After a long wait, there is finally the successor of the Xperia X1, namely the Sony Xperia X1 II. This device is the flagship of Sony and should be very successful when it comes to the camera.
When opening the box we find a remarkably large, but narrow device. This makes it look larger than many other large smartphones such as the iPhone 11 Pro Max or a Galaxy S20 Plus on the one hand, but on the other hand also more handy because it is a bit narrower. We also find a power adapter, cable and earplugs. In short, the basic components for almost every smartphone. The device is available in two different colors, namely purple and black. This is also the version that we were allowed to work with. After switching on, we simply go through the out-of-the-box experience, which allows you to make the entire device ready for use by asking a few questions. After that, the Xperia X1 II can be used immediately and it is also immediately visible that you are dealing with a high-end device. For example, Sony has used a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 4K resolution of 3840 × 1640 pixels. What is striking, however, is that the smartphone is equipped with a refresh of 60Hz compared to the 90 or even 120 Hz that is often used in high-end competitors. While this is not noticeable to everyone, it is still a strange choice. Furthermore, the phone has a Snapdragon 865 processor and 8GB of RAM. You have 256GB at your disposal for storage.
Let’s look directly at the part where Sony wants to distinguish the Xperia X1 II from the competing models, namely the camera. Not only the cameras, but also the chosen design of the device is aimed at photography. Where other smartphones often have an aspect ratio of, for example, 16: 9 or 19: 9, the X1 II is equipped with a 21: 9 ratio. With this ratio, photos come into their own better. At the front we find one 8 megapixel selfie camera, but the main force is at the rear. There are three lenses here. A main lens with 12 megapixels, a telephoto lens of 12 megapixels and an ultra-wide angle lens of 12 megapixels as well. In addition, the cameras are equipped with a 3D iTOF sensor with which extremely fast photos can be taken. This is done, among other things, by using a depth sensor with which signals can be received more quickly by means of infrared light.
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This is especially important with moving objects because focusing takes less time and you will not get a blurry photo as quickly. Sony has chosen to use Zeiss T * lenses where the different lenses have a different focal length. This, in combination with the shutter speed, gives the user the opportunity to adjust the settings in a professional way and shoot the photo the way they want it. By the way, it is important to know a little about how a white balance and shutter speed works, otherwise you will regularly get a blurry photo. The camera software is also packed with options to get the most out of the cameras. There are many setting options with which you can be the real photographer. This is ideal for those who like to take good pictures with a device that they almost always carry with them.
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The Sony Xperia X1 II has had an update compared to its predecessor if we look at the battery life. This was not very fantastic, but with this new model it is much better and more than acceptable. For example, a full battery will last for a day, even with intensive use, which is great. With the fast charger, the battery is quickly charged and this device has wireless charging, something that was missing in the previous model. Another point of attention that they should have looked at at Sony is the fingerprint scanner. This is placed on the side of the device, which is the case with more smartphones. Only the scanner does not always work well. It often happens that you place your finger, but it is not read properly by the scanner. This was surprisingly common, which also caused some frustration. Incidentally, there were also periods when he worked almost every time. The Xperia X1 II has a hefty price tag of € 1199. This puts it in the same segment as the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. In terms of specifications, the smartphone from Sony is certainly not inferior to these two competitors, but unfortunately it still has some shortcomings that make it seem somewhat on the expensive side.
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