Sony Xperia 1 VI size boost rumor could finally lead to ultra-micro-hole front camera introduction

A new detail about the potential Sony Xperia 1 VI has been shared on the Chinese social media service Weibo. According to the original poster, Sony is “also going to 6.9” in reference to a comment about a next-generation iPhone hitting the same dimensions. It has already been rumored that the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max will stretch to 6.85 inches (so, basically 6.9), up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 6.7-inch size. Considering the Sony Xperia 1 V came in with a diagonal at 6.5 inches, this would be quite the bump for the Xperia 1 VI.

In regard to the actual height of the phones, the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max is 6.30 inches whereas the Xperia 1 V is actually taller at 6.5 inches. The larger display diagonal for the iPhone is created by a combination of being wider (3.02 in vs. 2.8 in) and having more screen real estate: about 89.8% vs. 84.2%. The “problem” for the Mark 5 variant of the Xperia 1 is its considerable top and bottom bezels and overall slim design – but this is what helps make Sony flagships stand out of the crowd and keeps them a fan favorite.

It is possible for Sony to gift the Mark 6 version of the Xperia 1 with a display diagonal of 6.9 inches without making the phone itself gigantic – by providing more screen real estate via bezel shrinkage. However, a punch-hole camera solution for the Xperia 1 VI would likely be anathema to dedicated fans, who are used to the top bezel containing the front camera and a blemish-free screen. This could indicate that Sony might take a previously rumored direction for the Xperia 1 by introducing ultra-micro-hole camera technology to the line.

Such a solution was once expected for the Xperia 1 V (available on Amazon) but failed to materialize in the end product. The ultra-micro-hole or micro-matrix technology would allow for Sony to shrink the top bezel while still incorporating a front-facing camera system that doesn’t disrupt the display. The camera equipment at the front could consist of a single lens or numerous small sensors, which would no doubt provide a similar or ever better performance to the current “large” solution thanks to Sony's expertise in this field.