Sony announces September 1 event, hints at a compact device

Sony has already launched the flagship Xperia 1 IV earlier this year, but we didn’t see an Xperia 5 IV at the time. Now, the Japanese manufacturer has announced an event for a new Xperia device next week.

The launch event kicks off on September 1 at 3 AM ET (4 PM Japan time), so what should you expect, then? “Be creative. Go compact,” reads a line from the accompanying YouTube video and the video description. In other words, the Xperia 5 IV is almost certainly on the way.

Sony’s Xperia 5 series is usually the company’s pocket-friendly flagship line compared to the Xperia 1 range. The last few Xperia 5 devices offered a 6.1-inch screen compared to the last few Xperia 1 phones sporting a 6.5-inch panel.

What to know about Xperia 5 IV?

It seems like a smaller form factor could be the case in 2022 as well, as apparent Xperia 5 IV FCC filings point to a phone measuring 155.74mm tall. By comparison, the Xperia 1 IV measures 165mm tall. The filing also points to the presence of wireless charging and a 3.5mm port.

We don’t know much else about the new smartphone, but it stands to reason that the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC could make an appearance along with the Xperia 1 IV’s variable telephoto camera. The Xperia 5 series usually has a few cutbacks compared to the Xperia 1 range though, such as reduced display resolution, a smaller battery, and no 3D ToF camera.

Otherwise, all will be revealed on September 1. But here’s hoping Sony fans don’t have to wait ages to get their hands on the new smartphone.