Sony Xperia 1 VII Review Update: After swapping my pre-release version for a final retail-grade device, I'm redoing my battery testing, and the early version of the phone was MUCH worse. 20m gaming took it down by 11%, whereas the new version goes down by 7%, same brightness, volume, game, and performance settings.
This made me wonder, what do you guys prefer – super early reviews straight after a device drops, or more thoroughly tested long-term reviews/retests if a device is faulty?
To the commenter who suggested my early review device might have had some battery bugs, you were right, I was wrong. Turns out the Sound Connect app was going rogue, ravaging the battery life.
I’ve spoken to Sony and they’re swapping the phone out next week, so I’m holding off on posting the full review, hence the delay, thanks for your patience!
That said, I grabbed photos and videos at the Kylie gig with so many phones: Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, Sony, Pixel, so I’ll spend the weekend stitching together a mega camera comparison to make up for it.
In the meantime, I’ve got the following reviews in the works, which one do you want first?
I know – it isn't a phone – but I also cover cooking tech as a journalist, and live in a small flat, so an air fryer that fits in a cupboard and saves on the washing up is a dream.
Check back next week for the full comparison video, and if you want me to take a different phone – iPhone 16 Pro Max, Google Pixel 9 Pro or Nubia Z70s Ultra – let me know with a comment.
– Benchmarks: typically competitive but Antutu results are low compared to other 8 Elite phones. – 3D Mark stress test was favourable, though, bottoming out higher than some competition like the Vivo X200 Ultra and S25 Ultra but falling behind more gamer focused phones like the Poco F7 and Redmagic 10 Pro, suggesting it should deliver more consistent performance for long sessions without getting too hot. Only hit 40°C after stress test. – Charging times: Full charge in 80 minutes, 50% in under 30 minutes. – Sony leans into HDR and computational photography more which is great, with results still being much more subdued than the competition.
The good: – can't cover up front firing speakers – no punch hole selfie camera – no giant camera bump – headphones jack – microSD card – premium build – improved ultra-eide – pro video mode on launch
The bad – limited meaningful updates over predecessor – so expensive – slower charging than many competitors – tele camera close focus only available in macro mode – battery doesn't seem fantastic but too early to call it – evident throttling even day to day when using the phone with frames dropped in the UI
Still a lot to do on it, and I've read all your comments: speakers, battery, audio quality from headphones jack, fingerprint scanner reliability and more to be tested. Any other questions please leave a comment.
The Xperia 1 VII is official. Alpha camera smarts, Walkman-grade audio, Bravia tech in the screen… and a price tag to match: €1499/£1399. What do you think — next-level flagship or getting a bit silly?
Camera specs below: - Same wide as VI: 48MP, f/1.9, 24mm, 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS - Same telephoto as VI: 12MP, f/2.3, 85mm to f/3.5, 170mm (continuous zoom), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS - New ultra-wide: 48MP, f/2.0, 16mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF
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The internet is divided by Nothing's Phone (3) design! What do you think? Full video here: https://youtu.be/tSial0zgz3c
5 months ago | [YT] | 17
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TechEdit
Sony Xperia 1 VII Review Update: After swapping my pre-release version for a final retail-grade device, I'm redoing my battery testing, and the early version of the phone was MUCH worse. 20m gaming took it down by 11%, whereas the new version goes down by 7%, same brightness, volume, game, and performance settings.
This made me wonder, what do you guys prefer – super early reviews straight after a device drops, or more thoroughly tested long-term reviews/retests if a device is faulty?
6 months ago | [YT] | 20
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Samsung just teased its first Ultra foldable... but what book-style unfolding phone is on your wish list?
More on the new Galaxy here: news.samsung.com/uk/meet-the-next-chapter-of-ultra
6 months ago | [YT] | 27
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TechEdit
To the commenter who suggested my early review device might have had some battery bugs, you were right, I was wrong. Turns out the Sound Connect app was going rogue, ravaging the battery life.
I’ve spoken to Sony and they’re swapping the phone out next week, so I’m holding off on posting the full review, hence the delay, thanks for your patience!
That said, I grabbed photos and videos at the Kylie gig with so many phones: Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi, Sony, Pixel, so I’ll spend the weekend stitching together a mega camera comparison to make up for it.
In the meantime, I’ve got the following reviews in the works, which one do you want first?
6 months ago | [YT] | 25
View 1 reply
TechEdit
Xperia 1 VII camera comparison – what two other phones should I take to a concert next week?
Shark Ninja has invited me to see Kylie in London and learn about this brilliant, space-saving air fryer: ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-crispi-4-in-1-por…
I know – it isn't a phone – but I also cover cooking tech as a journalist, and live in a small flat, so an air fryer that fits in a cupboard and saves on the washing up is a dream.
Check back next week for the full comparison video, and if you want me to take a different phone – iPhone 16 Pro Max, Google Pixel 9 Pro or Nubia Z70s Ultra – let me know with a comment.
6 months ago | [YT] | 21
View 4 replies
TechEdit
The first Xperia video is live, and I've tried something with my format – fun followed by facts... But what do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYKk...
6 months ago | [YT] | 17
View 0 replies
TechEdit
Early testing with the Xperia 1 VII
– Benchmarks: typically competitive but Antutu results are low compared to other 8 Elite phones.
– 3D Mark stress test was favourable, though, bottoming out higher than some competition like the Vivo X200 Ultra and S25 Ultra but falling behind more gamer focused phones like the Poco F7 and Redmagic 10 Pro, suggesting it should deliver more consistent performance for long sessions without getting too hot. Only hit 40°C after stress test.
– Charging times: Full charge in 80 minutes, 50% in under 30 minutes.
– Sony leans into HDR and computational photography more which is great, with results still being much more subdued than the competition.
The good:
– can't cover up front firing speakers
– no punch hole selfie camera
– no giant camera bump
– headphones jack
– microSD card
– premium build
– improved ultra-eide
– pro video mode on launch
The bad
– limited meaningful updates over predecessor
– so expensive
– slower charging than many competitors
– tele camera close focus only available in macro mode
– battery doesn't seem fantastic but too early to call it
– evident throttling even day to day when using the phone with frames dropped in the UI
Still a lot to do on it, and I've read all your comments: speakers, battery, audio quality from headphones jack, fingerprint scanner reliability and more to be tested. Any other questions please leave a comment.
7 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 40
View 10 replies
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This just in...
7 months ago | [YT] | 66
View 27 replies
TechEdit
The Xperia 1 VII is official. Alpha camera smarts, Walkman-grade audio, Bravia tech in the screen… and a price tag to match: €1499/£1399. What do you think — next-level flagship or getting a bit silly?
Camera specs below:
- Same wide as VI: 48MP, f/1.9, 24mm, 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
- Same telephoto as VI: 12MP, f/2.3, 85mm to f/3.5, 170mm (continuous zoom), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
- New ultra-wide: 48MP, f/2.0, 16mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF
7 months ago | [YT] | 19
View 36 replies
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What's your top phone under £350 / $400?
Check out my run down of these four budget champs and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDieH...
Any missing from my list?
Basil
7 months ago | [YT] | 11
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