[ UPDATE 04/07/2023 15:00 ] Sony Xperia 1 V is now available in Malaysia. Sony Malaysia is offering free Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones while stocks last.
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Sony has unveiled its latest Xperia 1 V flagship smartphone which boasts Sony’s next-generation CMOS image sensor and it runs on Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip. The Sony Xperia 1 Mark V is priced at RM6,399 and it’s coming to Malaysia on 3rd July 2023. With a price increase of RM300 from the previous Mark IV, here’s what you’re getting with the new Mark V.
6.5″ 120Hz 4K HDR OLED with Gorilla Glass Victus 2
The Xperia 1 V retains Sony’s iconic boxy candybar design and it still gets a familiar 6.5″ 4K HDR OLED (3840×1644) 21:9 display. The panel pushes a 120Hz refresh rate and a 240Hz touch scanning rate while boasting real-time HDR with Bravia HDR’s X1 for mobile engine. On top of that, Sony also claims that the Xperia 1 V offers unprecedented colour accuracy with Creator mode “powered by CineAlta” as it references the colour reproduction of Sony’s professional colour monitors used in Hollywood studio production.
Protecting the display is Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the rear gets Gorilla Glass Victus. For a more upmarket feel, the Xperia 1 V uses hardened glass with a frosted finish coupled with a textured surface for better fingerprint and scratch resistance. The edge of the phone has a different textured surface which is meant to ensure a better grip.
As mentioned earlier, the 2023 Sony flagship smartphone is running on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The Xperia 1 V comes in 3 colours – Black, Platinum Silver and Khaki Green, however, we don’t get the Platinum Silver option for the Malaysian market.
New Exmor T image sensor with 2-Layer Transistor Pixel
In the camera department, the Sony Xperia 1 V features a triple camera setup which includes a 52MP f/1.9 main camera (48MP effective) that uses Sony’s new Exmor T 1/1.35″ image sensor. According to Sony, the Exmor T for Mobile sensor uses a 2-layer Transistor Pixel technology that allows it to capture more light while significantly reducing image noise. Coupled with computational processing, the Xperia 1 V is claimed to be able to reduce noise and enhance dynamic range which results in brighter night scenes even in challenging low-light situations.
On top of that, the Xperia 1 V also gets a 12MP (f/2.3-f/2.8) telephoto camera with a 1/3.5″ Exmor RS sensor and it claims to offer true optical zoom with a range of 85mm – 125mm. Meanwhile, ultra-wide-angle shots are handled by another 12MP f/2.2 camera that uses a 1/2.5″ Exmor RS sensor which offers a 123-degree field of view. Like its predecessor, the cameras also get ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating to minimise unwanted reflections.
The Xperia 1 V’s imaging capabilities are said to be co-developed by engineers behind Sony’s latest Alpha 1 series. Besides having the ability to record cinematic video with S-Cinetone for mobile, it also offers 6 preset looks under Creative Look. The Xperia 1 V has a Product Showcase Setting which is designed to record review videos and also gets stereo mics with an extra Voice priority microphone to better isolate your speech while isolating unwanted wind noise. For video, it supports 4K HDR video recording up to 120fps and it also gets Optical SteadyShot with FlawlessEye.
There are also your usual Sony imaging favourites such as Eye AF, focus peaking, burst mode up to 30fps and Alpha AF technology which lets you track any subject on all three main cameras for both photos and videos. Over at the front, the device gets a 12MP front camera that is able to record videos up to 4K 60fps.
Xperia 1 V retains fan-favourite flagship features
The Sony Xperia 1 V remains one of the last modern flagship smartphones to feature a 3.5mm headphone jack which supports Hi-Res Audio. The device also offers tool-free access to the SIM nano-SIM card slot which is great while travelling. On top of that, it still gets a microSDXC expansion slot that allows you to add up to 1TB of extra storage.
As you would expect from a Sony Xperia device, the 1 V also gets IP68-rated dust and water resistance, 5G and 6GHz WiFi 6E support, stereo speakers, 360 Reality Audio and also Qi wireless charging. The Xperia 1 V gets a 5,000mAh battery that supports USB PD fast charging via its USB 3.2 Type-C port. Out of the box it runs on Android 13.
Is it worth paying RM6,399 for the new Sony Xperia 1 V?
RM6,399 is a lot to pay for a new flagship smartphone that comes with 256GB of storage. Granted that the Xperia 1 V has a 4K 120Hz display and a brand-new Exmor T image sensor and “true” optical zoom, there are other compelling options available if you have more than RM6,000 to spend.
On the Android camp, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage costs RM6,199 while the 1TB storage option costs RM7,199. If you really need a phone that can shoot videos really well, the iPhone 14 Pro Max would be a better option with 256GB going for RM6,299, 512GB for RM7,299 and 1TB for RM8,299.
However, the Xperia 1 V still stands out for still having a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot which many die-hard fans have been mourning over. Would you get the Sony Xperia 1 V when it goes on sale in Malaysia in July? Let us know in the comments below.
If you’re interested, you can register your interest on Sony Malaysia’s website.
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