The Sony Xperia 1 IV could be quite expensive, and include new camera hardware

This information surfaced on Weibo. Based on it, it could end up costing CNY8,999 ($1,415) in China. Needless to say, that’s quite expensive. That would make the device more expensive than the Xperia 1 III. That handset costs $79 less in China, while it’s priced at $1,299 in a number of other markets. It’s not exactly a secret that Sony’s smartphones are expensive, though, so we’re not that surprised. Sony’s sales numbers will hardly improve with such price tags, though. Now, in regards to its cameras. The phone is tipped to offer a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel or a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto unit, and a periscope telephoto camera as well. Its predecessor, the Xperia 1 III, ships with three 12-megapixel cameras, and a 0.3-megapixel depth module. So, there will obviously be some major changes here, and the same can be expected from the camera software.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ is tipped to fuel this smartphone

This device is tipped to include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ aka the TSMC-build Snapdragon flagship SoC. That chip is expected to offer better thermals, and better performance in general. The Sony Xperia 1 IV is tipped to include 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. We’re not sure if that will be the only model, or will it go up to that level. Who knows what Sony is planning. A 6.5-inch 120Hz display was also mentioned, and the same goes for a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging support. A physical fingerprint scanner may be included on the side, and the same goes for a physical shutter key. We may even get an audio jack. The Sony Xperia 1 III got announced in April last year, but it launched in August. If Sony intends to stick to this timeline, the Xperia 1 IV could be right around the corner, well, at least its announcement. If it will end up sporting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+, Sony will have to wait with its launch, as the chip hasn’t been announced yet.