Sony Xperia 1 VI

Sony's pricey new handset mainstreams in a bid to widen the line's appeal with an upgraded zoom camera

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GREAT XPECTATIONS

₹1,44,000 sony.​com

Sony smartphones have niched down over the years, focusing on enthusiast camera features and cinema-wide screens. But this year Sony is going for the mainstream.

The Xperia 1 VI is, on paper, pared back in some aspects when compared to its predecessor, the Xperia 1 V. Its screen is Full HD, not 4K, it misses out on pro video features as seen in the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and past Sony phones, and Sony has also ditched the 21:9 aspect ratio, in favour of a more traditional 19.5:9 screen. What’s up?

The Xperia 1 VI is still a very Sony phone with flat sides, a flat front and back, and the same finishes we saw on the previous model. Weighing 192g and measuring 8.2mm thick, it’s relatively light, and not too chunky.

With IP68 water and dust resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus on the back, the Xperia 1 VI is relatively hardy, though there’s no pre-fitted screen protector or case in the box.

There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, a SIM tray that you can pop out with a fingernail, and front speakers, so Sony fans shouldn’t feel totally snubbed by the move to a wider screen. The inclusion of an SD card slot is also a unicorn in 2024 flagships.