Well, we certainly did not see this coming. Sony Xperia 1 IV, a phone fervently marketed as a powerful imaging device, is now also being marketed as a mobile gaming device. Earlier this week, Sony revealed the Sony Xperia 1 IV Gaming Edition which will come with dedicated gaming gear, Xperia Stream for Xperia 1 IV. The Xperia Stream will also be available as a separate accessory for existing Xperia 1 IV users.
However, Xperia Stream will NOT turn your Sony Xperia 1 IV into a Steam Deck-like device like what GameSir X3 and horde of controllers do. The accessory, developed with pro esports players, has no physical control buttons. But it does boast an integrated cooling fan and a live streaming function, and it is outfitted with multi-ports, including a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an HDMI 120Hz output port, a USB-C port, and even an Ethernet port.
Because of the ports and consideration of air delivery to the front of the screen, as well as the cooling fan, Sony makes no apology for the chunky profile of the controller. While clearly chunky, the curved back promised an ergonomic form factor for two-hand, landscape orientation holding.
Along with the Sony Xperia 1 IV Gaming Edition and the Xperia Stream for Xperia 1 IV, Sony also revealed a “SIM-free” (i.e. unlocked) Sony Xperia 1 IV for its domestic market.
The unlock Xperia 1 IV will be available on September 16 from the Sony Store website, as well as Sony’s brick-and-mortar stores in Ginza, Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka Tenjin, for around 175,000 yen (roughly US$1,222) It can also be found at select major electronics retailers and e-commerce sites.
Interestingly, the unlocked Xperia 1 IV and the Xperia 1 IV Gaming Edition feature 16 GB of RAM, instead of the 12 GB on the Xperia 1 IV, announced in May. Beyond that, I don’t believe there is any difference in the specs.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV Gaming Edition and the Xperia Stream for Xperia 1 IV accessory will be released on October 14, for about 190,000 yen and 24,000 yen (around US$1,328 and US$168), respectively.
All images courtesy of Sony Electronics [JP].
