Sony's latest Xperia smartphone joins the trend of camera bars.
The Xperia 10 VII is the newest smartphone to adopt the design aesthetic of the Pixel.
Sony has unveiled the Xperia 10 VII, a midrange Android smartphone set to launch in the UK, Europe, and Asia, but not in the US. This model is particularly significant among Sony's offerings as it introduces the first substantial alteration to the rear design in over five years: a camera bar, reminiscent of recent Pixel models, and now even iPhones.
The Xperia Android series has maintained a vertically stacked camera arrangement in one corner since the debut of the first-generation Xperia 5 in 2019, with only a few exceptions such as the standalone Xperia Pro-I. However, the 10 VII transforms this design language by featuring a horizontal camera duo positioned within a pill-shaped raised bar that spans the back of the phone. The matte plastic casing is available in black, white, or turquoise, presenting a look unlike any previous Xperia device. It bears a closer resemblance to Google’s Pixel phones, a design also mirrored by Apple’s iPhone Air released this week.
From the front, the design is more familiar, showcasing Sony’s characteristic preference for a substantial bezel above and below the display. Consequently, the phone is not as compact as one might expect from its 120Hz 6.1-inch display, yet it remains smaller and lighter than many competitors. Additionally, it follows the recent Xperia 1 models by abandoning the previously signature 21:9 aspect ratio in favor of more conventional 19.5:9 proportions.
There are several other typical Sony features included. Most notably appreciated by some users will be the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack, and this same audience is likely to appreciate the expandable microSD storage option. The prominent bezel also houses front-facing stereo speakers, and the combined IP65 / 68 rating surpasses what most competitors provide. Furthermore, there is a side-mounted single-stage camera shutter button — a feature that has become less distinctive than it once was.
Otherwise, this device is quite a standard mid-range option. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset does not offer exceptional performance, and the dual rear cameras — comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor — are rather conventional for this price range. According to Sony, the 5,000mAh battery is expected to last for two days, although charging is restricted to wired options.
I have always appreciated the aesthetic of Sony’s contemporary smartphones, even though they have frequently fallen behind competitors in other aspects. However, they were starting to appear somewhat outdated, and I am genuinely a fan of the new design. Sony has recently emphasized that the Xperia series is “very important” to the company — hopefully, this redesign indicates a commitment to the series, and we can anticipate its continuation into next year’s flagship model as well.
The Xperia 10 VII is priced at €449 / £399 (approximately $530) and is currently available for preorder in the UK and Europe, with shipping commencing on September 19th.