Sony Xperia Pro I Review: Is it worth it?
Verdict
The Sony Xperia Pro-I is a telephone made for photographers and video shooters. It includes a more sensitive photographic camera sensor than its rivals, likewise as software for those who like to take control over what they capture. However, information technology costs a pocket-sized fortune, and in some situations y'all'll miss the extra computational smarts on offering from the likes of Apple tree and Google.
Pros
- Low-cal-affect dissonance reduction leads to natural-looking images at pixel level
- Photographic camera software puts and emphasis on manual control
- Large sensor pixels
Cons
- Weak low-light video operation
- Computational photography capabilities can't friction match the best
- Very expensive
- Shots tend to need punching upwardly in the edit by blueprint
Availability
- UK RRP: £1599
Fundamental Features
- 1in camera sensor This phone uses a sensor based on that of the Sony RX100 Vii compact, although merely 12 of the chip's 20 megapixels are used
- Pro control The Xperia Pro-I has iii separate camera apps, based around different means to manually control the phone's stills and video
- 4K display Like another high-end Sony phones, the Pro-I has a "4K" screen, with a console that's 3840 pixels loftier
Introduction
Sony struggles to remain relevant every bit a manufacturer of smartphones. At the low-end, it'south overshadowed by aggressive Chinese brands like such as Xiaomi. Plus, it doesn't appear to accept put in quite the aforementioned investment into software innovation as Samsung, Google and Apple – which is required to produce a true flagship hit.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I is an example of how the company can all the same stand out: by doing something completely unlike. This is a phone for photographers and, to an even greater extent, videographers.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I camera does some great things. Its software makes taking dissimilar approaches to shooting video and stills much easier, and it avoids the annoying side-effects of overbearing camera "intelligence".
Ultimately, though, I remain disappointed by the results.
Here's the problem. The Sony Xperia Pro-I partially trades on the reputation of Sony'southward excellent total-frame Alpha mirrorless cameras – but, even with a better-than-nearly sensor on-board, yous don't get anything like the postal service-shoot editing flexibility of those cameras. And the best of its rivals offer smarter camera software, which makes up for the departure in sensor size much of the time.
Camera
- Large sensor, although its effective size isn't the 1-inch claimed
- Photos are fabricated for editing, non Insta-sharing
- Skillful quality, but the software smarts lag behind the best
Allow's showtime with the Sony Xperia Pro-I'south camera, since it's the only part of the phone that actually matters.
There are 3 cameras on the dorsum of the device, and all use decent hardware. There's a 2x optical zoom with a 12-megapixel 1/1.29 Sony IMX486 sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide with the Sony IMX363 sensor, and the main event is a ane-inch sensor, based on the pattern seen in the Sony RX100 Seven – a dedicated point-and-shoot compact from 2019 that still costs around £1000.
However, Sony hasn't simply jammed the innards of the RX100 into the Sony Xperia Pro-I. It uses a 12-megapixel "window" in the 20-megapixel sensor. This means the effective sensor size hither is actually pretty similar to that of some other phones, including the Google Pixel six and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
Then what is the reason for this? The Sony Xperia Pro-I would likely look quite different using the 20-megapixel sensor size. Information technology would crave a larger lens, presumably different electronics to read out the sensor data, also, which may also introduce overheating issues. Overall, you'd be looking at a larger, maybe even more expensive, phone.
If y'all've come to the Sony Xperia Pro-I expecting the full power of a 1-inch sensor, so, you may be disappointed; and you'd be justified. However, we still become to run into what Sony can do with genuinely big 2.4-micron sensor pixels – figures that rivals can get shut to only by quoting "virtual" sensor pixel sizes achieved by merging the output of multiple pixels in a Quad Bayer array.
Hither's the practiced stuff. The Sony Xperia Pro-I's images look more similar those of a dedicated photographic camera than just virtually any other telephone I've tested in a long time.
I find this most useful when shooting more dim scenes, such every bit a patch of heaven, where there's no obvious point of reference for the light level. Phones will routinely brand these also bright, because mobile epitome processing typically aims for maximum punch, brightness and affect. The Sony Xperia Pro-I takes a more than measured approach. I find this tends to result in pictures that look closer to how they appear to my eyes, compared to the Google Pixel 6 Pro.
Withal, in well-nigh every case this also ways you'll want to edit images at to the lowest degree a little before sharing them online. Subdued contrast makes many of the Sony Xperia Pro-I's photos announced apartment past smartphone standards, and details aren't brought out of the shadows nearly as much as a Pixel 6 or Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
This "look" is more common with snaps taken on inexpensive phones; but the difference hither is that there's a far greater scope to make the pictures appear how you want them to through an editing app. The Sony Xperia Pro-I's big sensor pixels retain far more shadow detail than those on low-end phones, offer the headroom to radically boost the shadows without ending upwards with masses of colour dissonance or mushed-up detail.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I processing has a much softer touch than its rivals. In the "basic" point-and-shoot mode, Auto HDR processing avoids blown highlights – this is essential, even with larger sensor pixels. The question here is over whether yous want a phone that produces images that aren't oft 100% ready to share once you've captured them. As is the example with images taken with a dedicated camera, you can only really discover how proficient a photo is – limerick aside – in the edit.
This specific grapheme is present right down at the pixel level, too. The Sony Xperia Pro-I'due south images volition oft await less sharp and detailed when fully zoomed in than those from a Pixel 6 Pro. However, much of this is down to Google's far greater employ of contrast enhancement and edge sharpening.
Far-away foliage looks more natural through the Sony Xperia Pro-I camera, even if many (if not nearly) would probable choose the Google Pixel 6 flick in a blind A/B test.
Sony's approach is likely to appeal to a not insubstantial minority of people, peculiarly those who already have a Photoshop/Lightroom subscription. The concrete interface is quite old-school, too. There's a neat two-level shutter button on the side, used to capture photos in all modes bar "bones", which has an on-screen shutter button instead.
However, then far I've only been talking virtually shooting in daylight. And the Sony Xperia Pro-I starts to lose its entreatment when you lot shoot in low low-cal.
This should be where the larger sensor pixels shine; but, instead, it acts as a demonstration of how powerful computational photography is in the very best camera phones. Google, Samsung and Apple tree now accept peachy computational techniques. Sony? Information technology lags behind a lilliputian.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I's night-time images are slightly weaker than those taken with the iPhone 13, Pixel 6 or Galaxy S21 Ultra. While the photographic camera does accept a Night manner, information technology just isn't at the aforementioned level equally the biggest players in terms of shadow particular, brightness and clarity. Here's a comparison:
This phone's low-low-cal video is also very poor compared to that from the Pixel 6. It'due south just flat-out dark, even at the highest sensitivity setting. This is unfortunate, because video is arguably where the Sony Xperia Pro-I's "manual" camera software is most useful.
The phone has iii carve up apps for the cameras, two for video and 1 for stills.
Video Pro is the one you'll probably use most often. It looks intimidating at offset, just you can use information technology similar a standard casual video app, if you like. However, information technology besides has above-boilerplate manual controls for focus and zoom that get in more than easy to create professional person-looking, in/out of focus transition furnishings.
Cinema Pro takes things a step further, making y'all set each parameter manually before starting a clip recording. All of these remain static, so focus is your only control during capture. There are shortcuts to focal planes, and you tap on these to switch between the two. How long this transition takes tin can be altered in the Settings menu.
Put some thought into what you're going to shoot and you should be able to go some decent short-flick-manner results from the Sony Xperia Pro-I's Cinema Pro mode. However, I struggle to meet who I'd actually recommend the telephone to for this sort of utilise. If you want piece of cake, professional-looking results and so you lot're probably ameliorate off opting for an iPhone thirteen Pro Max. Its Cinematic style tin can pull off tricks that the Sony Xperia Pro-I can't.
If you want a professional experience, you're probably ameliorate off with a mirrorless camera. All the same, it would be impossible to choice up the most "platonic" of these for Sony Xperia Pro-I coin – the Sony Alpha A7S III costs a load more. Simply you could option up a Panasonic Lumix GH5 with a lens for less.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I'south app for stills comes with a agglomeration of unlike modes that roughly replicate what you see in a defended camera, but each can besides employ Sony's Auto HDR mode. "Basic" way offers the classic smartphone experience, with an in-screen shutter push. Auto is similar – point and shoot – but you utilise the shutter push button on the side of the phone instead.
Shutter priority lets you set the shutter speed while the photographic camera handles the remainder. Manual Exposure lets you lot control the shutter speed and ISO. And Plan Car lets y'all command everything bar shutter speed. At that place's no aperture priority – the mode I use most frequently in my own camera – because it wouldn't make much sense in a photographic camera that only has partial discontinuity control, in only i of its three lenses.
In that location remain a few Sony Xperia Pro-I camera features I haven't all the same touched upon. Its chief lens offers variable aperture, with the ability to switch between f/ii.0 and f/iv.0 modes. However, it'due south worth remembering that you're actually getting a roughly one/1.3-inch equivalent lens here, non a 1-inch one. There isn't a huge difference in the bokeh upshot/depth of field between the two modes because the crop cistron is and then significant.
The f/iv.0 fashion appears to exist mostly of use for shooting video of a bright discipline, letting you utilise a fairly fast shutter speed without overexposure.
And the secondary cameras? They're both decent – although, naturally, neither is at the same level every bit the primary, and neither seems particularly remarkable given how much the Sony Xperia Pro-I costs.
The wide produces cleaner images than those from the Pixel half dozen Pro in murky lighting, merely Google regains an edge in low light with its Nighttime Vision fashion. This is because, again, Sony's low-low-cal algorithms/software are weaker. Both the Pixel 6 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as well feature far more powerful zooms; a 2x zoom just isn't that impressive anymore.
The Sony's selfie camera is first-class, at least compared to the Pixel half dozen Pro telephone that I've largely used for comparisons hither. In that location'south plenty of particular and it all looks naturally rendered, fifty-fifty in depression lighting – as long every bit you let the phone utilise the display as a makeshift wink. You wouldn't think this operation would exist on the cards given the specs – an viii-megapixel one/four-inch sensor – but there y'all go.
Is the Sony Xperia Pro-I photographic camera a smash? In some senses, yes; in others, no. You're not actually getting a 1-inch sensor camera here. And, while the large sensor pixels let for a far more naturalistic wait down at pixel level about of the fourth dimension, the more than computational approach used by rivals tin often deliver better results in the near taxing situations.
Still, it'southward only video that I find truly disappointing, though. While the software provides for aspiring film-makers in ways other telephone makers exercise not, you lot see very fiddling of the do good of the big sensor pixels in low-light footage, which generally looks poor.
Here are a couple more samples:
Pattern
- Familiar Xperia design language
- IP68 water-resistnace
- Good build quality
We've covered the most important parts of the Sony Xperia Pro-I. How about the residuum?
The pattern is familiar Sony. You go the "monolith" design the visitor has used for quite some time at present, but with Gorilla Glass Victus on the rear and front, plus aluminium on the sides. These sides are ridged – for grip, I suppose – simply, visually, there isn't actually anything here that catches the eye.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I comes with a headphone jack for audio monitoring during video recording, but yous can besides utilize it for music and podcasts. It has some fairly good speakers, likewise. There'southward a stereo pair with decent merely not class-leading volume, just enough warmth and bass to avoid sounding thin.
Sony adds its Dynamic Vibration feature, too, which makes the vibrate motor buzz forth to the bass. But information technology's a chip silly, really, and doesn't add to the audio output, fifty-fifty if you place the phone on a apartment surface. Gamers might enjoy it, though.
Screen
- One of the merely phones around with a 4K panel
- Use of OLED offers rich colours
- Multiple modes to get the best out of the display
The Sony Xperia Pro-I brandish is a 6.5-inch OLED with a 21:ix aspect 120Hz 4K panel. It plainly renders at a lower resolution most of the fourth dimension, but the high pixel density still makes the pixel structure invisible. I've always found displays of such loftier resolution a bit pointless outside of mobile phone VR, which no-i really uses anymore.
Brandish colour and image quality are great, as long as you lot switch to the "Creator" way. The Standard ane has a much cooler colour tone and pumped-out saturation.
The panel is an OLED, and then contrast and black levels are excellent, regardless of the mode you decide to go with.
Performance and Battery Life
- High-stop Qualcomm CPU
- So-so battery life
- Uninspiring accuse speed considering its price
The Sony Xperia Pro-I uses the popular Snapdragon 888 processor, supported by 12GB of RAM and a huge 512GB of storage – which yous'd promise for because how much this telephone costs.
In that location'south very petty of interest to run across hither. It's a nifty processor, even if it has since been superseded by the 888+ – and soundly beaten past Apple's A15 Bionic. It scores 3726 points in Geekbench five (1109 per core); Ark: Survival Evolved runs beautifully maxed out, and there's no obvious lag in the interface. I couldn't get Fortnite to install because my review sample seemed to be blocked from side-loading apps, merely I can't imagine the Pro-I will confront any issues in this surface area, either.
Would you wait anything less for £1600?
Battery life could be better, though. The Sony Xperia Pro-I isn't a super-slim handset, simply it has the battery of one, at 4500mAh capacity. While the photographic camera may take up significant space, it won't extend across the whole of the rear, mandating an at-best mid-size bombardment.
Its stamina is okay, just nothing to shout about – which is similar the bulk of non-extra-large top-finish Android phones. I have found that it will final a day – just about – without leaving you with much spare accuse to have y'all into the second. Information technology's neither nifty, nor terrible. A shrug.
Charging speed is pretty remedial, too, although Apple tree and Samsung are hardly pioneers in this area either. It takes 28 minutes to reach 50%, reaching 82% in an hour. A full charge takes 1hr 46mins.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I uses a 30W charger – far removed from the OnePlus 9 Pro and its 65W, 30-infinitesimal charger. And OnePlus isn't even the fastest phone around. Co-ordinate to Sony's spec sail, in that location's no capability for wireless charging here either.
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Should yous buy information technology?
The Sony Xperia Pro-I is likely to appeal to those looking for a phone camera that feels like a dedicated camera: specially if proper editing of shots is already ingrained into how you take photos.
Don't come up to the Sony Xperia Pro-I expecting the ultimate phone camera for every single eventuality: While it'south a stand up-out in some respects, its images expect flatter than the best rivals direct out of the camera; depression-light video capability isn't cracking, and there are far more powerful zooms out there.
Final Thoughts
Sony does some interesting things with the Xperia Pro-I – the camera hither feels more than like a dedicated photographic camera than that of a phone. The software offers more ways to become manual control, the noise reduction is far less abrasive than only about whatever other phone from whatsoever other manufacturer, and images tend to be spit out every bit "fix to edit" rather than "ready for share".
Manifestly, this won't be for everyone. And information technology'due south a shame there's express enhancement of low-low-cal video, which ends up looking dark, even with the highest ISO settings applied. You lot win some, you lose some – simply you lot have to pay a whole lot more regardless.
It'due south great that a phone such as this exists, and its differentiating factors are less hollow that I feared they might exist. Simply should you lot buy a Sony Xperia Pro-I? Most should steer articulate; only if you're a video producer who loves the idea of a phone that you lot tin use equally a second camera on shoots, or as a video monitor for your main i, it may make a lot more sense.
How we exam
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and nosotros employ the phone as our principal device over the review menses. Nosotros'll e'er tell you what we find and nosotros never, always, accept coin to review a product.
Used every bit our main handset during examination flow
Camera tested in diverseness of situations with all modes
Tested with synthetic benchmarks and real earth use
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FAQs
Is the Sony Xperia Pro-I waterproof?
The phone has IP65/68 water-resistance rating, meaning it can handle both submersion in water and jets from any angle.
Does the Sony Xperia Pro-I offering wireless charging?
At that place'south no wireless charging here, just the cabled kind.
How fast does the Xperia Pro-I battery charge?
It takes 1hr 46mins according to our testing, and supports 30W power input.
Trusted Reviews examination information
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Geekbench five single core
Geekbench 5 multi core
Time from 0-100% charge
Time from 0-50% accuse
3D Mark – Wild Life
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Full specs
All the important specs you need to know about the Sony Xperia Pro-I
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U.k. RRP
Manufacturer
Screen Size
Storage Capacity
Rear Camera
Front Photographic camera
Video Recording
Battery
Fast Charging
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
Release Engagement
Beginning Reviewed Appointment
Resolution
HDR
Refresh Rate
Ports
Chipset
RAM
Colours
Stated Power
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Jargon buster
mAh
An abbreviation for milliampere-60 minutes and a manner to express the chapters of batteries, especially smaller ones in phones. In almost cases the higher the mAh, the longer the battery volition last but this isn't always the case.
5G
Offering faster download and upload speeds when compared to 4G. Great for game streaming and HDR video playback. Not supported everywhere even so and speeds vary wildly.
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