Sony Xperia ZOOM 2025 Release Date: In 2025, Sony has re-entered the premium smartphone segment with a powerful flagship device that sets new standards for imaging and performance. While many users anticipated a device titled “Xperia ZOOM,” the brand has launched what could very well be its most camera-focused and professional-grade smartphone yet — the Sony Xperia 1 VII. Although the name does not include “Zoom,” the camera features speak for themselves. This phone blends Sony’s rich legacy in camera technology with updated design, solid performance, and features that are tailored for photographers, filmmakers, and multimedia creators.
In this article, we explore the launch details, pricing, features, camera capabilities, hardware specifications, and the target audience of the Xperia 1 VII, which many enthusiasts are referring to as the real “Xperia ZOOM” of 2025.
Release Date and Availability
Sony officially announced the Xperia 1 VII on May 13, 2025, during an online event that was streamed across multiple platforms. The device began shipping in select countries starting from June 4, 2025. While Sony has a limited market compared to brands like Samsung or Apple, the company focused this release on Europe, Japan, and select Asian regions. Unfortunately, Sony has no immediate plans to release the Xperia 1 VII in North America, which could limit its global reach.
Pricing
The Xperia 1 VII is positioned firmly in the premium category. The base model is priced at around €1,499 in Europe, which is equivalent to approximately $1,700. In the UK, it launched for £1,399. These prices put the device in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. However, Sony justifies this pricing by offering unique hardware features like a continuous zoom periscope lens, microSD card support, and a headphone jack — features not found in most 2025 flagships.
Design and Build
The Xperia 1 VII follows Sony’s traditional design philosophy. It has a tall body with flat edges, giving it a professional and minimalist look. The build quality is solid, with an aluminum frame, glass front and back, and IP65/IP68 water and dust resistance. The dimensions are slim and ergonomic, allowing users to hold the phone comfortably with one hand, despite its 6.5-inch display.
Sony continues to retain certain features that many manufacturers have abandoned. These include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a dedicated camera shutter button, and a microSD card slot for storage expansion. These small but meaningful design choices appeal to professionals who value versatility and hardware-level controls.
Display
The Xperia 1 VII features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR support. While it may not boast a QHD resolution like some of its competitors, Sony has tuned the display for color accuracy and contrast. It supports 10-bit color depth, DCI-P3 color gamut, and BT.2020 color standards, making it ideal for photographers and filmmakers who need visual consistency across devices.
Sony also introduced dual ambient light sensors — one on the front and one on the back — to improve automatic brightness and color temperature adjustment. This helps the screen remain visible and accurate in varying lighting conditions.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Xperia 1 VII is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset, one of the fastest processors available in the mobile industry. It delivers excellent performance in gaming, video rendering, AI computation, and multi-tasking. The phone comes with 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and storage options include 256GB or 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, expandable via microSD up to 2TB.
This combination ensures smooth performance even under heavy workloads. Whether you’re recording 4K video, editing in Adobe Lightroom, or gaming at 120 frames per second, the Xperia 1 VII handles it all effortlessly.
Camera Features
This is where the Xperia 1 VII truly shines. The phone has a triple-camera system on the back:
- 48MP main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
- 12MP ultra-wide sensor
- 12MP periscope telephoto lens with continuous zoom from 70mm to 200mm
The periscope lens offers real optical zoom rather than switching between fixed lenses. This means users can smoothly zoom in and out like with a real camera lens. No other smartphone in 2025 offers this level of optical zoom flexibility. Sony has also integrated Eye Autofocus, Real-time object tracking, and burst shooting up to 30fps for high-speed photography.
For video creators, the Xperia 1 VII allows 4K recording at 120fps on all lenses. There are dedicated apps like Cinema Pro and Video Pro for manual controls, LUTs, shutter angle, and focus pulling — features usually found in professional cinema cameras.
Front Camera
The front camera is a 12MP sensor with support for 4K video recording, HDR, and gyro-EIS stabilization. While not as heavily featured as the rear camera system, it is more than capable for selfies, vlogging, and video calls. The front camera performance is consistent and stable even in low light, thanks to software tuning.
Battery Life
The phone includes a 5,000mAh battery, which is standard among 2025 flagships. It supports 30W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging, along with reverse wireless charging to power accessories or other phones. Sony has optimized the software to reduce standby power drain, especially during video editing and gaming. With moderate usage, the battery easily lasts a full day, even with heavy camera use and 5G enabled.
Software and Updates
Sony ships the Xperia 1 VII with Android 15 and a clean software experience. There is no bloatware, no unnecessary animations, and very few third-party apps. The user interface is close to stock Android, with a few additions for creators, such as Photo Pro, Cinema Pro, and Game Enhancer.
Sony has promised 4 years of major Android updates and 6 years of security patches, which places it ahead of many Android brands. This long-term support makes the device a good investment for users who want a stable and secure phone over time.
Audio and Media
Sony continues to cater to audiophiles with the Xperia 1 VII. It includes stereo front-facing speakers, a dedicated DAC, and support for Hi-Res Audio, LDAC, DSEE Ultimate, and 360 Reality Audio. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack with high-quality output is a major win for music lovers. Whether you’re using wired headphones, Bluetooth, or external DACs, the audio performance is clean, loud, and detailed.
Gaming and Performance Tools
The phone also supports PS5 Remote Play and is compatible with Sony DualSense controllers. The Game Enhancer app provides performance tuning, screen recording, FPS control, and streaming tools, making it perfect for mobile gamers and streamers.
Connectivity
All standard connectivity options are present, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort support. You can connect the phone directly to a monitor or TV and use it for presentations or even as a light editing workstation. The dual SIM support and eSIM options also give users flexibility while traveling.
Who Should Buy the Xperia 1 VII
This phone is made for a niche but passionate audience. If you are a:
- Photographer or filmmaker needing manual camera controls
- Audiophile who values high-fidelity output and headphone support
- Gamer who wants consistent performance and cooling
- Power user looking for expandable storage and longer software support
Then the Xperia 1 VII is an ideal device. However, if you prefer a mainstream UI, broad service network, and regular discounts, then options from Samsung, OnePlus, or Xiaomi might be more suited.
Conclusion
While it may not carry the name Xperia ZOOM, the Sony Xperia 1 VII embodies everything that such a device would stand for. With a unique continuous zoom lens, industry-leading manual camera controls, high-quality display and audio, expandable storage, and a clean Android experience, it sets itself apart from the rest of the flagship crowd in 2025.
It is not the cheapest phone, nor the flashiest in design. But it offers tools for professionals and serious users that other phones often neglect. For those who care deeply about content creation, audio experience, and long-term software support, the Xperia 1 VII is one of the most complete and balanced devices of the year.