Sony Xperia 1 VII
Sony Xperia 1 VII - ONE MONTH LATER!
Pros
- Excellent battery life, capable of lasting two days.
- Equipped with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for top-tier performance.
- Improved ultrawide camera sensor and new AI autoframing for video.
- Features a headphone jack and a dedicated physical camera shutter button.
- Offers a non-slippery textured rear surface for better grip.
Cons
- Comes with a high flagship price of £1,399 in the UK.
- Not recommended as a worthwhile upgrade from the previous Mark 6 model.
- No longer features the 4K display found in the Mark 5.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a strong flagship offering that delivers a robust experience, particularly for first-time Xperia users who have conducted thorough research. It excels with its two-day battery life and top-tier performance, powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
While it's not a recommended upgrade from the Mark 6, and the shift from a 4K display is noted, the reviewer found these differences largely unnoticeable in everyday use. The phone stands out for its unique features like a physical shutter button, a headphone jack, and a non-slippery design, making it a
“it is a really, really good phone. you will not be wasting money because you've probably got to the point where you've done enough research. You're a bit of a Sony fan person yourself and you're just about ready to go. Just go and do it.”
“Should this be your first ever Xeria phone? Yes, if you've got this far in your research, [...] if you buy it, you will not be disappointed.”
“Sony has done it again. I hope they keep making the Xperia 1 because it's such a fantastically brilliantly bonkers niche product which clearly has a fan base and that is what I love about it.”
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Pros
- Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
- Features the same battery capacity as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Cons
- Exhibits shorter battery life despite a smaller screen.
- Performance is less optimized compared to the 'Galaxy tuned' chip.
- Features a smaller screen than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- The reviewer expressed being underwhelmed by the phone.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and features a battery size identical to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, along with a smaller screen. Despite these specifications, its battery life was notably shorter in tests, and its performance was deemed less powerful due to the absence of a 'Galaxy tuned' chip.
Overall, the reviewer expressed being somewhat underwhelmed by the device, highlighting its comparative shortcomings in battery longevity and optimized performance.
“literally 1 minute later, the Sony kicks the bucket, the Xperia 1 Mark 7. It does have the same size battery as the S25 Ultra, but a smaller screen. And actually, it's not quite as powerful because you haven't got the full Galaxy tuned chip.”
“new for this test, the Xperia 1 Mark 7, which I must admit I'm a little bit underwhelmed by as a phone.”
Sony Xperia 1 VII Review - What Happened?
Pros
- Ultrawide camera is significantly improved.
- Offers good day-and-a-half battery life.
- Performance is stable with less throttling.
- Impressive video stabilization across all rear cameras.
- Includes a microSD card slot and headphone jack.
Cons
- Telephoto camera delivers disappointing image quality.
- High price is not justified compared to competitors.
- Charging speed is slow at 30W.
- Limited 256GB storage outside Asia is standard.
- Lacks log recording and lens switching in some video modes.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII is described as a "good phone" with "untapped potential," but ultimately a "lazy upgrade" that doesn't justify its high £1,400 price tag. While it boasts a significantly improved ultrawide camera, impressive video stabilization, good battery life, and stable performance, these are overshadowed by significant drawbacks.
The telephoto camera is a major disappointment, charging is slow, and the base storage is limited to 256GB. The reviewer concludes it's not worth the money for most users, recommending it only for a niche market that specifically needs its unique features like the headphone jack and microSD slot, and is willing to overlook its shortcomings.
“Sure, the Sony Xperia 1 VII is a good phone and you're not going to be disappointed. I just don't think it's worth the money. I think it's a bit of a lazy upgrade this year”
“I suppose my biggest problem with the Sony Xperia 1 VII is just untapped potential. [...] They charge 1,400 quid for this. It should be better. Yes, if you know what you're doing and you are more of a prolevel photographer, you can certainly get more out of this than the average person. But it's frustrating because it is far from best-in-class and it should be.”
Sony Xperia 1 VII full review
Pros
- Excellent main camera daylight and nighttime photos.
- Highly capable new ultrawide camera.
- Bright and sharp OLED display.
- Retains headphone jack and expandable storage.
- Very good selfie camera detail and dynamic range.
Cons
- Shorter battery life than the previous model.
- Slow 30W charging speed.
- Poor sustained performance in stress tests.
- Main and telephoto videos suffer from softness.
- Lacks modern AI-based features.
The Sony Xperia 1 VII introduces a highly capable new ultrawide camera and maintains strong main camera still photo performance, alongside a bright, sharp OLED display. It also distinguishes itself by retaining traditional features like a headphone jack and expandable storage.
However, the phone sees a regression in battery life compared to its predecessor, and its 30W charging speed is considerably slow by today's standards. Performance is also a concern, as it struggles with sustained loads, showing a significant drop in CPU output.
Furthermore, video recording from the main and telephoto lenses exhibits a general softness, and the device notably lacks the modern AI-based features found in many competing flagship phones.
While appealing to users who appreciate Sony's specific approach and traditional features, potential buyers should be aware of these compromises, with the review suggesting the previous model might even offer better overall value.
“So, that's the Xperia 1 Mark 7. Just like last year, there's a lot of nice features, including rare ones like a headphone jack and expandable storage.”
“The upgrades here are few, though. There is a new chipset and a great new ultrawide camera, but the battery life is actually shorter this time around, and the speakers are quieter, too.”
“If you're a fan of Sony's approach to things and don't care about AI, then the Xperia 1 Mark 7 could be worth looking into. Just keep in mind that last year's model might be an even better deal.”