Sony Xperia 1 III and 5 III: New flagship smartphones unveiled

Sony also served the flagship segment alongside the mid-range smartphone Xperia 10 III in its product launch. With the top model Sony Xperia 1 III and the only slightly weaker Xperia 5 III, the Japanese consumer electronics expert not only offers high-quality technology that we already know from the competition. On top of that, the company shows that it is one of the biggest and most popular camera manufacturers. Finally, the two top devices offer an adjustable camera lens.

Adjustable focal length

This is something we haven’t seen before from Sony’s smartphone. Thus, the company not only offers typical high-end technology in its two presented flagships, but also provides a small revolution in the field of smartphone cameras. Finally, the optical focal length of the telephoto camera in the Xperia 1 III and 5 III can be adjusted. Individual adjustments can be made between 75 mm and 105 mm. Otherwise, both devices offer very convincing features – at least on paper. The Xperia 1 is still considered the top model, and the Xperia 5 is the discreetly weaker device that comes in more manageable dimensions.

Display and camera as highlights

Since Sony knows its way around displays and cameras, the focus of both flagships is clearly on these areas. There is not much in terms of megapixels. The Xperia 1 III still offers a triple camera, where each lens has a resolution of 12 megapixels. Only the adjustable focal length of the telephoto camera is new now. The camera modules of the upcoming Xperia 1 and 5 are basically the same, but Sony only installs the ToF sensor, which is supposed to provide a much better autofocus, in the Xperia 1 III.

However, the two flagships do not only differ in terms of autofocus. Sony also makes differences in the display and the available charging technology. The Xperia 5 III, for example, cannot be charged wirelessly, unlike its better-equipped sister model. Of course, the displays are the first thing that catches the eye. And Sony seems to deliver a lot here again. The Xperia 1 III features a 6.5-inch OLED panel with a 4K resolution, which is a real high-end display. The Xperia 5 III “only” offers a Full HD+ resolution with its 6.1-inch OLED, but this should be sufficient for most users. Despite the large displays, both devices are supposed to be comparatively handy. The reason for this is said to be the 21:9 format. Thanks to the refresh rate of 120 Hz, you should also be able to enjoy smooth scrolling.

Wireless charging only in Xperia 1 III

Meanwhile, the option of wireless charging via Qi is almost standard in the flagship class of smartphones. However, Sony only offers the wireless charging option in its top model, the Xperia 1 III. However, the 4,500 mAh battery can also be charged with the included 30 watt charger.

The Snapdragon 888 from Qualcomm is supposed to provide the necessary processor performance. This high-end chipset is supported by 12 GB RAM (Xperia 1 III) and 8 GB RAM (Xperia 5 III). In terms of flash storage, the user can choose between 256 GB or 512 GB for the Xperia 1 III. The Xperia 5 III offers 128 GB or 256 GB. Apart from the hardware power, Sony offers two exciting features that we no longer know from the lock-top smartphones. Despite IP68 certification, both devices can be given a storage boost via microSD and connected to wired headphones thanks to a 3.5 mm jack.

Prices still unknown

The two new flagships are expected to hit the German market in early summer 2021. The Xperia 1 III should then be available for purchase in a choice of purple, black and gray. The Xperia 5 III will be available in green, pink and black.