Table of contents:
- Sony Xperia 1 datasheet
- Cinema format screen
- Because three eyes always see better than two
- A mobile that also wants to be a game console
- Design without notch and elongated
- First impressions
Sony continues to refine its position in the mobile market, and once again takes advantage of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to present its latest flagship, the Sony Xperia 1. New name, new design and new approaches to finding your niche. Something that we appreciate, although we are surprised by wanting to differentiate ourselves from the rest. The good thing is its movie screen. But of literal cinema, because it allows to reproduce contents of resolution up to 4K in 21: 9 format. It's really long and panoramic, just like action movies are often played in the cinema.
Sony has also taken advantage of its knowledge in the world of televisions to provide intelligence to this OLED panel, improving each image that is displayed on it. But it also draws on its Alpha camera division to include no less than three lenses (here they are in fashion) and take advantage of eye-focus technology to keep the image sharp. Of course, it is postulated as the ideal mobile to create audiovisual content, being able to edit it thanks to the power of the Snapdragon 855 processor. We have been able to hold it for a few minutes in hand, and here we tell you its main technical characteristics and some impressions (few since it was a demo device with no updated software).
Sony Xperia 1 datasheet
| screen | 6.5-inch OLED, 4K HDR resolution, 21: 9 ultrawide | |
| Main chamber | 12 megapixel triple sensor (wide angle, x2 telephoto zoom and ultra wide angle), 4K HDR video recording, | |
| Camera for selfies | 8 megapixels with fixed focus | |
| Internal memory | 128 GB | |
| Extension | Via MicroSD | |
| Processor and RAM | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB RAM | |
| Drums | 3,330 mAh | |
| Operating system | Android 9 Pie | |
| Connections | BT 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C, NFC, WiFi | |
| SIM | Dual nanoSIM (or nanoSIM plus MicroSD) | |
| Design | Black, gray, white and purple colors, IP65 / 68 water and dust resistant, Gorilla Glass 6 body | |
| Dimensions | 167 x 72 x 8.2 mm | |
| Featured Features | Fingerprint reader on the side button, professional photography mode, Dolby Atmos sound, | |
| Release date | Spring | |
| Price | To confirm |
Cinema format screen
You may not know it, but not all the movies you see are recorded and displayed in the same proportion or size. You may have noticed that they sometimes show black bands at the top or bottom of the image. Especially action movies, where everything is more landscape. Well, the folks at Sony have worked with their Sony Pictures movie division to make the 21: 9 OLED panel look exactly like cinema. Of course, his fellow televisions have also had a lot to do with it.
It's a very long 6.5-inch panel, and this has several implications, with its strengths and weaknesses. It is ideal for viewing content of these proportions (or smaller) on full screen and in great detail. Content that already exists on Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and other platforms. But when you use it as a normal mobile, vertically, it can do something tall. Of course, in this case, the software helps with a one-handed mode or, better yet, a multi-window to split the screen and use two compatible applications at the same time. Something seen in other terminals but that in this Sony Xperia 1 makes more sense due to its 6.5 inches diagonal.
Sony's job has not only been to design this panel, but also to improve the color treatment. For this they have taken advantage of their contacts at CineAlta, bringing what they learned in the cinema to this screen in terms of color fidelity. And, as if that were not enough, it includes the advances in intelligence and treatment of the X1 processor of its Bravia televisions. Not the chip, but its virtues.
In short, an extra-long 6.5-inch panel due to its 21: 9 format. With the brightness and color of OLED technology, but treated by those who know about cinema. It also has HDR technology so that the contrast (and the scaling of the contents that do not have this technology) improve the result. A cinema screen for many reasons that we are looking forward to testing in detail.
Because three eyes always see better than two
Where Sony has decided to follow the current trend is in the photographic section. Or rather, in the trend of including three camerason the back of your terminal, as Huawei already did in the P20, or now also Samsung in the Galaxy S10. In the case of the Sony Xperia 1 we have a 12 megapixel sensor with a 26 mm wide-angle lens as the main camera, for all kinds of photos. Of course, if we need to portray all the space to fill the 21: 9 screen, his is to expand the view with the 16 mm ultra wide angle on the 12 megapixel sensor. In addition, there is a telephoto lens that adds two optical magnifications when zoomed in order not to lose detail in distant frames. A telephoto lens that also repeats on a 12 megapixel sensor. Both the main and telephoto cameras have optical image stabilization, so hand shake shouldn't be a problem for sharp shots.
We have not been able to test these features in detail yet, but it seems that the detail in the photos is high and that it solves most of the situations that may arise now that there are three different objectives. But it will have to be tested in detail to offer a fair trial.
The selfie camera, meanwhile, is an 8-megapixel sensor with a fixed focus. Not surprising on paper, though, again, we'll wait to test it first-hand in order to offer a judgment on the results, color treatment, definition, and focus speed.
The interesting thing about the Xperia 1 cameras is that they include some advances from what was seen in the Sony Alpha cameras. Issues such as focus on the eye, which always seeks the best definition of the image by intelligently following the eye of a face that appears in the image. Something that ensures continuous focused captures. It is capable, by the way, of taking 10 photos per second, with a good focus speed. It also captures photographs in RAW format, although to view and process them it is necessary to use third-party applications such as Snapseed or Lightroom.
Another very interesting point is the video. The Xperia 1 can capture 4K video in HDR through its cameras, all using the optical image stabilizer to reduce shake. Qualities that allow you to record high-quality content, but also edit it. For this, the Cinema Pro application is included, with different looks or aesthetics to give our videos a cinematic appearance. Or even the ability to cut and edit almost at a professional level, with control of different aspects such as sensitivity, frames per second, white balance, etc.
In other words, the Sony Xperia 1 is also ready to capture and create content. Something very interesting for those who carry out audiovisual tasks directly from their mobile.
A mobile that also wants to be a game console
Sony does not want to miss the opportunity to offer the virtues of graphic power of the Snapdragon 855 processor and the excellent OLED panel of their Xperia 1 for gamers to enjoy. That is why the terminal will have a section for improving games. A place where not only games installed on the mobile will meet, but it will also allow to manage resources in a more appropriate way to increase their performance.
This section also allows you to manage details such as notifications when you are enjoying the game. An experience that can be customized so that nothing is in the way when you are in the middle of a race or during a game of Fortnite. By the way, Sony is working with the main game developers of the moment, such as Epic Games (creators of Fortnite) to adapt the gaming experience to the 21: 9 screen. A more panoramic and immersive experience, but also comfortable to be able to bring the controls to the ends of the panel and thus not lose field of vision in the game.
In addition, this section of video games within the mobile has a tool for recording and broadcasting games. All this thought so that the user can broadcast both the screen image and what the camera captures for selfies, and thus comment on the game live. Or record it and post it later on a delayed basis. They also want to create a community with tips and tricks around juices through this gaming corner. It is not something really new in the world of applications, but it will be necessary to see if it gets the necessary push so that the games run and are enjoyed to the maximum without hiding the screen with the fingers.
Design without notch and elongated
Finally we do not want to go without commenting on a new direction regarding the design of the terminal. From Sony they tell us that they want to differentiate themselves from the rest of the brands and terminals on the market. That is why they do not bet on screens without frames, and that they leave out fashions such as the notch or notch. Although the most interesting thing is that they also leave behind what was seen in their latest Xperia XZ family phones. Which seems to us a point in favor.
The fingerprint sensor returns to the position Sony had us well used to a few years ago, on the right side. Something that, personally, I think is a success. It's fast and doesn't get confused by the camera like the Xperia XZ on the back. Of course, it is an independent button with respect to the off and on button. Something that perhaps could have been saved.
But what is most striking is that it is a flat and extremely long mobile compared to other terminals on the market. We are talking about measures of 167 x 72 x 8.2 mm, and a weight that would be around 180 grams. It is not too heavy in the hand, not as long and uncomfortable as it might seem. However, we have certain doubts regarding its daily use and how comfortable or uncomfortable it can be to carry it in your pocket. So far we have only held it in hand, where its entire length is more of an optical effect than an inconvenience per se. But it will be necessary to test it for several days and in different situations to verify it.
First impressions
With only a few minutes of contact, the new Sony high-end family, with the only and first member called Xperia 1, is attractive to us. It breaks with what we expect from a current high-end mobile given the design trends set by other brands. But on paper it seems like a powerful mobile and very focused on the aspect of the video. Both to reproduce it through its very long screen, and to create it with their cameras and edit it inside.
It will arrive on the market in spring, without a date or price being specified yet. And it will do so in four colors not too flashy but elegant and sober: white, black, gray and purple.
