During my recent briefing from Sony on the company’s upcoming Sony Xperia 1 IV flagship phone, I found myself getting increasingly excited about each new creative feature being announced. A studio-quality audio recording app? Continuous optical zoom? Video recording at 4K and 120Hz with HDR? count me in!
I haven’t used the company’s phone since the original Sony Xperia 1, and I used it to shoot a short film, so I’m quite excited to test-drive this new handset (I should point out that at the time of writing this article I have not yet done so).
But while all the great new video, photo, and audio features in the Sony Xperia 1 IV excite me, I’m still not sure I’d be able to recommend this device to anyone and that explains the big problem with Sony phones. . ,
a niche device
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is an exclusive device designed for people with a passion for creating or consuming art and entertainment; I don’t think any fan of Xperia, or the company itself, would disagree with that characterization.
In particular it’s a powerful tool for creatives, with its Pro Video and Photos apps, and given the fact that you can use it as a second monitor for Sony Alpha cameras, or a vlogging one for Can strap the monitor.
Although TechRadar is by no means an expert website – our reviews are written for a wide audience, and for readers with varying levels of technical knowledge or creative interest. There are websites aimed at the artistic type, but that’s not really us.
(image credit: Sony)
Most people who use our smartphone coverage to inform their buying choices probably aren’t looking for complex and specialized devices (though if you’re reading this you’re probably interested in the new Sony, so Maybe you’re the exception to the rule).
And for general smartphone buyers, it’s hard to recommend the Sony Xperia 1 IV, and I can’t love it as much as I’d like to.
not very new phone
The Sony Xperia 1 IV isn’t a very interesting or innovative phone compared to the Sony Xperia 1 III – at least, not compared to the Sony Xperia 1 III – and I’m sure part of my enthusiasm for the new phone stems from that fact. Less is that I haven’t tested the Xperia in a few years.
The device’s ‘new’ features include additional functions for people streaming mobile games, improved long-range zoom, a slightly better selfie camera and burst photography.
Most of them are not going to be useful to the majority of consumers, and will only appeal to a select number of users. Sure, there are some more general improvements, like a brighter screen and more powerful processor, but they won’t set the upgrade world on fire.
So if you are a photographer, videographer or streamer, then this new phone will be great for you; But as we’ve established, TechRadar has many more readers than can fit into those specific categories.
And for general buyers, the upgrades aren’t really enough to justify the new Xperia over one of its predecessorsespecially because those older models have a year and more to drop in price.
And Sony Xperia phones were never exactly cheap to begin with. The Sony Xperia 1 IV is also more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, priced at $1,599 / 1,299 (about AU$2,300), yet its cameras don’t offer the same kind of hardware, or the same ease-of-use software-wise; Oh, and Samsung’s design is more premium, and comes with a stylus.
So while I’m personally very excited for the Sony Xperia 1 IV, I can’t really tell you that you should be either. If your work or hobby puts you into something of a ‘creative’, this could be a great option for you, but for general buyers looking for a new flagship phone, this is definitely one to avoid.
As someone who loves making movies but also has to pay the rent, I can’t love the Sony Xperia 1 IV as much as I want to.
