While we await official information, renders of the upcoming Sony Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 10 VI have now leaked showing some minor design changes and alterations over the previous formula.
In previous years, Sony has crafted some of the most underrated flagship Android phones. Due to strange release cycles and a quiet launch cycle, Sony hasn’t managed to capture the imagination of all but the most ardent Android enthusiasts.
While we’re not sure what the future holds, the next generation has been almost fully unveiled courtesy of hi-res renders from Android Headlines. A whopping 30 images give us more than a fair idea of what the handset will look like. Paired with another leak from MSPowerUser, we also know just what the Xperia 1 VI will have under the hood – including some camera system improvements.
Sony has a May 17 launch event planned which is highly expected to be for the next generation of Xperia smartphones. Prior to this, we hadn’t seen much information about what the Xperia 1 VI would look like, but these latest renders show that Sony may drop the standout 21:9 aspect ratio from the upcoming flagship phone series.
The proposed specs, in tandem with the renders, suggest that this is the first year since the rebirth that we will see a more commonly used 19.5:9 aspect ratio on the Sony Xperia 1 VI. While it was always nice to see a different approach to the “traditional” smartphone, this should mean that the next-generation Xperia phone is easier to use. Luckily, Sony is using a sensible flat panel but with tiny forehead and chin alongside minimal side bezels. It is said to be rated at 120Hz and will also be 1.5x brighter than the Xperia 1 V.
Other details unearthed by the renders include the return of the 3.5mm headphone jack and what appears to be a slot for a microSD card slot. These two hardware options have slowly disappeared from all but a few flagship-level Android phones. It’s still nice that we will have an option in 2024 with these once again.
This leak also shows three potential color options. While there may be more available, the Xperia 1 VI renders show a beige, dark green, and gray model. No word on if there will be other models in the lineup, but this aligns with previous color options on previous generations.
Zeiss T* branding is splashed along the camera – which is said to have another upgrade this year. According to the specs leak, the camera system will consist of an “Exmor T for mobile” CMOS sensor for the 24mm wide lens, which is going to be paired with a 16mm ultrawide, and telephoto zoom lens with effective 85-170mm zoom range. This is where the biggest upgrades are found with the Xperia 1 VI said to be capable of 7x zoom.
Another notable is the proposed merger of the Sony camera applications. On current Xperia devices, you have Photograph Pro, Videography Pro, and Cinema Pro. The Japanese OEM is expected to consolidate all of these functions into a single application with the release of the Xperia 1 VI. Other key specifications include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and a 5,000mAh internal battery.
Other renders also showcase the mid-range Xperia 10 VI, which will likely offer a stripped-back experience but a similar feel to the Xperia 1 VI. It has also ditched the 21:9 screen footprint and will come with larger bezels.
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