Elain Brown Tech 05.11.2022 06:May AM EDT

Sony Looks To Make a Splash With the Xperia 1 IV — What Features Await Us?

Sony is releasing an all-new smartphone packed with photography and videography features like no other.

The new Sony Xperia 1 IV is now available, and it goes even further into the company's passions: photography, video, movies, music, and video gaming.

Creatives, tech, photography, and videography enthusiasts will be delighted with this newly introduced smartphone. The Xperia 1 IV can be used together with cameras such as the Mark IV to provide a more professional final product as they share compatible features.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Features

The Sony Xperia 1 IV departs from the standard specifications of many smartphones on the market by continuing to use an optical zoom lens. This revolutionary smartphone feature may be the reason for the pricetag.

The Sony smartphone costs a hefty $1599.

But don't be alarmed because the device comes packed with a plethora of high-end features, starting with a 6.5-inch 4K display, something close enough to a 1644 x 3840 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Verge reports that the Sony smartphone features include a "Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, IP68 waterproofing, 512GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, a 5000mAh battery, and even a headphone jack."

However, at $1600, it is on par with the most costly models of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, both of which offer at least 1TB of storage for that amount of money at the very least.

The phone is capable of fast charging at 30W, which allows it to charge to 50% of its capacity in half an hour. In relation to that, Sony will not be providing chargers to consumers who buy the device. Sony is promoting this shift as part of its "Road to Zero" environmental strategy.

Additionally, it has enabled more compact retail packaging, and Sony has made certain that it does not include any plastic.

Another great feature that the Xperia 1 IV will have is its improved audio capabilities. The Xperia 1 IV sports a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is another feature that is uncommon among flagship smartphones.

Similarly, the drivers for the front-facing stereo speakers have been upgraded; they provide a modest 10% increase in maximum volume but a significantly superior overall sound due to the fact that they give 20% more bass than the previous model.

Furthermore, in terms of wireless audio, this is one of the first phones to support both the new Bluetooth LE Audio technology as well as the more traditional LDAC technology.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Camera Specs

Sony Xperia 1 IV optical zoom is no longer confined to only two focal lengths as it was in the Xperia 1 III and is capable of real 4K 120fps output from all sensors.

As mentioned, while most manufacturers are preoccupied with increasing the number of megapixels on their devices, Sony has chosen to continue with a trio of 12MP sensors on the rear.

Users can now effortlessly adjust the focal length from 85mm to 125mm without resorting to computerized cropping. The smartphone is also touting its 20 frames per second burst mode and artificial intelligence subject detection.

According to Android Police, the front of the phone is dominated by a 21:9 4K 120Hz OLED display, and there is no interruption at the top for the camera lens.

Furthermore, there is also 240Hz touch scanning, as well as a package of game controls dubbed Game Enhancer by Sony, which includes a low-gamma booster, audio EQ, and built-in YouTube live streaming capabilities.