorded clips, with or without the “Look” color management pre-sets. The unique hybrid stabilization system runs Optical SteadyShot™ with a unique algorithm to ensure smooth and shake-free recording.

Immerse yourself in multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos® sound

The ultimate viewing experience of the new Xperia 1 is further enriched by Dolby Atmos® transporting you into the story with moving audio that flows above and around you with breathtaking realism. The sound tuning on Xperia 1 is developed in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment to ensure the mobile experience is as the creators intended.

An Enhanced Mobile Gaming Experience

The expansive 21:9 display also takes mobile gaming to the next level by offering a deeper unrestricted field-of-view of all your gameplay, while Game Enhancer optimizes the performance and blocks unwanted notifications, as well as enables you to record gameplay and find game tips online.

Experience incredible performance and improved power efficiency with the latest flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855 Mobile Platform. This offers high-speed Gigabit LTE capability, up to 25% faster CPU, and up to 40% GPU performance versus the previous generation, and Snapdragon Elite Gaming, for handling processor-intensive apps and games with ease.

The high capacity 3330 mAh battery, combined with Smart Stamina, Battery Care,5 and Xperia Adaptive Charging, help keep you powered throughout the day.

Announcing Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus – bringing 21:9 Wide Full HD+ display to the super mid-range line

Sony also announces Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus, both of which feature a sleek borderless design with 21:9 Full HD+ Ultimate Wide display. Sony’s intuitive 21:9 multi-window UI together with the 6.0” display on Xperia 10 and 6.5” on Xperia 10 Plus enable two apps to be viewed simultaneously while maintaining an easy viewing size for both windows. Additional features include:

21:9 Movie recording in 4K allows you to shoot videos with Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus in the same aspect ratio used by filmmakers. Plus, the multi-aspect ratio lets you choose the ideal image size – for example, choose 21:9 to fill the screen or 1:1 for the perfect Instagram post.

Dual cameras on both Xperia 10 (13MP+5MP) and Xperia 10 Plus (12MP+8MP) enable you to capture high-quality images with artistic Bokeh effect. Both the main and front cameras feature SteadyShot™ to capture blur-free videos. Exclusive to Xperia 10 Plus, 2X optical zoom* lets you get closer to the action.

Advanced audio technology with Sony’s High-Resolution Audio and LDAC™, so you can hear music in its purest and truest form even if you’re listening wirelessly. as Also includes Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE HX™) which automatically upscales compressed sound files to near high-resolution sound quality

Xperia 10 features a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 630 Mobile Platform, designed to produce amazing graphics, advanced multimedia experiences, and longlasting battery life (with a 2870mAh battery). Xperia 10 Plus features a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 636 Mobile Platform, bringing impressive performance, outstanding image quality, and long-lasting battery life (with a 3000mAh battery).

Availability

Xperia 1 comes in Black, Purple, Gray, and White (only Black and Purple available in U.S.) with Android™ 9.0 Pie, and will be available in the U.S. from late Spring 2019. Xperia 10 (MSRP $349.99) and Xperia 10 Plus (MSRP $429.99) come in Black, Silver Navy, Pink (Xperia 10 only) and Gold (Xperia 10 Plus only) (only Black and Silver available in the U.S.). Both Xperia 10 and 10 Plus launch on Android™ 9.0 Pie in the U.S. from March 18, 2019.

Activate your new Xperia on Verizon

The Xperia 10 and 10 Plus have been certified to work on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. As a part of the new partnership, you can get a $250 pre-paid Mastercard when you switch to Verizon and activate your new Xperia 10 or 10 Plus online at Verizon.com . This offer is valid for all Verizon-certified Xperia models purchased in the continental U.S.**

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample JPEG images and videos taken with the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone.​ The Sony Xperia 1 is a brand new flagship smartphone with a triple lens camera with 2x optical zoom and Eye AF.

A gallery of sample JPEG images and videos taken with the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone.

Sony Xperia 1 Sample Images

Sample Movie & Video

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