Experience Xperia with the best Sony phones
Our ranking of the best Sony phones is easily topped by the Sony Xperia 1 III now. It's very expensive so it won't be for everyone, but that's where the rest of our guide comes in.
Picking out the other best Sony phones can be tricky because the company's naming system isn't particularly clear when it comes to separating the top-end handsets from the more budget-friendly choices. For instance, Sony launched the Sony Xperia 5 III - a high-end handset with a smaller screen than its previous flagship device, the Sony Xperia 1 III - albeit at a lower price.
It can be confusing but, fortunately, we've helped decipher the confusing naming conventions so that you can learn all about the many quite impressive Sony phones out there. Besides these aforementioned phones, there's also the Sony Xperia ZX3 stoically sticking to the bottom of our list.
Each ranking includes a complete rundown of what makes them so good and what they might be lacking. Keep checking back for updates to this list to see what changes in the world of the best Sony phones throughout the rest of 2021.
Best Sony phones 2022
1. Sony Xperia 1 III
Sony’s best phone for quite some time
SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: August 2021
Weight: 186gDimensions: 165 x 71 x 8.2mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.5-inch
Resolution: 1644 x 3840
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB/512GB
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP + 0.3MP
Front camera: 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Great battery life
+Incredible display
REASONS TO AVOID
-Tricky to handle, for some
-No in-screen fingerprint sensor
The Sony Xperia 1 III is the top Sony flagship, with the highlight being that it’s the world’s first smartphone with a 4K 120Hz display. That’s arguably overkill, but it’s certainly impressive, with its 6.5-inch OLED display being among the best screens you’ll find on a smartphone.
Other aspects of the Sony Xperia 1 III also impress a lot, particularly its battery life, which in our review we found outperformed most flagships, despite the phone only having a middling 4,500mAh capacity.
This is that rare flagship phone that also has a 3.5mm headphone port, which will be a big selling point for some, and the Sony Xperia 1 III additionally has top-end power, and a capable camera setup, which along with main, ultra-wide and depth sensors also has a 12MP adaptive telephoto camera, which can shift between 2.9x and 4.4x optical zoom.
There’s no in-screen fingerprint scanner, and the long and narrow design won’t suit everyone, but those issues aside this is up there with the best flagships from any brand – and it’s priced accordingly.
2. Sony Xperia 5 III
Great performance in a compact form
SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: April 2021
Weight: 168g
Dimensions: 157 x 68 x 8.2mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2520
CPU: Snapdragon 888
RAM: 8GBStorage: 128/256GB
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Great performance
+Excellent triple-camera system
+Good battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
-No wireless charging
-Expensive for what it offers
With an elongated design that prioritizes landscape media content, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a great option for those that love to stream on the move. Alongside that, it also offers excellent performance for its size and a fantastic triple-camera system that's highly flexible.
It lacks a few finer points such as wireless charging and its screen isn't quite as sharp as other Sony phones, but with a focus on media right down to strong audio performance, it's still appealing if you can afford the price tag.
Look out for a feature-packed photography experience in particular. Speed and precision is everything with Sony's camera system and it makes a big difference.
3. Sony Xperia 5 II
Like an Xperia 1 II, but smaller and cheaper
SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: October 2020
Weight: 163g
Dimensions: 158 x 68 x 8mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2520
CPU: Snapdragon 865
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128/256GB
Battery: 4,000mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Great cameras
+120Hz screen looks great
REASONS TO AVOID
-Still quite a high price
-Antiquated unlock button
The Sony Xperia 5 II is basically a smaller, cheaper version of the Xperia 1 II. Sure, there are some differences beyond the screen size to get the price down, but the essence remains intact, and this phone arguably strikes a better balance between price and specs.
It has an excellent 6.1-inch 1080 x 2520 OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring it feels smooth to use. Even the Xperia 1 II doesn’t have a refresh rate that high, so in at least one way the Sony Xperia 5 II has the specs edge.
It also has a great triple-lens camera, with 12MP main, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, plus a high-end Snapdragon 865 chipset, and a decent build – which, thanks to the smaller size, is much easier to hold than the Xperia 1 II.
4. Sony Xperia 1 II
One of the best Sony phones
SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: May 2020
Weight: 181.4g
Dimensions: 165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm
OS: Android 10
Screen size: 6.5-inch
Resolution: 1644 x 3840
CPU: Snapdragon 865
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Battery: 4,000mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP
Front camera: 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Stunning display
+Return of the 3.5mm jack
REASONS TO AVOID
-Difficult to hold
-Very high price
The Sony Xperia 1 II shows the company listens to feedback, as it fixes some of the biggest issues of its predecessors while bringing a lot more to the table.
The Xperia 1 II - that's 'One Mark Two', as Sony seems to have taken naming inspiration from its Alpha range of cameras - has an impressive 4K display in a 21:9 resolution, three rear cameras that take great photographs, and a long-lasting battery that fixes one of the biggest problems with older Xperia phones.
Sure, the price is definitely on the high side, and the phone is too big for people with small hands (an issue the Xperia 5 II fixes), but if these aren't problems you'll mind, the Sony Xperia 1 II is one of the best Sony phones around.
5. Sony Xperia 10 III
The ideal phone for a tall perspective
SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: April 2021
Weight: 169g
Dimensions: 154 x 68 x 8.3 mm
OS: Android 11
Screen size: 6.0-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2520
CPU: Snapdragon 690 5G
RAM: 6GBStorage: 64/128GB
Battery: 4,500mAh
Rear camera: 12MP + 8MP + 8MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Great widescreen display
+Small size
REASONS TO AVOID
-Poor cameras
-Slow charging
The Sony Xperia 10 III is a remarkably tough phone thanks to its use of Gorilla Glass 6 and IP 68/65 water resistance. Alongside that, it has a great 6-inch OLED display for the price. 21:9 aspect ratio takes a bit of getting used to but it's great for reading articles on the move.
Where things later is with its weak set of cameras. They sound promising on paper but fail to deliver. Similarly performance is a little on the weak side, but in exchange, you get good battery life for a smaller phone.
Long-lasting and water-resistance, this is a hardy phone if a little unremarkable elsewhere.
6. Sony Xperia 5
Honey, I shrunk the Xperia 1
SPECIFICATIONS
Release date: October 2019
Weight: 164g
Dimensions: 158 x 68 x 8.2mm
OS: Android 9
Screen size: 6.1-inch
Resolution: 1080 x 2520
CPU: Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6GBStorage: 128GB
Battery: 3,140mAh
Rear camera: 12MP, 12MP, 12MP
REASONS TO BUY
+Hand-friendly size
+Impressive processor performance
REASONS TO AVOID
-Unreliable fingerprint sensor
-Screen is rather dim
The Xperia 1 might be Sony’s true 2019 flagship, but the Sony Xperia 5 is newer and arguably slightly better.
Sure, its screen is smaller and not quite as sharp, but it’s actually a more manageable size for many people, and still fairly large at 6.1 inches. The loss of pixels meanwhile is unlikely to be noticed unless you have the phone pressed against your eyeballs, as at 1080 x 2520 you still get 449 pixels per inch.
And in most other ways the Sony Xperia 5 matches the Xperia 1 – it has the same 21:9 aspect ratio that makes it great for movies, the same high-end Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM, the same amount of storage, and the same triple-lens rear camera.
Plus, the battery lasts slightly longer and the price is slightly lower. So if you want a high-end Sony handset and don’t fancy shelling out on a new model, then the Sony Xperia 5 is a top choice.
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