Explore the Sony Xperia 1 VII, a premium flagship smartphone powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, upgraded ultrawide camera, and a refined design. Learn about its new features, camera enhancements, display improvements, and long-term software support.
Sony is back with its latest flagship, the Xperia 1 VII, blending familiar design with smarter internals and camera upgrades that quietly push the phone forward. If you’re a fan of Sony’s commitment to a classic, buttoned-up smartphone experience with serious photography chops, this year’s update won’t disappoint—even if it plays it safe in some areas.
On the outside, the Xperia 1 VII looks nearly identical to last year’s model, keeping the tall, 6.5-inch form factor and triple rear camera layout. However, Sony has introduced two fresh colors—Moss Green and Orchid Purple—that make it easier to spot the new model at a glance. You can also pick it up in classic Slate Black, available in a single configuration with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, with a 512GB option set to launch in Asia.
Under the hood, there’s more going on. The Xperia 1 VII is now powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, Qualcomm’s top-tier chip built for performance and efficiency. The phone uses a vapor chamber cooling system, helping it stay cooler under pressure, especially when gaming or using heavy apps. It also supports Wi-Fi 7 and delivers double the Bluetooth transmission speed compared to its predecessor, making it a strong choice for wireless audio and future-proof connectivity.
Sony’s camera technology sees meaningful improvement this year. While the main 24mm wide camera and the telephoto lens (with continuous zoom from 85mm to 170mm) stay the same, the ultrawide camera gets a major sensor upgrade. It still uses a 16mm lens, but the new sensor is over twice as large as before—1/1.56-inch versus 1/2.9-inch—and now has a brighter f/2.0 aperture, helping capture better low-light shots and more detail across the board.
The Xperia 1 VII carries forward Sony’s strong Alpha camera system AI, offering real-time eye autofocus for both people and animals, as well as features like AI subject detection, AI white balance, AI exposure, and AI depth sensing. These tools are designed to make capturing quality images easier, even in tricky lighting or fast-moving scenes. There’s also Ultra HDR support, making your photos look more vibrant and natural on HDR-capable screens.
Photographers and videographers will also appreciate the physical two-stage camera shutter button, which has been made slightly wider for better control. This is part of Sony’s ongoing effort to offer a camera-like experience that still feels like a phone in your hand.
Audio hasn’t been left behind either. The Xperia 1 VII still includes the rare 3.5mm headphone jack, and this time it uses gold-enhanced soldering to improve sound signal quality. Sony also integrated a premium-grade Audio IC and richer full-stage stereo speakers that have 10% more bass, tuned in collaboration with Sony Music Entertainment.
The display is a 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s the same size and resolution as last year, but with a 20% brightness boost and improved visibility in strong light, thanks to a pair of dual illuminance sensors—one on the front and one on the back. These work with new automatic color and brightness tuning that adjusts to your environment.
Battery life remains solid, with a 5,000mAh battery supporting 30W fast charging. Sony promises up to 2 days of use and around 36 hours of video playback. On top of that, their long-term battery care tech ensures the phone retains more than 80% of its original battery capacity even after 4 years, with features like Xperia Adaptive Charging and Battery Care.
The Xperia 1 VII runs on Android 15 right out of the box and comes with a solid software commitment—four years of major Android updates and six years of security patches. That’s a welcome move, especially when long-term support is becoming more important to users.
Other highlights include IP68 water and dust resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, Gorilla Glass Victus on the back, and a microSD card slot for storage expansion—another rare feature in today’s flagships.
The Xperia 1 VII is priced at £1,399 in the UK and €1,499 in Europe, with shipping starting in June. While it might not be a revolutionary upgrade, it’s a well-rounded, premium Android experience that sticks to Sony’s proven formula—refined where it matters, and uncompromising in its core features.
Would you consider getting the Sony Xperia 1 VII if it were released in the Philippines? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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