Xperia 1 IV vs Galaxy S22 Ultra: Sony's new flagship can't quite outclass Samsung's finest in toe-dip comparison

One of the first review videos for the just-revealed Sony Xperia 1 IV has been posted by the tech channel Mrwhosetheboss. While the show host, Arun Maini, really only dips a toe or two into the pool of available comparison topics (no synthetic benchmark face-off, no gaming tests, etc.) despite being in possession of the new Sony phone for two whole weeks, he does offer an interesting first look and initial opinion of the Xperia 1 IV and how it holds up against another flagship smartphone. Although it’s clear the Sony device “has merit”, it unfortunately cannot outshine the chosen rival for the clip, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Maini does point out the huge advantage Samsung has in terms of personnel power, stating that while Sony can rely on up to around 5,000 employees for its smartphone division, its Korean competitor can fall back on an army of 300,000 workers. This also helps in regard to software support, with the S22 Ultra gaining four years of updates while the Xperia 1 IV will likely have to settle for a still decent three years. Of course, it’s not all bad news for the Sony machine though, with the Xperia 1 IV’s multimedia capabilities, 4K display, 3.5 mm jack presence, and overall design being worthy of particular praise.

But the seams unravel a little when it comes to a photography comparison. As the show’s host opines, although Sony makes great camera hardware, implementing this expertise into a smaller form factor such as a smartphone camera system comes at the cost of quality. The Galaxy S22 Ultra offers richer and more finely detailed shots than the Xperia 1 IV in the daylight, and a night-time shot taken indoors leaves the Sony smartphone deeply wanting when compared to the image produced by the Samsung phone (see images below). Maini ends up choosing the S22 Ultra as the device he would recommend.

However, as mentioned above, this is really a toe-dip comparison, and there will be plenty of time for the Sony Xperia 1 IV to shows its class in more detailed performance-driven reviews. The Xperia 1 IV should appeal to those who are more discerning in their Android smartphone choice as Sony dares to try to stand out of the crowd with the recognizable edgy design, still cutting-edge SoC (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) inclusion, and formidable camera software – the Xperia 1 IV even has three separate camera apps.

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