Images from Sony show that the Xperia PRO-I smartphone will have a 1 “camera sensor. There will also be an external screen that can be attached to the back. Sony is targeting vloggers with this. The manufacturer also makes a VR headset for the device.
The Xperia PRO-I will have a 1″ sensor and a 24mm lens with a variable aperture; a choice of f/2.0 and f/4.0, according to images submitted by the Nokishita account have been put on Twitter. These are official renders from Sony; the Japanese manufacturer will probably announce the device itself on Tuesday.
With a 1″ sensor, the device gets the largest camera sensor in smartphones at the moment, along with the Japanese Sharp Aquos R6. Xiaomi’s Mi 11 Ultra, which uses the Samsung GN2 sensor of the 1/1.12″ format, will also arrive in the neighbourhood. Devices like the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have significantly smaller sensors. The size of the sensor is one of the most important factors in image quality, as it determines how much light can be captured while shooting.
The images further reveal that Sony is giving the Xperia PRO-I a camera interface similar to that of the brand’s professional cameras. It is not yet known which resolution the sensor has and which other sensors and lenses are in the device.
| Smartphone | Sensor size | Sensor surface |
| Sony Xperia PRO-I | 1″ | 116mm² |
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | 1/1.12″ (Samsung GN2) | 98mm² |
| Google Pixel 6 (Pro) | 1/1.31″ (Samsung GN1) | 72mm² |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro (Max) | 1/1.65″ | 44mm² |
External screen for vloggers
The renders also show an external screen, which can be clicked on the back. This allows vloggers to use the camera on the back to film and see themselves. There are also other accessories for vloggers, such as a gimbal for stabilization and an external microphone.
In addition, a VR headset such as Samsung’s Gear VR. The headset has a holder for the Xperia PRO-I sensor, to use the screen for VR viewing. Presumably the screen of the device has a high resolution; Sony previously released Xperia smartphones with 4k screens. The images show that the headset can also be used with the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 1 II.
Successor of smartphone costing 2499 euros
The Xperia PRO-I is the successor to the Xperia Pro that came out this year. That device had a suggested retail price of 2499 euros. The Pro models from Sony are positioned above the regular line of Xperia smartphones and have unique features. For example, the current Xperia Pro can be used as an external monitor for photo and video cameras.
Camera manufacturer Panasonic has also released a smartphone with a 1″ sensor in the past. That was the Lumix Smart Camera CM1 with Android 4.4 and an f/2.8 Leica lens. That phone looked a lot like a compact camera, but it was not a great success become.