Xperia 1 V 256GB 5G Factory Unlocked Smartphone [U.S. Official w/Warranty],Black

I just upgraded from the two-year-old Xperia Pro-I (same generation as the 1 iii) to this, and I'm very happy I did! First, they plugged some of the glaring holes that Sony had vs. the competition. * The 1iii/Pro-I had "5G", but was limited to low-band (n5) on Verizon, and none at all on AT&T. (On T-Mobile you'd get low-band n71 as well as mid-band n41). It was "fast enough" - I got around 300 Mbps down / 75 Mbps up on Verizon. With the 1V, I also have n77 on both Verizon and AT&T (I measured ~900 Mbps the other day), as well as UW. In theory it should also support NR SA (standalone 5G), but no US carrier has deployed this yet. * Display brightness has improved from "ho-humm" to "excellent", and is now clearly visible in direct sunlight. * The camera was primarily intended for professional users who tend to post-process a bit; for casual use vibrancy was a bit lackluster. With the new "creative effects" Sony has finally added a bit of AI processing for more "instantly sharable" photos and video. Also the main camera sensor is larger than the 1iii or 1iv (1/1.3), which helps with detail, natural bokeh, etc. * Front camera went from ho-humm to best in class. * Sony had a bad rep for overheating after prolonged video recording. Turns out this is common among phones with the Samsung chipset that was used in the 1iv - in fact, while the Google PIxel 7 would not give an equally obvious warning about overheating, it would actually shut down sooner with the same video settings when compared to the Pro-I (or even 1iv). In any case, with a newer chipset from TSMC, those issues are largely gone - you can now record 4K/60 fps video for well over an hour before you get any kind of warning. * The industrial design changes are subtle, but elegant. The sides and back each have textured surfaces which not only looks and feels great, but helps to prevent slipping. Sony's own case for this phone is also excellent, covering the back and surrounding the 4 corners without adding much of a girth at all. (Except for at the bottom where the kickstand is located). The updated camera stack also looks fantastic - better than any phone I've seen thus far. * Also on the Pro-I, but not on the 1iii or 1iv: A third voice-optimized microphone. * Improved front-facing speakers. They were already excellent before but didn't score very high on "loudness tests" (as if anyone ever really use phone speakers for volume). Certainly beats the imbalanced iPhone/Samsung/Pixel setup where one of the speakers blows out from the bottom. As before, the things unique to Sony include: * A hardware shutter button to open the camera. (Though unlike the Pro-I, there is no dedicated button to launch Video Pro - you'd have to open the app from the launcher instead. Or you can capture a quick video by launching the camera; the Basic mode has a button that switches to "standard" video capture). * Expandable storage, with a couple of caveats. (1) The US version of this phone does not have built-in eSIM, but instead two physical SIM slots. The 2nd SIM slot is shared with the µSD card, so you can only expand memory if you use a single SIM. (2) Built-in storage on the US version went down from 512GB in the Pro-I and the 1 iv to a "meager" 256GB. Still plenty for most people, but beware that the bitrate for video capture is higher on the Sony than on other phones, given similar resolution/frame rate/file format. * 3.5mm headset jack; no USB DACs required. Superb quality. * 21:9 screen aspect ratio, which is perfect for movies & gaming. (This turns out to be a 2.33 ratio, whereas movies tend to be 64:27, or 2.35.) To me this is also more ergonomic, since it makes the phone slim enough for one-handed operation. There are of course rumors that Sony might release a Pro-I update soon ("Xperia Pro-I ii" or something equally confusing I gather), but as far as I'm concerned there is little they could improve upon from the 1V without making the phone significantly bigger.

Sony Xperia phones have been my go to for the last 10 years or so. Shape of phone is unique, and others often ask while I'm using it if it is an "Xperia" or "Sony Pro phone" due to shape. People that know, just kinda know and recognize it from reviews. Sony Camera lenses (from Zeiss) are great on the phone and the Sony lack of unneeded apps is very helpful with saving space. This phone accepts my 1 terabyte Micro SD card and allows me to plug in headphones when I need to. I travel a great deal, so sometimes my headphones don't last the whole day. This is especially true if there is a long delay between long flights. Sony is great about having LDAC blue tooth which works great with all of Sony's best headphones and with my Mark Levinson headphones. LDAC really does make wireless listening sound better, though wired is usually still best on devices that offer it. Another reason it is great to have a 3.5 mm port on a phone. The Sony camera software is familiar to anyone familiar with Sony Alpha cameras. The software is great. You can use the auto settings for everyday usage when you're in a hurry, but you can jump to full SLR mode when you want. The camera on this phone (like other High end Xperia phones before it) has analog and digital zoom. As a purist, I like to use the analog zoom more than the digital, but the combination of both is still great when needed. Downsides of this phone? Only has two microSD/Sim slots. You can use one SIM and one SD or one two sims. Previous version allowed two sims and one microSD at the same time. Doesn't affect 95+% of users. If you regularly travel on two continents, it will though. Other thing some may not like is lack of case choices. I was able to find a few I like a lot, but the selection isn't as great as latest Samsung or iPhone choices would be. It does seem to be an enthusiast product, but the great features far outweigh the few downsides.

I'm writing this from the viewpoint of someone who's upgrading from the OG Xperia 1. In this case, I can see all the amazing features that they added into the line of phones from the first flagship. I held off on the 1 IV because of the overheating issue when it came out, and now I get to experience this phone that is basically a culmination of all the little things that they wanted to do with the line. 1. The 4k oled display is gorgeous as usual. The classic Xperia tall slim profile rocks. 2. The sound upgrade is amazing and way louder than my 1. The forward facing speakers really make a huge difference to the quality when watching videos or playing games. 3. I really appreciate the materials in the back - the textured gorilla glass helps with the fingerprints and grip (But I would probably keep using a phone case just to be extra safe anyway). 4. The night-scene ability is better than previous versions and although Sony is a bit slow on this compared to other phones, I'm glad it's finally made its way here. 5. The metal edges of the phone feel premium, and the textured buttons only add to that. Again, the shutter button is very unique to this line of phones and the double-press feature makes it work like a dedicated camera. 6. Speaking of taking pictures (probably the biggest reason anyone would get this phone), the suite of apps for professional capture and editing is amazing. I'm no professional photographer, but with the official website's quick tutorials, I can pretend like I am. And of course, the headphone jack, the expandable microSD slots, etc.. the list can go on for the small things as well! Some of the disappointing things are: 1. So we get a nice bokeh effect now, but still no macro mode. 2. Night-scene is a thing, but it's still kind of underwhelming. 3. You really do need to know your way around the camera apps to capture great photos. The automatic mode doesn't really do much to impress. I have very few qualms about the quality of this phone. It's a really impressive piece of tech and for me at least, it's a great step up from the original flagship. It might not be worth the price to upgrade from the previous mark IV (especially since they fixed most of the problems that plagued that), but they also lower their price so it could be a worthy investment. All in all, I love this phone so far and I hope to be using it for many years to come.

Love this phone in general. Battery life is great! I bought this because it's the only "flagship" phone of any manufacturer that still has a micro-SD card slot. My ONE complaint is that the camera flash is dismally dim. It helps with photos sometimes, but as a "flashlight", it's useless.

My six year old LG V30's battery was failing so it was time to get a new phone. I specifically picked this phone because I wanted a headphone jack, a Micro SD card slot, and good cameras. I have reasons for wanting expandable storage and a wired headphone jack and don't want to write an essay on that here. The phone worked great for the first few hours and paired with my 2013 Audi just fine. But after two system updates, one of which was the Android 14 update, it will no longer pair with my car for the hands free functionality. Additionally, it keeps saying that the Wi-Fi connection has "no internet", even when in the same room as the router. It's the only device in my house having this particular issue and it's extra infuriating because I've moved the Sim card back into my old phone (I needed something that actually works as a phone in my car) and Wi-Fi is the only way it can connect to the internet. Even giving it a static IP address - which is obviously not a great solution for all Wi-Fi networks - didn't fix the problem. I have spent at least 10-15 hours trying to fix both of these issues and have tried numerous recommendations found online, including updating the software in my car to the latest version (which I had to pay to do) and nothing has fixed either issue. This includes at least two system resets (one with settings/app restore and one without) as well as a system recovery using the Xperia Companion software that downloads the phone's system software and reapplies it (which also resets everything like a factory reset). From what I've seen on Reddit, I am not the only person having these problems. So now I have to make a decision about whether to just return it and stop wasting time on it (while still needing a new phone), or wait and see if they can issue a system update which fixes the problems without causing new problems before my return window expires on 1/31/24. If they can't fix the issues before my return window expires, I still don't know what to get as a replacement phone. The combination of Micro SD slot, headphone jack, wireless charging, good cameras, and waterproofing are hard to find on any new phone these days, let alone an upper-tier Android phone. I really wanted to love this phone, but it has been a huge disappointment and an exercise in frustration. Hey Sony: The greatest hardware in the world means nothing if the software is terrible and makes the hardware unusable! Update 1: I gave up on this phone and I'm returning it. Preordered a Samsung S24 Ultra 1TB to match the 1TB MicroSD card I have. It still won't be the same amount of storage though as the system software and apps will be using some of that 1TB with the Samsung whereas the app and system usage was on the built-in storage for the Sony and my old phone. Since I'm also losing the headphone jack, I'm hoping the USB-C to headphone adapters I ordered will work with high-bitrate FLACs and the Sennheiser Momentum 2 headphones that have inline controls and a mic for calls... Update 2: The Samsung S24 Ultra 1TB did not have the same Bluetooth and Wi-Fi issues out of the box. It just worked. The USB-C to headphone adapters seem to work fine with the inline controls and mic as well. Made sure to pick adapters with high-bitrate support, one with charging plus headphone jack, one with just the headphone jack.

This phone isn't your run-of-the-mill device; it's a specialized marvel that demands a certain level of finesse. Don't just waltz into ownership – consider it an artistic endeavor. Enroll in a photography class, immerse yourself in the art, because this gadget is designed for those who appreciate the visual symphony. Now, brace yourself for the unparalleled. This isn't just a phone; it's a masterpiece. Behold the unrivaled brilliance of its screen, a visual feast that eclipses anything you've ever laid eyes on. The cameras, oh, the cameras! They aren't just lenses; they're portals to a world of professional imagery, all wrapped up in a petite powerhouse. Hold it in your hands, and you'll understand. It's not just a device; it's an extension of your artistic expression. The tactile satisfaction is beyond words. There's an actual headphone jack, a tangible link to auditory bliss. A real camera button, the tactile gateway to freezing moments in time. An actual zoom lens, because some moments demand a closer look, and this phone delivers. Say farewell to lugging around bulky DSLRs. This phone is your new photo companion, the compact virtuoso that outshines the rest. It's not for everyone, but for those who dare to dive into the realm of photographic ecstasy, it stands as the undisputed champion – a testament to technology's ability to elevate the art of image capture.

Love this - top tier phone (as of 2023) with headphone jack and micro sd card. The XQ-DQ62 works on AT&T, though after transferring the SIM card from my old phone I had to call in and get to 2nd level support before they determined that AT&T saw the new phone and automatically placed a data block on it (thanks a lot). 2nd level was able to remove the block and everything started working. I'm not willing to go to ear buds that have to be trashed every couple of years because the batteries will no longer take a charge, but wanted a top end phone so that it is good for 5+ years of use. And I am also willing to pay a premium not to have AT&T's bloatware installed. So - fast, good screen (though the aspect ratio is strange), plenty of memory, transfer of micro SD card meant I didn't have to deal with over-the-air transfer, and it DOESN"T HAVE ALL THE BLOATWARE!!!

I get this is Amazon but I find it a bit odd that I didn't at least get a knock on the door for delivery. It was just left in the rain, which like fine for something inexpensive but this thing cost a pretty penny and there's porch poachers out there! The phone itself is long, like real long. It heated up quite a bit when I was doing a transfer but I assume that's normal? It's also black and I ordered the green one. Besides that though, pretty cool phone. Cameras pretty dope, battery is fine ish, seems fast, has fun features and certainly an upgrade from what I had. Granted this is my first real relevant phone in like 10 years of budget buys so I imagine I'm pretty easy to impress. I don't mind the cheap smart phones cause I'm not about that life but was awfully tired of having potato photos so I went with this thing and I'm happy enough with it. Only had it for a few days sooo may update w a better rating if some cooler stuff happens.