What we want to see in the Xperia 1 IV.

[kzagham]

Everyone can add in below in comments, the functionality they would like to see in the next Xperia flagship.

I've compiled a list below and hope to see Sony leverage its capabilities to bring the best in the Xperia 1 IV next year. Although I do like Sony's approach in focusing on; Audio, Gaming, Photography, Cinematography, Cinephiles & Performance, there is still a lot more that Sony can do in this space.

This is the list of features I would like to see:

1) Better Selfie Camera- using Sony's own IMX sensor, larger sensor size, higher MP & support 4K 60fps video.

2) Include tech from Bravia XR, so utilise some form of cognitive intelligence, add in some of the features such as:

XR OLED Contrast Pro, XR Color, XR Clarity, XR Motion, Dolby Vision/ HDR10+ Support etc for mobile. It will not affect TV sales due to screen size difference and TV's have different purposes- Samsung is a good example of this- in fact, they optimise sharing features etc exclusive to Samsung smartphones for higher quality video/ content transfer and having a better display on smartphones encourages more people to get TV's from that brand if they like the smartphone.  

3) Leverage Bravia x Sony Pictures so we can get something like Bravia Core for mobile (4K content on mobile is currently too limited, Prime is temperamental as not all 4K content is available in 4K on mobile, Netflix is capped at 1080p, Disney+ is capped at 1080p etc). 

4) Improved Camera performance working with Zeiss and Alpha division- especially video, we definitely need an automatic mode in Cinema Pro, better dynamic range, multi-exposure framing for video, better stabilisation, higher bit-rate video, 8K, oversampling to get 4K video using full sensor size, more aspect ratio options e.g. 16:9/ 17:9 video in Cinema Pro, S-Cinetone, possibly Dolby Vision, 4D Focus, time-lapse, better video in the native camera app similar to the basic mode for photo pro. In general larger MP and sensor sizes across the board. If Sony wants to stay competitive they need to be better than competition smartphones, they need to realize that making an amazing smartphone camera will not cannibalize/ harm professional camera or DSLR sales- but if you put poor performance cameras on your smartphones, people will just buy smartphones from other companies such as Samsung or Oneplus and that drives revenue away from Sony. 

5) Add in more modern solutions and features such as reverse wireless charging, Night Mode Photography and Cinematography, 12-bit photography, 8K video, larger battery sizes, zoom capabilities, better 5G and mm wave support, new display tech (better/ brighter panel, higher res 5120*2160 etc).

6) Gaming should incorporate PlayStation Division- exclusive PlayStation games for mobile but only available on Xperia smartphones, PS Now in 1080p/4K, PS5 Controller Support, PS5 Remote Play, etc.

7) Better Software- move away from stock android and make software more stable, there are always problems with late rollout of android and there are always issues on older devices. Sony needs to fix this, bring back stuff like the gallery app, increase software support time for devices and make sure apps such as the native camera app, cinema-pro and photo-pro do not crash and allow photography and video-recording below 5% battery, as there are moments that are more important than battery life that once missed can not be retaken. 

[MarlonUk1]

@kzagham 

good suggestions. Im afraid if all of these tech is in one device the price of the device would be astonishingly high..

[kzagham]

Not really, in fact this might still be lacking in terms of other 'features' that competitors are working on. Also a lot of this is software-based and Sony already has the technology, they just need to internally move it to support the Xperia line. Sony should keep price exactly the same or cut down on it to compete. As it stands, Sony should be targeting the likes of the S21+ and iPhone 12 Pro level pricing with the Xperia 1 lineup, reason being the lack of brand recognition in the mobile space. Not many people know that Sony makes smartphones or the quality of those smartphones. A lot of people think that adding features will 'increase' price, but this year could have been better for Sony to increase market share- iPhone 12 was iterative and S21 lineup was iterative this year. Sony could have innovated much more and gained market share with a better device. However, next year will be a big upgrade for the S22 which will launch in Jan/ Feb- whilst Sony will be waiting until May/ June to launch. If they don't innovate and save cost by not updating devices Sony will end up like Nokia, Motorolla, HTC etc. It is disturbing to see fewer number of smartphones being sold by Sony year on year for this exact reason. 

[Ollsbols]

For me it is some basic things. Sony returning to some of their own software development.

Email client on the Z3 was really good. No longer available

Gallery on the Z3 was brilliant. The current one is very basic

• Show map where photos have been taken
• Set up a folder that is connected to my NAS drive
• Setup a folder connected to my OneDrive

Files app to allow me to connect to cloud or NAS

I have an Xperia 5, so a finger print scanner that works would be good.

Some user customisation of the native launcher. Icon packs, size of grid.

Brighter screen for sunny days.

Rely less on native Google apps.

Allow the user to remove  the Facebook and YouTube apps not just disable.

Keep (from the Xperia5):

The design philosophy. Sony phones are really well built and look great.

The camera button on the side is brilliant. Don't lose that.

Fingerprint scanner on the side (when it worked) was really good.

Pro video camera software is very good. Love it. (wish I could get the pro stills camera app on my X5)

Expandable and removable memory card is great.

Primarily get the marketing and pricing right. It is always going to be difficult to outspend Samsung and Apple.  However Sony are not really looking to overturn these companies. Just announce the phone with an actual release date and a price that seems reasonable.

[jeoleo7]

Play memories Online with 15 GB for a user and changelogs during software updates would be appreciated.

and 3 major software updates!!

[Gilgameshuk]

1. Do not use any Samsung sensors at all, they are simply MUCH inferior and since all phones that have had a samsung sensor have had problems and criticism. That is reviews and end users have criticized the quality of images effected by the Samsung sensor.

On the 1 and 5 mark 1 (the 2019 models) it was because the MAIN sensor was a Samsung model.

I have undertaken a battery of tests to bare this out, how 4k video stability was slowly getting better and then as soon as Sony used a Samsung sensor as the main snapper, then things went to pot

Below is the proof

The reason for this is that Samsung make Sony xperia screens (since they went to 4k OLED, as the XZ2P and below the 4k screen was made by JAPAN display INc but they are not geared up for OLD The xz3 was a 1440p Panasonic display p-oled, with anything after that made by Samsung) but Samsung FORCED Sony into a contract where if Samsung built the screen (to Sony Specifications) then they had to include their samsung sensors, also for Sony to get a cheaper price.

This question was asked on this forum before , however one of the moderators was under the instructions on not to answer that question, however a simple DEVICE HW INFO will tell you that Sony were forced to utilised INFERIOR SK5 Sensors.

There has been a current trend within Sony Xperia releases

Xperia 1 and 5 mark 1 series (3 Samsung S5K sensors and just 1 Sony sensor 'the Ultrawide)

Xperia 1 and 5 mark 2 series (2 Sony sensors main and ultrawide and two Samsung sensors telephoto and selfie)

Xperia 1 mark 3 Three Sony sensors and only one Samsung (with that being a Selfie sensor)

So if the trend follows then hopefully Sony will be wise enough not to use an inferior Samsung sensor at all (if they can get out of the contract that has plainly hurt sony xperia sales)

My views for the next Sony Xperia

• Don't utilise Samsung sensors at all
• A small change on Cinema PRo and that is common sense to allow for an OPTION OF AN EXTERNAL MIC  (use a toggle switch between internal and external mic, us film makers will wish to use shotgun mics etc. Currently in Cinema pro only Internal Mic is support and this does not make sense at all and forces us film makers to forgo the Cinema pro and we are forced to use Filmicpro and thus rendering Cinemapro useless..
• Larger Battery but keep the charge times the same as they are on the mark iii
• Further Improve the Internal DAC
• Allow for major third-party GIMBAL support in Cinema Pro
• Allow for switch off HDR in Cinema Pro (in some cases HDR IS WORSE as proven below:
• Work on making HDR colours more accurate
• Do what you do on the Alpha series of Cameras-even the ZV-E10 does this (ALLOW the phone to film in 6K but downsample is to 4k -leaving a slightly better result than filming in 4k natively. CaN THIS BE DONE ON A 1/7" sensor or does it have to APSC sized to bring this about?
• Be more transparent with your customers: include a changelog with any MAJOR update- if its just a security fix then just say security fix)

NOTE: HDR is NOT  a magic bullet in order to fix videos and stills. Knowing how to use your phone IS.

The proof is below:

Anyone who has been around the Mall of Dubai (i fly there on a regular basis -at least before Covid, knows that the Aquarium water and lights in there are BLUE)

Aquarium with HDR OFF (the natural blue) (this one is correct)

Now the second is with HDR set to on (both were taking with the standard app as that allows me to turn HDR on and OFF) both videos were taken one after another.

I could go on but HDR needs some SERIOUS work.

Not meaning to big up my channel but if you visit it I doubt if there is anyone who has tested the 1 and 5 mark 1 series as much as I.

So these are my suggestiond

[kzagham]

Techradar just came up with their own list of features they want in the Xperia IV:

https://www.techradar.com/news/sony-xperia-1-iv

[AlexandruRai]

I would say in fewer words:

1. Bigger sensors with xenon blitz (clearly only Sony's, front having like the one on XA2 with 2 in 1 capability could be perfect, but with much better processing!).

2. Better glass and screen nits (only made by Sony!).

3. Better torchlight for lantern (for all class devices!).

4. Better software processing video-audio and compatibility with third party apps.

5. Lower pricing!

Resulting: HOT PRO CAKES and AMAZING LONGTIME SALES!

[Gilgameshuk]

Addendum to my post:

INCLUDE  inbuilt ND FILTERS for the next flagship that can be turned on/off.

I mean you included them with the ZV-1 Vlogging camera (which as a fixed lens)

[kzagham]

Definitely would be nice to see ND Filters!

I also agree with the other points made, such as the in house software like email clients, gallery, etc. 

The idea on a button for HDR on/off would be nice to see as-well, as would bigger sensor sizes all Sony, more gimbal support, mic support etc. 

Having seen the announcement of the iPhone 13 today, I think sony does have a good chance if they can offer a big jump in the next product. The cinematic video mode with pull focus which renditions automatically is a good feature, but Sony has already had pull focus tech since the first Xperia 1- but touch to focus & 3D itof sensor could be used to enhance this affect automatically in the cinema pro app to give depth and slow down the transition of focus. 

Also the max brightness of this gen iPhone is only 1200 nits at HDR, otherwise 1000 nits- which should reduce the gap if Sony can improve in this area, at least this year. 

On the flipside, software wise I hope to see some improvements. The Xperia 1 is showing it's age and the delay between pressing shutter button and camera opening is noticeably longer now with a black screen preventing any action. Also when trying to use the native camera app for video, the first few frames are missed and then it jitters before resuming smoother video. Other than that is absolutely fine, battery is still quite good and the phone is still fast for other tasks and gaming. I think it's something with the native camera app that is flawed or after an update broke. Things breaking in software updates or over time on older phones is something Sony needs to prevent if they want to retain customers. 

But features wise, I think Sony don't need to waste money on a macro camera, under-display fingerprint scanner or a huge design change. These things would be nice, but that R&D money would be better used in improving the current fingerprint scanner, better selfie camera with higher MP count and larger sensor size, night mode finally and software/ ISP improvement, brighter panel and other useful changes that are more practical.

Fingers crossed, Sony deliver something truly amazing this year and the wait is worth it!