How powerful is the 1-inch sensor? Approaching the charm of "Xperia PRO-I" with a photo-centered review
Although it is a 1-type sensor, the number of effective pixels is 12 million.
Speaking of a 1-type sensor, the Leitz Phone 1 of the previously reviewed Leica smartphone first comes to mind.
Related articles[Kazuhisa Nishikawa's irregular column] Leica smartphone equipped with a large 1-inch sensor with approximately 20.2 million pixels! "Leitz Phone 1"
This is based on a super wide-angle lens with 20.2 megapixels/F1.9/focal length of 19mm, and the wide-angle 24mm and telephoto 48mm are so-called digital zooms. There was a problem with the operability of the camera, but if it hits, it will produce a picture that does not seem to be a smartphone.
On the other hand, the Xperia PRO-I introduced this time has a 1-inch sensor, but the number of effective pixels is 12 million. This is not equipped with a sensor with 12 million pixels, but uses only 12 million pixels by cropping the total number of pixels of 21 million pixels, and uses this outer circumference when using electronic image stabilization.
This story is detailed in "Sony's ultra-high-end smartphone "Xperia PRO-I" actual photo review", so if you are interested, please take a look. In effect, it seems to be equivalent to 12 million pixels of 1/1.3 type. The iPhone 13 Pro and Xperia 1 III are around 1/1.7 type, so it must be big.
Because not all pixels are used, lens size reduction, real-time tracking performance, and continuous shooting performance are improved compared to using an entire 1-inch sensor. Whether or not this can be called a 1-inch sensor camera is a separate discussion, but for me, everything is OK as long as the image is good.
The actual machine I borrowed this time is a prototype, so I can't use the SIM or perform benchmark tests, but the good thing about this is that the article is all about photos taken with the Xperia PRO-I. The main specifications are as follows.
| [Table] Xperia PRO-I specifications | |
|---|---|
| SoC | Snapdragon 888 5G (octa-core CPU, 2.84GHz, includes Adreno 660) |
| Memory | 12GB |
| Storage | 512GB |
| OS | Android 11 |
| Display | 6.5-inch 1,640 x 3,840-dot organic EL, aspect ratio 21:9, HDR, refresh rate up to 120Hz, HDR/BT.2020/10bit color compatible creator mode installed |
| Network< /td> | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC (FeliCa compatible) |
| SIM | Nano SIM card slot x 2 |
| Supported bands | 5G: n3/n28/n77/n78/n79LTE: Band 1/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17 /18/19/21/26/28/38/39/40/41/423G:Band 1/5/6/8/19GSM:850MHz/900MHz/1.8GHz/1.9GHz | Interface | USB 3.1 Type-C (USB PD, DisplayPort compatible), dual front speakers, microSD card slot (exclusive with SIM2), 3.5mm jack, fingerprint authentication sensor |
| Front camera (effective pixels) | Approx. 8 million pixels / F2 |
| Rear camera (effective pixels ) | 16mm (ultra-wide angle): Approx. 12.2 million pixels / F2.224mm (wide angle): Approx. 12.2 million pixels / F2 / F4, 1 type Exmor RS CMOS sensor 50mm (telephoto): Approx. /F2.43D iToF sensor |
| Size/Weight | About 72×166×8.9mm (W×D×H)/211g |
| Battery | 4,500mAh (Long life that does not deteriorate for 3 years) |
| Others | < td>Waterproof (IPX5/IPX8), dustproof (IP6X)|
| Price | 198,000 yen |
As you can see by comparing the specifications, many parts such as SoC, memory, storage, various interfaces, SIM, etc. are the same as Xperia 1 III (SIM lock-free version). The main differences are size/weight, camera, and price. It will look like this if you pull it out.
| [Table] Main differences between Xperia PRO-I and Xperia 1 III | ||
|---|---|---|
| Xperia PRO -I | Xperia 1 III | |
| Front camera (effective pixels) | About 8 million pixels / F2 | About 8 million pixels/F2 |
| Rear camera (number of effective pixels) | 16mm (ultra wide angle): about 12.2 million pixels/F2. 224mm (wide angle): Approximately 12.2 million pixels / F2 / F4, 1 type Exmor RS CMOS sensor 50mm (telephoto): Approximately 12.2 million pixels / F2.43D iToF sensor 16mm (ultra wide angle): Approximately 1,220 10,000 pixels/F2.224mm (wide angle): Approx. 12.2 million pixels/F1.770mm/105mm (telephoto): Approx. 12.2 million pixels/F2.3/2.83D iToF sensor | |
| Size/Weight | About 72×166×8.9mm (same)/211g | About 71×165×8.2mm (same)/186g |
| Price | 198,000 yen | 159,500 yen |
In other words, decided The main difference is the camera, which is slightly larger, heavier and more expensive. The front and ultra-wide-angle cameras are the same, and the telephoto has a different focal length and mechanism (Xperia 1 III is a switch between 70mm and 105mm). As a result, the overwhelming difference is the wide-angle 1-inch sensor, as is the feature of this unit.
Although the price is expensive, for example, the iPhone 13 Pro Max/1TB model is almost the same price. In some cases, foldables, which have been gradually appearing recently, are even more expensive. It must be high-end, but it's not like this machine is particularly expensive.
Front (Xperia PRO-1 on the left, Xperia 1 II on the right). Although it is difficult to understand, the front camera is provided on the left side of the center of the panel. If both are at 50% brightness, it may have deteriorated over time, but the back of the Xperia 1 II feels darker (same). Xperia PRO-I is matte black, so fingerprint marks are not noticeable. Also, the camera part is a masterpiece. It feels good to sit on a desk etc. Overall the Xperia PRO-I is larger and thicker (Xperia 1 II on the left, Xperia PRO-1 on the right)Comparison photo with Xperia 1 II As you can see, the size is almost the same. However, when you actually hold it, the difference in thickness and weight is large, and the Xperia 1 II feels easier to hold than the numbers.
On the front, the front camera is built in slightly to the left of the top center of the panel. The back is matte black and fingerprint marks are not noticeable. The camera group is mounted in the upper center. The camera on the Xperia 1 II/III was on the left side, so it rattled when placed on a desk, but this unit does not have such a problem and is comfortable to sit on.
The 6.5-inch 1,640 x 3,840-dot organic EL display supports HDR and has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. HDR / BT.2020 / 10bit color compatible creator mode is also installed.
Brightness, contrast, coloring, and viewing angles are perfect. It's a very nice and clean panel. In addition, the 21:9 aspect ratio is easy to see with a large amount of information on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Volume button, power button (with fingerprint authentication sensor), shortcut key, shutter button on the right side. SIM card slot and strap hole on the left side of USB 3.1 Type-C on the bottom side. The 3.5mm jack Nano SIM card slot on the top side comes off with a little fingernail, no eject pin required. SIM2 on the top, SIM1 on the bottom. The microSD card is 211g by SIM2 and exclusive measurement. It weighs over 200g, making it a heavy smartphoneEquipped with a volume button, power button (with fingerprint authentication sensor), shortcut keys, shutter button on the right side, and USB Type-C on the bottom side. A SIM card slot and a strap hole are placed on the left side, and a 3.5mm jack is placed on the top side.
The SIM card slot can be removed by slightly scratching it with a fingernail, so no eject pin is required. The top is SIM2, the bottom is SIM1, and the microSD card is exclusive with SIM2.
I didn't feel any heat in the range I tried. There may be a relationship where there is no load processing such as seasonal and benchmark tests.
I wrote about the sound for the Xperia 1 III, but it's different from the Xperia 1 II. Both the speaker and 3.5mm jack are powerful and have good linearity.
