Sony Xperia 1 IV Black 512GB

With a feature score in the 98th percentile, the Xperia 1 IV packs a 4K 120Hz OLED, headphone jack, and variable telephoto zoom into a $1490 package. Performance is still strong at the 92nd percentile, but the budget score is a disappointing 66.5/100 and social proof is painfully low. It's a specialist's phone that demands you pay top dollar for its niche.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV lands in the 98th percentile for overall features, and it's easy to see why. You get a true 4K OLED screen at 120Hz, a massive 16GB of RAM, 512GB of built-in storage, and a dedicated headphone jack that almost no other flagship has anymore. Around back, the triple 12MP camera system packs a clever periscope telephoto with 3.5x to 5.2x continuous optical zoom, and the 5000mAh battery puts it in the 93rd percentile for capacity in our database. It's basically Sony's love letter to the spec sheet, but you'll pay handsomely for that romance at $1490.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 16GB of RAM push this phone into the 92nd percentile for overall performance, which translates to snappy day-to-day use and solid gaming muscle. Our database shows it still outruns plenty of newer mid-rangers and keeps pace with last year's flagships. That 512GB of UFS storage is roomy and quick, and with microSD expansion you can add terabytes if you're into shooting 4K 120fps video. The 4K 120Hz display sounds monstrous on paper, but in reality it lands around the 80th percentile for display quality, meaning it's bright and crisp but some rivals have inched ahead on peak HDR brightness and color accuracy. Still, for sheer pixel density, this screen is one of the sharpest you can buy today.

Value is where the Xperia 1 IV stumbles hardest. Our budget score puts it at just 66.5 out of 100, and the $1490 price tag demands a lot of faith especially when the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is no longer cutting-edge silicon. That said, you're getting a unique 4K 120Hz screen, a headphone jack, and a camera with true optical zoom that most phones simply don't offer. If you can find it discounted below MSRP, the calculation changes quickly, but at full retail you're paying a premium for niche hardware perks.

Stacked against the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17, the Xperia 1 IV leans hard into its media creation strengths. Our connectivity score sits at the 94th percentile, giving it an edge with Wi-Fi 6e, eSIM, and dual SIM. The telephoto's continuous zoom is more flexible than the fixed-periscope approach on many rivals, though the 12MP sensors can't match the raw resolution of Samsung's 200MP main shooter. Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL delivers smarter software photography, and the OnePlus 15 undercuts this Sony on price while offering a similar Snapdragon platform. The Xperia fights back with a microSD slot and headphone jack you won't find on those competitors, making it a rare choice for audiophile and storage-hungry users.

If budget matters even a little, skip the Xperia 1 IV. Our data slaps it with a 66.5/100 value score, and at $1490 you can grab a Galaxy S26 Ultra or iPhone 17 with far stronger social proof and more modern processors. The 12MP cameras aren't for resolution chasers, and the display falls to the 80th percentile against newer OLED panels. Outside of the headphone jack and microSD, there's little here for the average user who doesn't need a pocket cinema camera.

If you measure a phone by the uniqueness of its hardware checklist, the Xperia 1 IV is an overachiever. Its feature set is genuinely class-leading, but that comes at a cost that our budget data just can't justify for most people. The poor social proof and aging processor are warning signs, but the camera zoom, display, and connectivity keep it relevant for a niche that values those tools above all else. We'd recommend it only if those specific strengths align with your workflow and you can find it closer to $1000.