We see many smartphone leaks every week, most of which reveal iterative changes, more powerful specs, and designs that closely resemble previous versions.The latest leak about the Xperia 1 VI It suggests that the company will ditch the long 21:9 aspect ratio that has come to be expected from the company's high-end phones.

Instead, according to a post from prominent leaker Zackbuks on Weibo, Sony appears to be making a lumbering phone more in line with the look and feel of other high-end phones.

According to the post, the as yet unannounced Sony Xperia 1 VI should measure 162 x 74.4 x 8.45 mm. This is a big difference from the Xperia 1 V's 165 x 71 x 8.3 mm, making the new phone 3 mm shorter and 3.4 mm wider.

The leaker also states that the Xperia's screen will feature a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, which makes sense given the rumored proportions of the upcoming phone. The screen size is reported to be about 6.5 inches, which is more than enough screen space and within the expected range for a top-of-the-line flagship smartphone.

The change in aspect ratio will bring Sony's flagship in line with the popular Samsung Galaxy S24 series. If Sony is looking to expand its share of the smartphone market, it makes sense to target more traditional screen shapes. After all, if Samsung is having great success with an aspect ratio closer to the traditional 16:9, perhaps that is the screen shape that more smartphone buyers want. (The iPhone 15, another hot-selling model, uses a similar 19.5:9 aspect ratio display.)

Another part of the Xperia 1 VI leak that makes me skeptical is the rumor of a 2K+ resolution display. Sony has long been putting 4K screens on its high-end phones, so a lower-resolution display would be an odd departure. On the other hand, such a move could be a cost-cutting measure.

Zackbuks has been on target with several leaks, but has also brushed off some rumors. While it seems like a logical move for Sony to adopt the more popular aspect ratio, there is always the possibility that the leak is inaccurate and Sony will keep the aspect ratio that Sony phones have become known for.