Sony fixed this FATAL flaw! - Xperia 1 V

Sony's new Xperia 1 V looks like a decent flagship offering with killer cameras, a slick design, and solid performance, but with past overheating issues and a price tag that could scare buyers away, does Bell think people should give this phone a chance or is this another big miss for the Xperia lineup?

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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Sony has always been so close
0:34 A very short unboxing
0:47 Design impressions
3:37 Sponsor - SwitchPod
4:05 Fingerprint scanner test and more specs
5:56 Display and speaker impressions
6:59 Labs' display testing results
7:44 Camera impressions
13:26 Labs' gaming performance and battery test results
15:21 Pricing and overall thoughts
16:32 Outro

[waveformdistortion]

I still want to move to Sony for my next phone. The camera isn't a huge selling point for me, just a nice to have. The headphone jack, SD card slot, front facing speakers, and no stupid hole in the screen for the selfie camera though? Absolutely reasons to buy it. Remember when all of those things were standard? I'm glad at least one company isn't dedicated to screwing you out of them so you'll buy a new set of wireless earbuds every year or sign up for their cloud storage.

[Neoxon]

I get the idea of putting the fingerprint scanner under the display as being innovative, but I’m surprised more manufacturers didn’t just put it on the power button.

[WiNMaN]

Am I the only one who doesn't really care about the cameras but would still very much consider this as my next phone?
It's almost perfect with all the features [some we lost over time] :

-Headphones jack
-microSD card
-Fingerprint reader on the side
-Front stereo speakers
-No stupid notch
-Nice display
-120hz

It just miss a removable battery... and a cable/power brick in the box!

[Novur]

One of the only good phones left on the market. 3.5mm, SD slot, current Android, no STUPID front camera cutouts or gimmicks, and a great battery. A lack of any one of those is a deal breaker for me. Skinned Android used to be too, but given the alternatives?

I'm the type of person to keep a phone for 5 years or more; my last phone I ended up going to CyanogenMod for a closer-to-current Android version, before finally upgrading to my latest device. If I'm going to get a new phone, I'm gonna want something like this Xperia, where it has all the physical features that I want (read: that SHOULD BE THE STANDARD), and is brand new so has the longest possible service life.

Here's hoping that when I'm shopping for my NEXT next phone, it's in an era where Apple hasn't made it a trend to replace your phone's screen with a brain chip, or their new AR headset. I don't want to see what Samsung and Google's janky, slapped-together, bandwagon-chasing ripoffs of those look like 😬

[DivinePonies]

The fact that they keep headphone jack, SD slot, side fingerprint scanner, 21:9 ratio and squared glass and shape - I stay with Sony for my next phone. Aesthetically it's also the best looking phone out there and I hope they never get rid of those top and bottom chins. Punch-holes are such a stupid and unnecessary idea, and excessive rounding of the screen corners makes the other phones look so cheap.
Sony is doing everything right with their phones, except few software kinks.

[blazingsoul]

The NFC logo is clearly displayed so you know where the chip is when you use that feature for anything. Instead of just swiping it around until it gets the right spot. Been a mainstay of Xperia devices since they first launched the branding in 2010.

[jonathanbost]

I'm glad this year you got the meaning of the IP 65/68 rating correct, because for the Xperia 1 iv it was explained incorrectly as meaning the IP 68 would deteriorate to IP 65 over time.

[delorean]

I got the mk3 and mk4 when they came out. Love them. Had every single feature I could ever want in a phone, high res display, front facing speakers, headphone jack, no holepunch/chinbar display, and a very stock android experience. If only they would release the 10 series in the US I would buy them for my parents very fast.

[svpracer]

I have a 1.III and I've just reached my one year of ownership mark... I absolutely am in love with it still. It doesn't have a notch or hole punch, yet the bezel is extremely acceptable... Besides that, the battery lasts all day with relative ease. It takes amazing photos/ videos. And overall I cannot recommend it enough.

[LigerZero]

What wasn't mentioned is the Notification LED that's absent in Xperia 1 V. There's clearly room for it but they had gut it out for no apparent reason.

[askylx]

The only downside to the current Sony phones is that they only give you two years of software updates. You pay $1500 for a phone, but you only get two years of software updates. Sony better change that and give at least 4 years of software updates. Otherwise, this phone is probably not going to sell even

[thefoolsgold]

That headphone jack and SD slot are so enticing. Now just imagine more years of Android and security updates and we have a winner

[MichaelSkinner-ej]

The fact it has a headphone jack an SD card, literally means everything. Besides everything else being excellent

[nfriedly]

I don't care much about the cameras, but I love that Sony is still making flagships that have a headphone jack and a micro SD slot! (And front facing speakers and no camera notch - a little bezel is totally worth it!)

I'm also happy to hear that they finally got a handle on the overheating issues. I've eyeballed a couple of the previous Xperias, but the overheating (and the price) always turned me away. I might wait and see what the 5 V looks like, because I think I'd rather have longer battery life and a lower price than a 4k screen and fancy camera.

[nopin]

I have been rocking a Sony Xperia 1 Mark II (bought it used :) ) for a little over a year now, and I absolutely love it. My only complaint is that T-Mobile doesn't seem support it in terms of wifi calling and texting. I am a pretty avid photographer, and all the camera oriented features of the Xperia 1 compliment my style perfectly. Also, the retention and continued support of the 3.5mm jack is what first caught my attention from Sony. I have never bought a new phone, but I will definitely be keeping my eye on the Xperia 1 series used for future upgrades.

[ActuallyAwesomeName]

I appreciate Sony, while having the entire focus on the camera, not sticking a huge ring around the sensor. They just keep it low key and not try mimic a camcorder.
Cameras on phone are small. Sony knows that and don't try to deceive

[philipmitchell]

I have a 3 year old Xperia 1ii and have ordered the 1V. No other iterations were worth the upgrade, at 3 years old still performs flawlessly. Never had an issue with over heating and just use the Sony battery care feature. Battery is still strong. Third Sony phone, I cannot understand why more people don't buy, easy to hold, great features love it

[duragamer]

As a 1 IV owner, overheating sucks, it had to stop reverse wireless charging because it was too much, but I love the rest of the phone

[xPandaZ]

I think this is the only phone I would consider upgrading to from my TCL 20 Pro 5G

[nufsioohay]

This phone is near perfect! This is the No-compromise phone that Samsung move away from sadly but I'm glad Sony is continuing the Note legacy.

It's just such a weird decision to remove the LED notification...