Sony has unveiled the Xperia 10 VII, a mid-range Android phone that will be available in the UK, Europe and Asia, but not in the US.
It’s more notable than most Sony phones because it marks the first major change to the rear design in more than five years: a camera bar, like on newer Pixel phones and now even in iPhones.
The Xperia 10 VII reinvents this design language with a horizontal camera set into a pill-shaped raised bar that runs across the back of the phone. The matte plastic body comes in black, white, or turquoise and looks like no other Xperia phone before it. It’s a bit more akin to the Google Pixel phones, a design that Apple’s iPhone Air also emulated this week.
The phone isn’t as compact as its 120Hz 6.1-inch display suggests, but it’s still smaller and lighter than most. It also, following the recent Xperia 1 models, ditches the previously typical 21:9 aspect ratio and now uses a smaller, more traditional 19.5:9 aspect ratio.
There are a few other standard Sony touches, though. Some will like the 3.5mm headphone jack, while many will probably like the expandable microSD storage. The large bezel also houses front-facing stereo speakers, and the overall IP65/68 rating is better than most on offer. There’s also a side-mounted single-stage camera shutter button, a feature that’s less unique than before.
On the other hand, it’s a pretty average phone. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset isn’t powerful, and the dual rear cameras – a 50-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle – sound about average for the price. Sony says the 5,000mAh battery should last two days, but charging is only possible via cable.
The Xperia 10 VII costs €449/£399 (around $530) and is available for pre-order now in the UK and Europe, with shipping starting on September 19.
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