Review verdict on Sony's Xperia 1 IV flagship: The perfect niche smartphone

The Xperia 1 IV makes use of true variable optical zoom for the first time in a smartphone. In contrast to Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra, Sony's smartphone does not only use a fixed focal length for the zoom, but can also seamlessly zoom in on the subject between 85 mm and 125 mm. However, we were not really impressed by the periscope optics, which works seamlessly between a magnification of 3.5x and 5.2x. The same applies to the main camera, which uses the same camera sensor as its Xperia 1 III predecessor. On the other hand, Sony's flagship employs extensive camera software, so camera enthusiasts are likely to have a lot of fun with the Xperia 1 IV and will probably get even more quality out of the 12 MP lens than in automatic mode.

In addition to camera enthusiasts, vloggers will also benefit from the extensive adjustable settings in combination with the optional accessories. Similar to the Xperia Pro-I, the Vlog Monitor (RRP: US$200) is offered as an accessory for the Xperia 1 IV, with which the rear-facing camera can be used for vlogging.

The Xperia 1 IV also serves another niche - at least in this price range - for fans of a 3.5 mm jack and memory expansion. Sony also provides the near-forgotten status LED. 

Do you place lots of importance on memory expansion and a status LED and are looking for a premium smartphone? Then read our detailed review to get a better idea of the Sony Xperia 1 IV. If you prefer long battery runtimes, interesting alternatives in this price segment come in the form of Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G or Oppo's Find X5 Pro, as Sony's Xperia 1 IV does not score well in this particular area.