Leaked Xperia 1 V image may give us our first look at Sony's next flagship

Unlike Samsung or Google, Sony has done a pretty good job at keeping images of its next flagship phone from leaking. However, nothing lasts forever and it looks like we finally got our first look at the device.

A new leak from Weibo user Zackbuks has provided us with what appears to be an image of Sony’s Xperia 1 V. The image isn’t much — just a close-up of the back of the handset — but it gives us some information we didn’t have before.

If you look closely at the camera bump, you’ll notice that this device appears to be missing the Xperia 1 IV’s ToF camera and the RGB IR sensor. If this is indeed the Xperia 1 V, then Sony’s next flagship may only feature three sensors. It also seems as if Sony has moved the LED flash inside of the bump, instead of having it outside like in the Xperia 1 IV.

To the right of the camera island, you’ll see an NFC logo. This suggests this is an international model as the Japan-exclusive model likely would’ve had a Felica logo instead.

In addition to the image, it’s also suggested that Sony is planning on announcing the Xperia 1 V at MWC Barcelona 2023. The event is scheduled to start on February 27 and last until March 2. So we may not have to wait long for a full reveal.

Sony has a bit of a habit of announcing its Xperia 1 line well ahead of the phone’s actual launch date. Case in point, the Xperia IV was announced on May 11, 2022, and later launched on June 11, 2022. If the rumor is true, Sony may take a similar approach of waiting a few months after the announcement to actually launch it.