Sony Xperia Pro-I Review, Pros and Cons – In addition to some intriguing model names, the Sony Xperia phone features exceptional camera features that look like a dedicated video recording. Following the same legacy, the company has launched the Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone, here “I” stand for imaging. As the name suggests, it brings robust and cutting-edge high-end camera features with some advanced tweaks to make the whole new photo experience.
Speaking of launch, the phone was announced on October 2021, while sales will start in December. Although the availability of this phone is not confirmed, you will obtain this phone in Japan as usual and in some other markets. Hopefully, image processing and software rendering would be the key point, the internal hardware also had some improvements, which you’ll discuss later. So without further ado, let’s move towards the detailed review of the Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone.
Table of Contents
Sony Xperia Pro-I Review
Highlights
- The phone features a 6.5 inches OLED display with the latest 120Hz refresh rate and HDR-BT 2020 sharpness.
- Hardware limits go beyond processing power with the help of the 5nm Snapdragon 888 chipset.
- As for camera technology, there is a Zeiss optics coating on the lens with polished camera hardware to enhance the quality.
- You will have a 12MP quad-camera setup on the back panel and an 8MP selfie camera on the front.
- However, the phone also features a relatively large Li-Po 4500 mAh battery and 30W fast charging support under the hood.
Design and Display
The design look of the Sony Xperia Pro-I finally pushes the limits, and the phone looks a bit aesthetic compared to the last professional device. The weight is toned down to some degree, while the liver design shape works like a cherry on top. The handling experience has improved with all these efforts; in addition, you’ll get a water-resistant coating with top-level Corning Gorilla Glass Vicust protection.
Although slightly thicker than the previous Xperia 1 III, while weighing 35g grams heavier mainly due to the latest camera bump, the matte black shadow variant’s final design still looks somewhat unique at this. On the other hand, the 6.5-inch mid-size OLED screen brings 1 billion color saturation that gives dynamic color gamut when displaying videos and precise incorporation with dark tones.
The 120Hz update might not be the center of attraction, but instead, the BT.2020 works very well for professional color grading requirements. However, the standard screen cut may not look like the trend, it’s still old-school stuff. But these things make Sony devices special. On the other hand, color comes out of the screen with 4K UHD and features like HDR so you can watch HDR videos on the online streaming platform in an uncomplicated way.
Memory and Internal
Hardware support is noteworthy as the Snapdragon 888 chipset offers robust 5G connectivity and fully supports internal software. Whether you’re thinking about video rendering or multitasking, the output will be excellent. In addition, fluidity is improved by implementing the advanced on-screen refresh rate. In terms of the game, everything goes well.
Aside from the hardware, the visual effect and customization can be similar to the standard Android experience, as Xperia’s clean Android 11 interface provides a bloatware-free environment for users. In addition, Sony Game Enhancer is also part of the software package and precisely improves gameplay. By comparison, the rest of the system’s apps accurately support Sony’s photography ecosystem.
In addition to the simple user interface experience, the Xperia Pro-I smartphone offers a very elegant RAM and storage option. Although it is a single variant device that features 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage with UFS storage support, and besides that, you can use the secondary storage drive. Unquestionably, these specs are more than enough for your daily needs, while if you like videography, there’s nothing to worry about.
Camera
The native camera app comes with professional photography features that let you adjust shutter speed, aperture selection, zoom selection, and more with a single thumb click. In the basic model, you can manually change all these settings like previous generation apps and after opening the app you will get lots and lots of buttons and filters for advanced customization.
Real-time tracking and autofocus are pretty decent for general use, and with auto mode, you don’t have to worry about camera settings. Furthermore, the eye-tracking software has been totally improved compared to the latest generation. In addition, there are three 12MP lenses that feature optical image stabilization in wide, telephoto, and ultra-wide-angle lenses. In addition, you will also notice 0.3 MP 3D less which will further optimize the photo quality.
However, the 8 MP selfie camera is the smartphone’s biggest drawback as it is one of the oldest pieces of technology remaining on the front. However, the Zeiss optics AI software and custom resource library make the selfie a little better than the flagship. The cinematic professional mode works fabulously to dramatically improve 4K video recording, but expect 8K recording. Anyway, the overall videography looks excellent. Compared to the competition, camera technology can reach the same level through software rather than hardware. In addition, the 5-axis gyro-EIS feature provides smooth and stable video recording in all conditions.
Battery and Others
Battery performance is lacking in Sony devices, although the 4500 mAh battery may not look as decent by the standard. But by analysis, one thing is clear, battery life is not dependent on capacity. Instead, it relies more on software optimization. So you can get more than 5 hours of screen time, the 30W fast charging speed will further help to charge the phone in less than an hour.
On the other hand, the added features of stereo speakers, latest features, communications, and sensors make this phone more interesting. Last but not least, the Sony Xperia Pro-I is priced at $2,000 (Rs 1.49.999) approx. The cost can vary from place to place but it is highly recommended as the extensive camera phone with extraordinary features. But at the same time, its settings are difficult to understand at first glance.
Sony Xperia Pro-I Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone.
| Specifications | Sony Xperia Pro-I | |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | |
| Announced | October 2021 | |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual-SIM | |
| Dimensions | 6.54 x 2.83 x 0.35 inches | |
| Weight | 221 grams | |
| Size | 6.5 inches | |
| Display | OLED 1B colors 120Hz HDR BT.2020 21:9 ratio ~643 PPI density | |
| Protection/ Others | Gorilla Glass Victus IP65 or IP68 dust/water resistant Built-in strap-hole | |
| Resolution | 1644 x 3840 pixels | |
| OS | Android 11 | |
| Chipset | 5nm – Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G | |
| CPU | Octa-core 1×2.84 GHz Kryo 680 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 680 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 680 | |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | |
| Card slot | Yes (uses shared SIM slot) | |
| RAM | 12GB | |
| Internal | 512GB UFS 3. X | |
| Camera | 12 MP (wide), PDAF, OIS (315 PDAF points, 90% frame coverage) 12 MP (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP (124Ëš ultrawide), Dual Pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) Zeiss optics, LED flash, panorama, 12-bit RAW, HDR, eye tracking Max – 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps (HDR, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS) | |
| Selfie | 8 MP (wide) HDR Max – 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS | |
| Loudspeaker | Yes (stereo speakers) | |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | |
| GPS | Yes, with dual-band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Infrared port | No | |
| Radio | No | |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, USB On-The-Go, DisplayPort | |
| Sensors | Side-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, color spectrum Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | Li-Po 4500 mAh Fast charging 30W USB Power Delivery | |
| Colors | Frosted Black | |
| Expected Price | $2,000 (Rs 1,49,999) approx. |
Sony Xperia Pro-I Pros and Cons
Down below you can see the list of pros and cons (advantages and disadvantages) of the Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone.
Pros
- Stunning color saturation on OLED display.
- Innovative and exciting camera features.
- 4K video recording with 5-axis gyro-EIS and OIS
- Decent performance with 5nm chipset.
- Long-lasting battery with 30W fast charger.
- Zeiss optics, 2x optical zoom, and TOF 3D camera are present.
- Bloatware-free interface.
- IP rating with Corning Gorilla glass Victus protection.
- Dynamic vibration system and stereo sound output.
- NFC and 5G support.
- Side-mounted dedicated camera shutter button.
Cons
- Relatively small battery size.
- Shared SIM micro SD card support.
- Wireless charging is missing.
- Reverse charging is not supported.
- No custom UI support.
- Unable to record 4K video with the selfie camera.
- Single storage and RAM option.
- Very expensive phone.
Conclusions
There’s no doubt that Sony phones have improved a lot in just a few years, and the location of the hardware makes it great for photography. But at the same time, the Sony Xperia Pro-I smartphone will look like any expensive camera phone, as you need the patience to understand each filter and feature manually. In short, if you’re a photographer, it’s a full-time replacement for DLSR. In contrast, the iPhone simple vlogger will get these features with the software and can edit later.
But the Sony Xperia Pro-I phone is Sony’s trademark; it provides distinct features related to the camera department while in the other sections, all according to the main level standards, be it processing, battery life optimization, or display. In short, a great deal for photography enthusiasts. However, this phone is not for everyone, if you’re looking for an alternative to the overall user experience, you can check out the Honor Magic 3 Pro Plus smartphone.
