Sony Xperia 1 VI review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Sony Xperia 1 VI is Sony's 2024 flagship — the generation that went more conventional: a 6.5-inch 1080p-class 21:9 OLED at 120 Hz, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a triple camera with a variable telephoto, 4K at 120 fps video, and a 5,000 mAh battery in a 192 g body. It sold new for $1,399, and the used median for a 12/256 GB unit sits near $1,299 with a deep 11-sale sample — a resale score of 100/100 in action.

Display and design

The 6.5-inch 21:9 OLED runs at 120 Hz, scoring 68/100 on our screen-quality axis; Sony traded the 4K panel of older Xperias for brightness and efficiency. The 192 g body with a compactness score of 85/100 remains one of the most one-handable flagships made, and IP68 protection is standard.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers a gaming score of 54/100 — sustained 3D performance at high settings with the Xperia line's strong thermal behaviour. Update policy is not recorded for this model; Sony's recent practice suggests a shorter runway than Samsung or Google rivals.

Camera

The triple camera pairs 48 MP main and ultrawide sensors with a variable telephoto, recording to 4K at 120 fps — still the most demanding video mode on any phone. Our camera score of 41/100 is mid-catalog: video and manual control are the strengths, computational stills are not.

Battery and charging

The 5,000 mAh battery scores 40/100 on our battery-life axis — dependable all-day runtime. 30 W charging is dated, and our charging score of 12/100 sits among the class's lowest; wireless charging is supported.

Verdict

The Xperia 1 VI near $1,299 used is a videographer's phone holding its value unusually well — the deep sales sample confirms a slow, predictable depreciation curve rather than a bargain. Buyers wanting Sony's video heritage pay close to new money; everyone else should compare the Xperia 1 V, whose price has finally softened, or wait for the Xperia 1 VII to do the same.