Sony unveils Xperia 1 II phone: Here's a preview

(Submitted by B&H Photo Video)

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Sony today announced the Sony Xperia 1 II smartphone. The second-gen flagship returns with many of the same features that made last year’s model, so popular including a stunning build, 4K HDR OLED display, and a professional-grade camera system inspired by Sony’s lauded Alpha series. The new Xperia also comes with new features, including an updated processor, a new pro photo app, and much more.

Here’s a quick list of top Sony Xperia 1 II features:

GSM / 4G LTE + 5G Compatible
1/1.7″ Exmor RS Sensor & BIONZ X Engine
Triple 12MP Cameras with ZEISS Optics
16mm, 24mm & 70mm Lenses
North American Variant / Snapdragon 865
6.5″ 3840 x 1644 HDR OLED Display
256GB Storage Capacity + 8GB of RAM
Up to 4K Video with 21:9 Aspect Ratio
Dolby Atmos & Hi-Res Certified Sound
Android 10 Operating System

Last year’s Xperia had two revolutionary features: the CinemaWide display and its camera setup, which borrowed technology from Sony’s Alpha series of cameras. With the Xperia 1 II, Sony once again leveraged features from its Alpha lineup, only this time adding more of them.

Similar to its predecessor, the Xperia 1 II features a 12MP triple rear-camera array with RAW support, Eye Autofocus, and a full complement of manual controls. However, this time around the autofocus was enhanced to work on humans and pets at up to 60 fps. Additionally, the Xperia 1 II’s manual interface has been redesigned and expanded to give photographers even more control over their shots—which they can exercise using the new Photo Pro app.

On top of all that, Sony also added in continuous burst shooting up to 20 fps, which is a world’s first for a smartphone, and the ability to shoot 4K up to 60 fps.

The Sony Xperia 1 II features the same 6.5″ 4K HDR OLED CinemaWide display that we saw in the original Xperia 1—and for good reason. When the Xperia 1 first debuted, its display was arguably the most advanced display ever put into a phone. Even now, a year later, the CinemaWide display is still one of the sharpest screens you can find. The reason Sony dubbed it the “CinemaWide” display is because it’s designed to deliver cinematic aspect ratio and color accuracy—basically a movie lover’s dream come true. Sony wants the Xperia 1 II to show you content that’s as close to the creator’s vision as possible.

The 4K HDR OLED display and pro-grade camera setup are just two of the Xperia 1 II’s many standout features. In addition to those highlights, Sony’s latest handset appears to have all the hallmarks of a true flagship. It ships with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of base memory, and an octo-core Snapdragon 865 processor that’s built for speed and optimized networking. All-day performance shouldn’t be an issue, thanks to its 4,000mAh battery with fast-charge technology; it supports wireless charging, as well.

The list of features goes on, but suffice it to say, on paper, the Xperia 1 II definitely looks like it’s ready to take over the mantle of Sony’s best phone. We’ll have to wait and see if it lives up to the hype but consider us excited.

You can learn more about Sony Xperia 1 II at B&H Photo Video:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/videos/mobile/introducing-the-new-xperia-1-ii-smartphone-from-sony

Sony Xperia 1 II | First Look
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXCqYc38Azc