Sony has shared news about two significant updates for the Xperia 1 VI this week. First, a new Scarlet color option has been launched, featuring 512 GB of storage globally. We have provided complete details on this release separately. Interestingly, although the US market has also seen the Scarlet edition, it is still limited to 256 GB of storage (curr. $1,209.99 on Amazon).
Connectivity Upgrade
In addition to the new color, Sony has made a major upgrade to the connectivity of all Xperia 1 VI models. They have introduced Wi-Fi 7 support, which is being rolled out through a fresh software update. Previously, the Xperia 1 VI was capped at Wi-Fi 6E, which reached data rates of 1,824 Mbit/s in tests conducted earlier this year.
Enhanced Performance
Wi-Fi 7 theoretically provides up to 46 Gbit/s bandwidth, a big jump from the 9.6 Gbit/s offered by Wi-Fi 6E. While it’s unlikely that devices will reach these peak speeds, Wi-Fi 7 is designed to enhance network efficiency and stability, while also lowering power consumption. Moreover, the introduction of Multi-Link Operation (MLO) means that the Xperia 1 VI can now send and receive data at the same time across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz networks, effectively reducing latency.
Requirements for Upgrade
To utilize these network improvements, the Xperia 1 VI must be paired with a router that supports Wi-Fi 7. In addition, Sony is releasing the Wi-Fi 7 support as part of software version 69.0.A.2.44, which also includes the September 2024 security patch. XperiCheck indicates that most versions of the Xperia 1 VI, such as those available in Europe, the UK, Japan, and Southeast Asia, should have already received the 69.0.A.2.44 update.
