Sony Xperia 1 IV: Release date, Price, Design, and More details

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has been introduced and depending on your perspective, the phone is either extraordinarily early or slightly late, as the Sony Xperia 1 III was unveiled 13 months ago but only went on sale nine months ago. In any case, the new model is already available, and it is Sony's first and possibly only flagship phone for 2022, as the Sony Xperia 5 IV has yet to be released, while the mid-range Sony Xperia 10 IV has. The Xperia 1 IV's highlights include seamless optical zoom and improved audio and video recording tools. Still, we'll go into all of that, as well as critical data like the release date and pricing, below.

Sony Xperia 1 IV release date and price

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is now available for pre-order in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, with delivery scheduled for June 16. That comes as a surprise from Sony, given that the Xperia 1 III was revealed months before it was released, and many of the company's other phones followed suit. This is a step in the right direction, but it will only be available in Europe until September 1. There's no information on availability in Australia yet, and that region is unlikely to acquire the phone because Sony doesn't sell its phones there. It will cost you back £1,299 / $1,599 (approximately AU$2,300) in terms of price.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Display

The Sony Xperia 1 IV has a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR compatibility, and a large 21:9 aspect ratio. That's the same specs as the Sony Xperia 1 III, which isn't shocking or a problem because Sony's flagship phones have higher-resolution displays than almost any other smartphone. While not new, the aspect ratio is another remarkable feature, as it results in a taller, narrower display than most phones, which is a love it or hate it a design that helps Sony's phones stand out. The screen on the Sony Xperia 1 IV differs from the Xperia 1 III in terms of brightness, as it is 50% brighter. As a result, it should be able to boost the brightness to the point where it can be seen clearly even in direct sunshine.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Battery and camera

The Sony Xperia 1 IV includes a quad-lens camera, with the 12MP telephoto lens likely being the highlight, with a seamless zoom range of 85mm to 125mm. For comparison, the Xperia 1 III could flip between 70mm and 105mm, but just those two zoom levels were supported - nothing in between, whereas here you can optically zoom to any distance between 70mm and 125mm. That's a feature you won't find on any other smartphone, as most of them only allow you to zoom in one way. For what it's worth, the Xperia 1 IV's optical zoom range is around 3.5x - 5.2x.

A 12MP 24mm wide lens, a 12MP 16mm ultrawide lens, and a 3D time-of-flight sensor for assessing depth are among the additional cameras. On the front, the Sony Xperia 1 IV boasts a 12MP camera, which is an increase from its predecessor's 8MP camera. This new camera also has a bigger sensor, which should help with low-light images, and it can capture video in 4K resolution. The phone's rear cameras have a slew of new features and modes, including 4K 120fps slow-mo recording, a broader dynamic range when taking video than before, a Videography Pro mode for live streaming, and more. The battery has a capacity of 5,000mAh (up from 4,500mAh on the Xperia 1 III), and Sony claims it can charge to 50% in 30 minutes.

Sony Xperia 1 IV Design

You would be out of luck if you were looking for a new design from the Sony Xperia 1 IV, as it appears very identical to the Xperia 1 III. That means a tall, narrow design with a flat-screen and larger bezels above and below it than you usually see on high-end phones, with the front-facing camera housed in the upper bezel. The back of the phone is a flat glass sheet with a quad-lens camera protruding from the top left corner, available in black, white, or purple.

So it has a fairly traditional look from the back and a less traditional look from the front — albeit the front doesn't look too modern either. The Sony Xperia 1 IV also has an IP65/68 rating, indicating that it has passed both certifications, whereas most flagship phones only have an IP68 rating. As a result, it's water-resistant in more situations than most. This is the same as the Xperia 1 III. Its water resistance is complemented by strong Gorilla Glass Victus on both the front and rear surfaces.