Sony debuts $1,800 pro Xperia PRO-I smartphone

Sony Electronics Inc. has announced a new Xperia smartphone developed specifically for content creators, the Xperia PRO-I., offering a 1.0-type sensor, a 24mm ZEISSTessar Optics, advanced image processing and AF, 4K 120p video recording and much more.

“We remain committed to building tools that empower creators to capture, create, and share like they’ve never been able to before,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “The capabilities of the Xperia PRO-I are unlike that of any smartphone that has ever been brought to market. This phone combines the power of the 1.0-type image sensor found in our RX100 VII compact camera, the speed of our fast Alpha interchangeable lens cameras that is further enhanced by Xperia’s high-speed processing, and a similar video shooting experience as our Professional Video Line. All in a device that slides easily into your pocket!” She continued: “We carefully chose this name to include the ‘I’, which stands for ‘imaging’ and accurately represents Sony’s efforts to completely redefine the standards of imaging performance across our entire product lineup.”

Xperia PRO-I is the first Sony smartphone to include a 1.0-type sensor with phase detection AFi. The newest smartphone includes a 1.0-type Exmor RS sensor with a 2.4µm pixel pitch, RAW 12-bit shooting, and dual aperture (F2.0/F4.0). In addition to a 1.0-type sensor, the Xperia PRO-I features a BIONZ X for mobile and a front-end LSI.

The Xperia PRO-I includes three lenses all enhanced with ZEISS® T* anti-reflective coating and a 3D iToF sensor. The newly developed 24mm lens adopts ZEISS® Tessar Optics and delivers high-resolution images with less peripheral image distortion and more intense contrast and sharpness. The Xperia PRO-I’s 24mm lens is complemented by two further lens options, 16mm and 50mm, enabling the user to get creative with composition. The device’s 3D iToF sensor instantly calculates the distance between the camera and the subject, ensuring fast, accurate autofocus in any scene.

Additionally, the Xperia PRO-I features 315 phase-detection AF points that cover 90% of the frame, as well as industry-leading AF technology including Real-time Eye-AF in humans and animalsvii, Real-time tracking[vii], 20fps AF/AE burst shooting[viii], and anti-distortion shutter for a cleaner capture of fast-moving objects.

The Xperia PRO-I also includes a dedicated shutter button that features the same shutter switch module as Sony’s RX100 series cameras and requires similar button strokes to operate AF and shutter release. The user can also long-press the shutter button to quickly launch Photography Pro and start shooting immediately, even when the display is off. In this new model, there is also a strap holeto help secure the device.

Video Shooting

The new Xperia PRO-I enables the user to shoot high-quality video in 4K 120fps and slow-motion video at up to 5x. Xperia PRO-I is the first in the Xperia line-up to introduce Eye AF technology and object tracking in videomaking, allowing the user to keep sharp focus on the subject and spend more time composing their shot. In addition to stereo microphones, the Xperia PRO-I features a built-in monaural microphone next to the main camera, enabling the user to focus on recording speech clearly while other sounds remain in the background. In addition, The Xperia PRO-I includes Sony’s audio separation technology to filter wind noise, both for stereo and monaural microphones.

The Xperia PRO-I lets the user edit and share video content directly on its wide 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display. As an added benefit, the color setting of the display can be adjusted according to the user’s monitor or printed photos.

The new Xperia PRO-I will be available unlocked in December 2021 for approximately $1,800.00 USD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout the United States.