Product test
Tested: Sony Xperia 1 VI leaves little to be desired
by Michelle Brändle
Sony Xperia 10 VI review: incredible battery life
12.7.2024
The mid-range smartphone Sony Xperia 10 VI has a unique selling point with its cinema format display. I’d have expected more from the camera, but its battery makes this device a real contender.
The Sony Xperia 10 VI scores points with its practical accessories, such as a headphone jack and microSD card slot. However, the Xperia 10 VI doesn’t come close to the amazing camera in the Sony Xperia 1 VI, a current high-end model. What’s more, Sony has removed its telephoto camera.
Design and display: lightweight in film format
The Sony Xperia 10 VI is slightly narrower than most smartphones due to its 21:9 format. Personally, I like this, especially for films. And the format is finally cinema-inspired, so I can also operate the smartphone with one hand.
At 16 × 7 × 0.8 cm and just 164 g, the Xperia 10 VI is a handy lightweight. Apart from the fact the frosted back is susceptible to fingerprints, I really like the design.
The OLED display features a 2,520 × 1,080 resolution. While not outstanding, the screen provides a sharp image and good contrast values. At 60 Hz, the refresh rate is set too low, as smartphones in the same segment already offer 90 or even 120 Hz. As a result, scrolling feels less fluid.
Hardware: older chip but long battery
With the single-core, the Sony Xperia 10 VI still lags behind, but in multi-core, it catches up to take on the middle position. When it comes to everyday tasks, the smartphone works a bit slower in theory, but in practice I don’t feel like there’s anything holding me back. More on that later.
The Sony Xperia 10 VI isn’t as well-equipped when it comes to USB-C ports, with the device only providing USB 2.0 rather than 3.0. As a result, you need up to ten times longer for data transmission via cable.
The cameras come into their own in good weather
The camera module on the back holds a main camera with 48 mp (f/1.8) and a wide angle with 8 mp (f/2.2). There’s no zoom lens as there was in the previous model. Instead, you can now achieve 2× digital zoom. For selfies, you get another 8 mp (f/2.0) at the front. The Sony Xperia 10 VI takes good photos in the sun, but as soon as dusk falls or there are too many clouds, the camera shows its weaknesses. The pictures become grainy and structures disappear.
The digitally generated bokeh is nice but has its foibles. You end up with pictures such as the one below where the lower part of the tree is blurred but the upper isn’t.
Sony has done away with a telephoto camera and instead opted to create zoom digitally. It’s fine, but in practice I prefer to get closer to an object. Even without a macro function, I can create beautiful close-ups on the Sony Xperia 10 VI.
And lest we forget: the tried-and-tested selfie. I’m happy with the outcome. While the eight-megapixel quality isn’t outstanding, it’s still more than sufficient.
As for videos, I record in a maximum of 4K at 30 fps. The results are solid and comparable to the photos. Here’s an example, cut with the Video Creator app, which Sony included on the device. It makes it quick and easy to make a video from a few clips. The only drawback is the highest resolution for exporting your files is HD.
I’m positively surprised that I can also film for 30 minutes without my device overheating. Last year’s flagship, the Sony Xperia 1 V, was already too hot to continue filming after 15 minutes.
Software: update period too short
The Sony Xperia 10 VI runs the current Android 14. You’ll get updates for three years and security patches are for an extra year. But that’s at the lower end of the scale, with Google and Samsung having already promised up to seven years. At least five years will even be mandatory in the EU from 2025.
In terms of files, they’re quick to open. For a 15-MB PDF, it takes just under a second, i.e. the same as on my Google Pixel 8. However, scrolling feels less fluid due to the 60 Hz restriction.
I like to watch films on this device for a number of reasons. For one, the image format fits perfectly. There’s also the fact the speakers on the front left and right boast amazingly good sound for a smartphone at medium volume.
You can still play basic games pretty well on the Sony Xperia 10 VI, such as Solitary and Tetris. But I don’t recommend it for more graphics-intensive games of the likes of Genshin Impact or Asphalt 9. The reason being that the smartphone has to greatly reduce the graphics for these games to run smoothly.
In a nutshell
Unrelenting battery
The Sony Xperia 10 VI is a solid smartphone with a jack connection and space for a microSD. Its battery is extremely long-lasting and the performance mid-range. This is enough for an average day, although with games you have to accept compromises in graphic settings. At 60 Hz, the refresh rate is noticeably lower than in comparable smartphones.
The Sony Xperia 10 VI is a trusty companion for taking decent photos in good weather. What’s really disappointing are the short update periods, which only stretch to a maximum of four years. All in all, the price point is quite high with this in mind.
There’s strong competition when it comes to photos and performance, but not in other areas. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy A55 offers a good triple camera, smoother scrolling thanks to 120 Hz and longer update periods. Nonetheless, you’d have to do without a jack and IP-68 protection. The battery also runs out eight hours sooner on the Galaxy A55 than on the Xperia 10 VI.
Pro
- incredibly long-lasting
- jack plug
- microSD slot
- handy film format
Contra
- photos only excellent in good weather
- refresh rate only 60 Hz
- update period too short
Header image: Michelle Brändle
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
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