Sony Xperia 1: smartphone review

Date published: 07/09/2019

Sony Xperia 1: smartphone review
Specifications Sony Xperia 1
Overview of photo features Sony Xperia 1
Sony Xperia 1. Conclusions

Sony Xperia 1 even before its announcement began to excite the audience. I remember a wave of rumors about several flagship devices, about the new name of the line and, of course, about the unusual aspect ratio, hitherto unknown to the mobile phone market. Further more. At the device’s press-show, we saw only the “flagship” of the flagship, and we studied the aspect ratio of the display using the latest mid-range Sony Xperia 10 and Sony Xperia 10 Plus . Check the price of Sony Xperia 1 Even at MWC 2019, where they still had to fully present the smartphone, they again showed us only the “blank” and announced plans for launching in the second quarter of 2019. We rolled a glass and metal sandwich in our hands, and unexpectedly were able to fully test the most affordable of Sony smartphones - Xperia L3 . And finally, in June, we were able to test the flagship Sony Xperia 1. Let's face it, we expected a lot, at least - a reboot of the brand and the fact that this smartphone will return Xperia to its former greatness. Sony Xperia 1 puts a lot of emphasis on the camera, especially on its cinematic features. Display 21: 9, special "cine" software from Cine Alta, subscription to movies for a year - everything for a movie fan! But photographers here are not deprived of attention. Xperia 1 has the best setup on the market. It is simple and straightforward: all cameras have the same resolution of 12 megapixels, but everyone has different apertures and different sizes of sensors. Let's try to figure it out. There is no exact information about which sensors are used in the smartphone; in applications like AIDA64 and others could not find clarification. The press service did not disclose these details, so any assumptions about the sensors used are not confirmed. So, in the main camera Sony Xperia 1 installed:

12 megapixel camera with Sony IMX445 sensor, 1 / 2.6 inches in size. It uses a wide-angle lens of 26 mm (equiv.) With aperture of F1.6. In addition, for the first time for Sony, there is five-axis optical image stabilization and predictive phase detection autofocus with Dual Pixel technology, familiar from Canon cameras and also used in Samsung smartphone cameras.
12-megapixel telezoom camera with Samsung ISOCELL S5K3M3 sensor. Its physical size is 1 / 3.4 inches. The focal length of the lens is 52 mm (equiv.), And the aperture is F2.4. There is also a predictive Dual Pixel PDAF and five-axis optical image stabilization. If the sensor information is correct, then in fact it is the same zoom camera that is used in Samsung and iPhone.
The 12-megapixel camera also with a Samsung ISOCELL S5K3M3 sensor (this, by the way, suggests that the information is incorrect). Its size is also 1 / 3.4 inches and the aperture is equal to F2.4. The only difference is the equipment with ultra-wide-angle optics, providing an equivalent focal length of 16 mm. There is a fixed focus and no image stabilization.

In addition, it is worth noting the revolutionary feature for mobile photography - autofocus on the eyes, which works confidently and accurately. While the big Sony did focus on the eyes of animals, Sony Xperia introduces this technology into smartphones. The front camera is based on the 1/4 inch Samsung ISOCELL S5K4H7 module. Its resolution is only 8 megapixels. It has a wide-angle lens with an equivalent focal length of 24 mm with an aperture of F2.0.

Specifications Sony Xperia 1
Screen	6.5 ?, P-OLED, HDR BT.2020, 1644 × 3840 pixels, 21: 9, 643 ppi
CPU	eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, 7 nm, 2.8 GHz
RAM	6 GB
Built-in memory	128 GB
Memory card	microSD slot combo
SIM	dual SIM support
Main camera	12 MP, Sony IMX445, 1 / 2.6 ?, F1.6, 26 mm (equiv.), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, LED flash + 12 MP, Samsung ISOCELL S5K3M3, 1 / 3.4 ?, F2, 4, 52 mm (equiv.), Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS + 12 MP, Samsung ISOCELL S5K3M3, 1 / 3.4 ?, F2.4, 16 mm (equiv.)
Front-camera	8 MP, Samsung ISOCELL S5K4H7, 1/4 ?, F2.0, 24 mm (equiv.)
The fingerprint scanner	side view
Communications	support for 4G LTE networks, Wi-Fi 802.11ac (dual band), Bluetooth 5.0, infrared, NFC, USB-C
Geolocation	support for 4G networks LTE Cat.19 (1600/150 Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11ac (dual band), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C; geolocation: A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Audio jack	not
Battery	3330 mAh, non-removable, supports fast charging Power Delivery 2.0 (adapter included)

Overview of photo features Sony Xperia 1

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/800 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

As mentioned above, a great emphasis in the smartphone is not even on video, but on cinematic opportunities. We will talk about this separately, and the photo capabilities test was traditionally started in good light conditions. At the same time, we immediately used all the cameras in order to show the possibilities when shooting from one point in a number of scenes.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/1000 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/320 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/200 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

Pictures on all cameras are good: natural colors, high detail. However, if you look at one hundred percent crop, it is striking just the crazy work of post-processing algorithms that turn heterogeneous surfaces, such as a brick wall, into a mess. In this case, it seems that the optical image stabilization did not work, although this is not so. At the same time, there is room for a fairly strong resharp. As a result, the initial positive impression is greatly smeared.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/200 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 64, F1.6, 1/800 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 64, F1.6, 1/640 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 64, F1.6, 1/800 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

We noted a wide dynamic range. Here you can enable and disable it in manual mode. But we, remembering the work with Sony Xperia, did not do this, relying on automation. As a result, we obtained highly detailed images under difficult lighting conditions: the building, objects, and the sky were well exposed, the images came out really high-quality.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/400 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/320 s, 6.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/500 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

Sony Xperia 1 has the ability to blur the background. Moreover, this is not a dedicated Bokeh mode, as it was before, but a separate button in the top panel of the interface. It is the portraits of the Sony Xperia 1 that go well. By the way, the device immediately switches to a camera with a 52 mm (equivalent) zoom lens, but if you complicate the task and use a non-trivial object, problems begin: the contours are not worked out clearly.

J9110 Installation: ISO 125, F2.4, 1/400 s, 6.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 125, F2.4, 1/200 s, 6.0 mm equiv.

Next, we proceeded to shooting indoors. Here it is worth mentioning one interesting feature of the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone, more precisely its ultra-wide-angle camera. The fact is that in the settings you can find the item “Correction of distortion” and choose between image quality and distortion correction. As an example, a couple of shots with different priorities. In our opinion, the choice is obvious. In general, it is not clear why the Japanese company decided to "bury" this item in the settings. For example, conditional HUAWEI and Samsung always try to make the image high enough and provide distortion correction. The creative idea of Sony engineers here is hardly an excuse. For example, two snapshots of a copy of David in Artplay with distortion correction turned on / off.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/125 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/160 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

Let's go back to shooting indoors. Here Sony Xperia 1 again shows itself well: accurate focus, natural colors, the correct work with exposure. However, the problems are the same as during the daytime shooting - overharping and “mess” from processing algorithms. But we believe that this can be fixed with a patch or update - the problem is clearly with the software.

J9110 Installation: ISO 160, F2.4, 1/50 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/200 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F2.4, 1/64 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 125, F1.6, 1/50 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 40, F2.4, 1/100 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 320, F2.4, 1/50 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

And again - examples of images with distortion correction turned on and off. So, above is a snapshot of the atrium of the TsDM, where the disabled distortion can be considered the author’s idea. And below is a snapshot of the Shelepikha metro station. Which image is more interesting - with or without distortion - you decide.

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F2.4, 1/64 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

What happens to the smartphone at night? Does Sony Xperia turn into a pumpkin, like a Cinderella carriage? No, it doesn’t. Although the problems with excessive processing by algorithms and resharping remain the same, high-quality images can be taken on all lenses.

J9110 Installation: ISO 160, F1.6, 1/64 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 100, F1.6, 1/64 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

However, there is one thing. The fact is that the automation of the smartphone itself decides whether to turn on the zoom lens or use the main one with a higher aperture. As a result, many double-shot pictures are crop images from the main camera. Of course, there are exceptions, but rarely (for example, in cases where the subject is well lit).

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F1.6, 1/32 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 500, F2.4, 1/25 s, 6.0 mm equiv.

An ultra-wide angle lens always works, but the quality of the pictures here is much lower. There are big problems with stray light from the flashlights and the inability to adjust exposure compensation.

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F1.6, 1/20 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 800, F2.4, 1/40 s, 6.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 800, F2.4, 1/32 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

In general, the camera interface, although it has become noticeably more convenient, still requires serious improvements. So, when you select the focus point and exposure, the interface for switching between cameras disappears on the screen. Instead, a correction of the brightness of the image appears, and it becomes simply impossible to quickly switch between cameras. In addition, we did not have the “Night” mode with a multiple exposure. Almost all the players in the mobile market have already done this, except, oddly enough, aspiring to premium Samsung, Apple and Sony.

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F1.6, 1/10 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 1250, F2.4, 1/64 s, 6.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 800, F2.4, 1/25 s, 2.0 mm equiv.

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F1.6, 1/13 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

In general, the Sony Xperia 1 shoots pretty well, especially at night.

J9110 Installation: ISO 200, F1.6, 1/16 s, 4.3 mm equiv.

The front camera, despite the low resolution, is quite good. Surprisingly, the camera has no background blur and default beautification. For fans of these modes, there is a "Self-Portrait" feature. It is selected in the mode menu. The overall quality of the pictures on the front camera is high. Well drawn hair and skin texture. You can complain only at a focal length of 24 mm (equiv.). With such a lens, the geometry of the face looks strange and not natural. We mentioned above that the Sony Xperia 1 is, in many ways, the cinematic flagship. In addition to the display and annual subscription to the OKKO service, everyone can use the Cinema Pro application developed by Sony in conjunction with the CineAlta movie division. This application is almost a real director’s remote control with the ability to switch between lenses, manually focus, apply various settings and special bows that change the color of the picture. It is worth knowing that resolution, number of frames and bow are selected only when creating a new project. Everything is real, in the director's way. Plus, you need to shoot exclusively horizontally: we are talking about classic cinema. In general, shooting a cool story with a bow and special effects will not work. It is also worth noting that there is no mounting means on the Sony Xperia 1 and you cannot trim the start and end of the take. In addition, there is no way to select the color temperature when setting the white balance - you have to be content with several presets. As a result, the impression of Cinema Pro is mixed. On the one hand, we have a cool program that allows you to shoot video at an advanced level. On the other hand, there are a number of significant simplifications, at least strange ones. In addition, the presence of such a program in the absence of the ability to immediately mount a video raises many questions. Well, except for the onion Venica CS, the rest look usually and uninteresting. I want more worthy presets and, in addition, additions in the form of the ability to create a bow yourself! But it should be noted that the video quality itself has increased by an order of magnitude. This is really a movie picture received on a smartphone.

Sony Xperia 1. Conclusions

Sony Xperia 1 is, of course, a bright and distinctive flagship that differs from all devices on the market. The unusual aspect ratio and, thanks to this, the elongated shape of the entire device are immediately evident. The screen is very high quality and supports 4K resolution, it is convenient to work with two programs on it, one of which is a messenger. There are stereo speakers and a DVS system that adds immersive content. True, despite the presence of a linear drive, the vibration response is not very pleasant. By the way, it is interesting that the Sony Xperia 1 is almost the only smartphone on the market without a fringe and a frameless display, but believe me, no one notices it: it looks really good. Xperia 1 turned out to be bright and beautiful, with a universal camera and rich video capabilities. Of course, for Sony this is a step forward in the mobile market. But the smartphone also has obvious problems. Peresharp and processing algorithms that can be repaired with an update, inconvenient button layout and separate scanner and button. The latter, however Sony may justify themselves with patents, is corny inconvenient. Finally, it is impossible to explain the lack of wireless charging in the flagship. The Sony Xperia 1 has a lot of cool, but no less strange and inexplicable. This is work on the bugs again. Among what I undoubtedly want to see is a patch of algorithms and camera software, a fingerprint scanner under the display, the return of wireless charging, the rejection of the dedicated camera button, a larger battery. After all, no matter how well the system was optimized (with which everything is fine with Sony), it’s still a shame to have such a battery for the flagship today. The camera in Sony Xperia 1 shoots well, but image processing algorithms spoil everything. When you shoot video from a tripod or stabilizer, it is almost impossible to insert a smartphone without touching the buttons, and this can be a problem. And it turns out that the Sony Xperia 1 seems to be very cool and cool, the camera configuration is excellent, but still something is missing. Maybe this is also due to high expectations: nevertheless, a smartphone at the start costs 79,990 rubles, and we waited for it too long.

Pros:

large and high-quality OLED display with a unique aspect ratio of 21: 9;
universal camera;
good front camera;
natural color reproduction in pictures;
top power;
special cinema chips and features;
high-quality assembly and good design;
stereo sound;
good user interface;
convenient work in multi-window mode.

Minuses:

no wireless charging;
small battery capacity;
noticeable resharping and processing algorithms that spoil the pictures;
inconvenient button layout, separate power button and fingerprint scanner;
in Cinema Pro you can shoot only horizontally, there is no way to cut duplicates;
it is not clear why a choice is needed between image quality and distortion correction when using an ultra-wide-angle camera;
the need for a 21: 9 aspect ratio is not clear, except for watching a movie (TV shows and YouTube more often at 16: 9).

Check the price of Sony Xperia 1