Sony Xperia 1 IV

The Sony Xperia 1 IV, also known as Mark 4, is a high-end flagship with numerous Sony technologies from various disciplines. From screen to photography, from video to battery. There's a lot to tell, so sit back and relax. But make sure you bring enough money because it's not cheap.

Brighest 4K 120Hz HDR display ever

Here at the editorial office, we always luv to talk about Sony phones. That's because there's so much to talk about. This Xperia 1 M4 is no exception. This Xperia is difficult to summarise in a few sentences. But we are going to give it a try. Starting with the screen. Sony applies a 6.5-inch panel with an extremely high 4K resolution. That's the sharpest you can get right now. The panel is also colourful thanks to the 10-bit OLED panel and smooth thanks to the fast 120Hz playback. The 21:9 ratios just remain a bit awkward and the panel also can't be as bright as some other modern phones. However, Sony does say the panel is 50% brighter than its predecessor. Also new is HDR Drive; this transforms video into HDR content in real-time. Even when the original is not.

First with true optical zoom

Much attention was once again paid to the camera. Sony provides the Xperia 1 IV with a four-headed camera system with "the world's first true optical zoom lens." That last claim needs some explanation. Other high-end phones usually also have optical zoom. The manufacturer then applies an additional camera with a fixed lens. There is no real zoom because there is one fixed value. Sony does it differently and applies a variable optical zoom lens from 85 to 125mm. That zoom range becomes even greater by including the other lenses. Starting with the ultra-wide angle of 16mm, to the 24mm wide-angle lens, and on to the 85-125mm telephoto zoom lens. The space in between is digitally simulated creating, in theory, a range of 16-125mm. A unique feature that creates new opportunities for content creators.

Main Sony Xperia 1 IV specifications

• Sharp, bright, fluid and colourful 6.5" large screen
• 16, 24 and 85-125mm camera system with separate depth sensor, Zeiss lenses and 4K HDR 120fps video
• Upgraded 12MP selfie camera with 4K HDR video
• Front-facing stereo sound with 360 Reality Audio support
• Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with 12GB of storage
• 256 or 512GB of storage (expandable with microsd card)
• 5000mAh large battery with 30W fast charging (charger sold separately)
• Waterproof and dustproof IP65/68 Gorilla Glass Victus
• 5G support for blazing fast mobile internet

For Content Creators

And then we've arrived at the last paragraph and what a lot we haven't discussed. Like the bigger 5000mAh battery with longer battery life, the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, the manual Videography Pro features for more creative videos, Game Enhancer to personalise and optimise your gaming experience, improved stereo playback, and recording thanks to Music Pro and so much more. It's a shame because these are all things that could be worth purchasing an Xperia 1M4 for. Provided you bring enough money because it is not cheap. Call it expensive. In our opinion, it does not have a well-balanced price/quality ratio but it is unique in so many ways that Sony can ask what it wants for it.