Sony Xperia Pro-I hands-on review

6.5-inch 4K 120Hz OLED

The top-notch Xperia Pro-I model deserves the best Sony screen, and it gets it - it's the same panel from the Xperia 1 III. The 6.5-inch display has 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, and it is protected with a Gorilla Glass Victus sheet. And there is no cutout or a notch.

The 4K in this Sony Xperia translates to 3840x1644px resolution - the 4K UHD, you know, but in 21:9 aspect ratio - it's the same exact resolution as the Xperia 1 III. Pixel density on the 6.5-inch diagonal equals the astonishing 643ppi - when you get it to actually work in 4K.

As with other Sony 4K mobile screens, this one also runs at 2,560 x 1,096 pixels at most times, though it automatically switches to 4K resolution as soon as you start playing back any 4K video.

The Xperia Pro-I display is HDR capable, and we got HDR streams from popular services like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube.

Android 11 with Xperia spices

The Xperia Pro-I runs on Android 11 with the usual Xperia skin on top of it. The lockscreen is basic, with a clock (that you can customize), a shortcut to the camera and another one for Google Assistant (a bit redundant when there's a hardware key for that already).

The homescreen is as standard as they come. The Google feed is the leftmost pane, but you can disable it if it's not your thing. The quick toggles/notification area is Google's stock too. With this version of Android, you get Notification history and the Bubbles shortcuts as part of the Conversations features - both available on the Xperia, unlike some more heavily customized UIs.

Xperia UI

The Sony's cool Multi-Window implementation is on the Xperia Pro-I, too. Sony's Game Enhancer is part of the software package as well. It's a comprehensive utility for dealing with games and comprises of two interfaces - a game hub/launcher, and an overlay you pull out from the side while in a game.

The rest of the software suite includes a couple of Sony apps for photographers and the default Google apps.

Game Enhancer • Game Enhancer • Google Photos

Camera apps

The default camera app on the Xperia Pro-I is Sony's Photo Pro like on the Xperia 1 III. Essentially, it merges the functionality of the previous regular camera app with the advanced Photography Pro app and takes the name of the latter.

Basic mode is the heir of the old app and likely where you'll spend most of your time. The controls for (implied) white balance and exposure compensation, bokeh mode, drive mode, flash and aspect ratio have been moved immediately next to the shutter release.

Even if this is Basic mode, you still need to manually select the aperture you'd like used for each shot - F/2.0 or F/4.0 for each photo. With the zoom selector already here, you can just about operate all functions with a single thumb without having to use your other hand.

Meanwhile, the zoom selector itself now uses numerical values instead of the tree designation of the old app.

At the opposite end of the viewfinder, and for these you'll need your other hand, you'll find a More button, a shortcut to Google Lens, a Menu button to access the (rather lengthy) Settings menu, and the button that lets you switch between this Basic mode/app and its Pro alter ego.

Photo Pro UI

When in the Pro section of Photography Pro, you get an Auto mode, as well as the classic Program, Shutter priority and Manual modes, plus a Memory Recall option where you can store a pre-set state of settings to be able to come back to quickly.

The Photo Pro interface is reminiscent of that of a dedicated Sony Alpha camera, only adapted for smartphone use. On the right, you get to change photographic settings like focus mode and area, white balance and ISO, but it's exposure compensation that's apparently the most important control since it gets about a third of the screen area.

One thing we complained about the previous Photography Pro app was the lack of a touch-based way to engage the shutter release. The dedicated mechanical button is the default way, and the volume rocker is also an option, but that's that. Unfortunately, it's much the same situation here. If you like the Photography Pro interface but you're not too keen on having to squeeze the phone to take a picture, you're out of luck.

The Basic and the Pro modes feature Sony's Real-time Tracking autofocus. Available on all three cameras, it lets you tap on your subject in the viewfinder, and the phone will track it as it moves inside the frame. It's the industry standard for autofocus on standalone mirrorless cameras, and it's nice to see it make it to smartphones.

Real-time Tracking also works in conjunction with the shutter release button. Half-pressing the button will engage continuous AF and keep the subject focused on top of tracking it.

Mind you, if you're used to tapping on the screen to acquire focus and/or bias exposure for that point, you'd need to go into the menu and change the respective setting. It's otherwise set to Object tracking in both Basic and Pro modes.

Real-time tracking comes in addition to human and animal eye AF, another feature Sony pioneered on standalone cameras. It was introduced on last year's Xperia flagships, and there's something really satisfying in seeing the small green rectangle lock onto your subject's eye.

There are also Cinema Pro app for advanced video capturing and a new Video Pro for not-so-advanced video recording. You can also capture videos with the Photo Pro app, too, if it wasn't confusing enough already.

Video Pro • Cinema Pro