Sony Xperia 1 VII - 7.1x continuous optical zoom camera, SD 8 Elite for €1X99

Sony Xperia 1 VII Review: A Premium Flagship with Cutting-Edge Innovation

Sony Xperia 1 VII

The Sony Xperia 1 VII marks the latest evolution in Sony’s premium smartphone lineup, following the yearly tradition of Xperia 1 series releases every May. Officially launched on May 13, 2025, the Sony Xperia 1 vii builds upon the foundation laid by last year’s Xperia 1 VI, bringing several significant improvements—particularly in camera technology and processing power—while maintaining Sony’s signature design language.

However, with a higher price tag of €1499 (a €200 increase from the previous model), is the Xperia 1vii truly worth the upgrade? In this comprehensive review, we break down everything you need to know about the Sony Xperia vii, from its refined design to its powerful internals.

Xperia 1 VII Design: Familiar Yet Polished

Sony Xperia 1 VII

At first glance, the Sony Xperia 1 VII 2025 looks nearly identical to its predecessor. It retains the same sleek, professional design with a flat aluminum frame, a slim 8.2 mm profile, and a weight of 197 grams. Its IP65/IP68 rating ensures water and dust resistance, continuing Sony's trend of durability.

The symmetrical bezels on the front house dual front-facing stereo speakers and a selfie camera, while the 6.5-inch OLED screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. Although the display is stunning, Sony continues to skip features like the under-display fingerprint scanner, instead sticking with a side-mounted sensor embedded in the power button.

On the back, the Sony 1 vii introduces subtle refinements. The triple-camera module now includes a larger camera ring and a repositioned LED flash. The rear panel, crafted from glass and protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, adds a touch of sophistication.

The Xperia 1 7 comes in three elegant color options:

  • Moss Green

  • Orchid Purple

  • Slate Black

These color choices align with Sony’s focus on premium aesthetics, ensuring the Xperia1 vii feels as good as it looks.

Display: Beautiful but Not Groundbreaking

Sony Xperia 1 VII

The Xperia 1 VII display uses a 6.5-inch Full HD+ LTPO AMOLED panel, similar to the Xperia 1 VI. With HDR10+ support, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and dynamic refresh rate (1Hz to 120Hz), the experience remains smooth and vivid. However, its 396 ppi pixel density and 1300 nits peak brightness fall slightly short compared to competitors in the flagship tier.

While this display is still visually impressive, power users and media enthusiasts may be disappointed by the lack of a resolution or brightness upgrade in the Sony Xperia 1 7.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Brings Real Power

Sony Xperia 1 VII

The biggest performance leap comes from the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset—making the Sony Xperia 1 vii 2025 one of the most powerful Android smartphones available. Built on a 3nm architecture, this octa-core processor features:

  • 2x Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores @ 4.32 GHz

  • 6x Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores @ 3.53 GHz

  • Adreno 830 GPU

Combined with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, multitasking, gaming, and high-end apps run seamlessly.

Benchmark scores:

  • Geekbench Single-core: 3094

  • Geekbench Multi-core: 9293

  • AnTuTu: 2,681,282

Running on Android 15, the Sony Xperia vii is future-proof with four promised Android version upgrades. Connectivity is top-notch too, with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and support for both dual nano SIM and eSIM.

Battery Life: Needs Optimization

Sony Xperia 1 VII

Unfortunately, the battery remains unchanged from the Xperia 1 VI. The 5000mAh Li-Po battery supports 30W wired and 15W wireless charging, offering:

  • 0–51% charge in 30 minutes

  • Full charge in approximately 1 hour 27 minutes

Despite the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, battery optimization seems lacking. In fact, the Sony Xperia 1 VII delivers around 15% less screen-on time compared to the Xperia 1 VI—something Sony should address via future software updates.

Sony Xperia 1 VII

Camera: 7.1x Optical Zoom & Ultrawide Upgrade

Camera enthusiasts will appreciate Sony’s continued emphasis on photography with the Xperia 1VII. The triple-camera setup includes:

  • 48MP Main Sensor (Sony IMX888, f/1.9, 1/1.35”, OIS)

  • 12MP Telephoto (Sony IMX650, 3.5x–7.1x optical zoom, f/2.3–f/3.5, OIS)

  • 48MP Ultrawide (Sony IMX906, f/2.0, 1/1.56”)

  • 12MP Front Camera (Sony IMX663, f/2.0, 1/2.9”)

The ultrawide sensor receives a substantial upgrade, delivering better low-light performance and sharper images. Meanwhile, the 7.1x continuous optical zoom is a standout feature—ideal for mobile photographers looking for DSLR-like flexibility.

Video lovers will enjoy 4K video recording at 120 fps on the rear camera, while the front camera supports 4K at 60 fps.

Pricing and Availability

Sony Xperia 1 VII

Sony is offering the Xperia 1 vii in limited markets initially—Europe and the UK—with only one configuration available:

  • 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage

Pricing:

  • £1399 in the UK

  • €1499 in Europe

Compared to the Xperia 1 VI’s launch price of €1299, the Xperia 1vii clearly targets premium buyers.

Final Verdict: Is the Sony Xperia 1 VII Worth It?

The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a high-performance flagship that showcases Sony’s strengths in imaging and build quality. The upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite, 7.1x optical zoom, and improved ultrawide camera make it a solid choice for photographers and power users.

However, with minimal changes to display, battery life, and design, and a noticeably higher price point, the Sony Xperia 1 VII 2025 may not offer enough to justify an upgrade for Xperia 1 VI owners. Still, for new buyers seeking a premium Android device, the Xperia 1 7 delivers a compelling package.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the release date of Sony Xperia 1 VII?
– The Sony Xperia 1 vii was released on May 13, 2025, in Europe and the UK.

2. What color options are available?
– Moss Green, Orchid Purple, and Slate Black.

3. How is the display quality?
– A 6.5-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate and 1300 nits brightness.

4. What is the battery capacity?
– 5000mAh with 30W wired and 15W wireless charging.

5. Which processor is used?
– Snapdragon 8 Elite, paired with Adreno 830 GPU.

6. How’s the camera performance?
– Triple rear camera with 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto, and a 12MP selfie camera.

7. What’s the price of the Xperia 1 VII?
– €1499 (Europe), £1399 (UK) for the 12GB/256GB variant.