Sony’s Xperia 1 VII: AI-Powered Camera and Audiophile Features BUT No US Release?
Sony has officially unveiled its newest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1 VII, boasting impressive features developed in collaboration with engineers from Sony's Alpha camera, Walkman audio, and Bravia TV divisions. However, there's a catch: it might not be available in the US.
The Xperia 1 VII builds upon Sony's legacy of focusing on the camera experience, incorporating "Xperia Intelligence," a suite of AI-powered enhancements for camera, audio, and display performance.
A highlight is the new "AI Camera Work" feature. Promising professional, stable, and framed videos. Mimicking features from Sony's ZV-series vlogging cameras, it uses image stabilization and posture estimation to keep the subject centered even while moving. Another feature called “Auto Framing” leverages AI to automatically track the subject and crop the video to ensure the subject remains in the frame.
The Xperia 1 VII retains a triple camera setup but elevates the ultra-wide camera with a new 16mm equivalent lens and a larger 48-megapixel Type 1/1.56 image sensor – approximately 2.1 times larger than its predecessor. This promises minimal distortion and macro capabilities with a focus as close as five centimeters. The 24mm wide-angle lens features a Sony Exmor T for mobile image sensor, promising superior low-light performance with the 48-megapixel Type 1/1.35 sensor. The telephoto lens remains unchanged, offering an optical zoom range from 85mm f/2.3 to 170mm f/3.5.
Beyond the camera, the Xperia 1 VII features full-stage stereo speakers, a 6.5-inch OLED display (100% DCI-P3, 120Hz), and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Sony has, for the first time, worked with the Walkman division on the smartphone’s audio tuning. The 3.5mm headphone jack remains and the solder now includes gold to minimize transmission loss.
However, music lovers in the US may have to import, as it's unclear if the Xperia 1 VII will be available Stateside, it will be available in Asia, Europe, and the UK and is priced at €1499/£1399. The design is similar to previous Xperia flagships, with colors like Moss Green, Orchid Purple, and Slate Black. The phone comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage with microSD support up to 2TB for storage expansion.
The phone’s AI video functionalities aim to deliver professional video without extensive manual operation. Using a wide-angle lens, AI subject tracking and posture estimation, enabling users to roughly point their phone at their subject, letting the phone handle the framing. Sony has also confirmed 6 years of security updates on the device.
With its focus on innovative camera technology, AI-driven features, and exceptional audio capabilities, the Sony Xperia 1 VII presents a compelling package. But will it ever arrive in the hands of US consumers? What do you think about Sony potentially skipping the US market? Leave your comments below!
