The best Sony phones offer a lot of high-end flagship features, making them a strong alternative to Samsung or Apple. But which one should you choose? Unfortuantely, the way that Sony names its phones isn't particularly clear. But don't worry: in this article, we'll help you navigate the different models and identify the best Sony phones for your particular needs.
If you don't have time to read further, then just hop to number one on our list, the Sony Xperia 1 V, which is the latest and best Sony phone available today. It's pretty expensive, though, and not available in all territories, so you'll find a range of more affordable and available phones by scrolling further down our list.
If you ultimately decide against a Sony phone, there are plenty of camera phone options to choose including Google Pixel, Apple's iPhone and Samsung. Once you've settled on a phone, keep it safe with the best phone cases.
Best Sony phones in 2023
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The Sony Xperia 1 V is the latest and best Sony phone, so it obviously needed to come at the top of our list. One caveat, though: it's only just been launched, and whether you can actually buy it depends on where you are in the world. If you're in the US, you can pre-order right now; in the UK, it'll be available 28 June (with pre-orders starting on the 14th), and we've yet to get a date for sale in Australia.
But presuming you can buy one, should you? Well, it's certainly a step up from its predecessor, largely thanks to an improved camera sensor. It's also improved its software, to pull out more shadow detail, and brighten up low light shots, added more flexibility to its more manual shooting modes. So all in all, this is the best Sony phone for photography on the market today. Our reviewer had a great experience with it, noting that the eye AF works brilliantly, and that the Zoom range is significantly better than the iPhone 13 Pro.
It's a great phone in general too, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor making sure everything runs quickly and smoothly, excellent audio coming from the speakers and headphone jack, and a restrained take on Android making the interface clean and simple. For more details, read our Sony Xperia 1 V review.
The Xperia 1 IV was only released last year, and remains a strong contender for Sony fans. This was the first phone to support 120fps video capture across all its rear 12-megapixel cameras. Most impressive, though, was the inclusion of a true optical zoom. The phone's periscope camera can take you from 85mm to 125mm continuously, despite the fact the Xperia 1 IV is a slim, fine-looking slab of frosted glass and blasted metal.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is big (6.6-inch screen) and expensive, but a great choice if you want a high-end camera and multimedia experience. For more details, see our Sony Xperia 1 IV review.
Launched at the end of 2021, Sony’s pro-grade Xperia Pro-I smartphone was the first to feature a 1-inch sensor. This was a long-overdue vindication for Sony fans. It’s the first true example of the Japanese smartphone maker navigating its mobile line with the imaging gravitas it has with its Sony camera division.
The original Sony Xperia Pro is a very expensive external monitor/smartphone hybrid with an adequate camera setup, but the Pro-I is a less expensive top-spec photography phone. It has three cameras, a 16mm ultra-wide-angle, a 24mm wide (which is backed up by that large Type-1 sensor), and a 50mm portrait lens; all its cameras have 12MP resolution sensors.
It’s also powerful, with top-tier specs – a crisp 4K display, the latest widely available Snapdragon 888 processor, and over half a terabyte of storage. For more details, see our Xperia Pro-I review.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV is a compact version of the Sony Xperia 1 IV. It shares a lot of the same features but in a smaller, more affordable package. If you’re a videographer, photographer, or content creator who wants advanced camera features and video recording in a smartphone, the Xperia 5 IV won’t disappoint.
With 4K HDR 120fps video recording, full manual camera control and three camera apps, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is arguably worth its price. Not only is it a powerhouse for visuals – photography and videography – but it also features excellent audio, with a headphone jack and front-facing speakers.
The Sony Xperia 1 III is loaded with some class-beating specifications, even several years after release. These include a 6.5-inch 4K 10-bit OLED display, Snapdragon 888 processor and 256GB storage. It also boosts the battery over that of its predecessor, the Xperia 1 II, and features a healthy 12GB RAM as standard across all its variants.
The main camera features a 12MP sensor matched with a 24mm f/1.7 wide lens. Additionally, there is a 12MP periscope zoom camera delivering two focal lengths. At 70mm equivalent, the phone’s first zoom range starts with an f/2.3 aperture, while at 105mm equivalent, the aperture closes to f/2.8. The ultrawide f/2.4 lens offers a 124° view. And the fourth rear camera is used simply to measure depth.
You get superb telephoto reach, with its variable 2.9-4.4x equivalent optical zoom. And the camera has a great user interface, with an impressive range of manual modes and customizations.
Like the look of the Sony Xperia 1 III, number one on our list, but want something a little cheaper and/or more compact? Then the new Sony Xperia 5 III will suit you perfectly. It's both less expensive and slightly smaller, with the screen diameter dropping down from 6.5 to 6.1 inches in diameter. And yet it still packs a similar level of polished performance.
Both models are powered by the same Snapdragon 888 5G chip and boast a long-lasting 4,500mAh battery. Both have a triple–12MP camera system that can capture 4K HDR slow motion video at 120fps.
There are some compromises to be made, though. Most notably, the Xperia 5 III's resolution is only HD, rather than 4K, and its speakers are less powerful. You get just 8GB of RAM rather than 12GB. And in terms of photography, it lacks the Xperia 1 III cameras' advanced real-time tracking. But overall, this is a very lovely phone, and very much worth considering.
If you're looking for a great handset that balances flagship-style features with affordability, you could do worse than the Sony Xperia 5 II, as this is definitely one of the best Sony phones around.
It offers the great camera features found in the Xperia 1 II in a smaller body and a more affordable price. Photography enthusiasts can take advantage of the excellent ZEISS imaging technology found in the triple rear camera.
Featuring an upgraded chipset and camera from the previous generation, the Sony Xperia 5 II has a Full HD Plus screen (compared with the Xperia 1 II's 4K display) with a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes it good for watching movies, playing games and scrolling through apps.
The photographic credentials of the Sony Xperia Pro are essentially borrowed from the Sony Xperia 1 II - so it is not the best camera phone even in Sony's current range. But this is still a phone that is made for serious filmmakers.
The reason being is that this 5G phone is meant to be used as an on-camera monitor for vloggers and videographers - offering a 6.5in 21.9 screen that is substantially better than that found on Sony's own mirrorless cameras. But the phone's real party trick is that the Xperia Pro has been built for those who want to live stream video to YouTube on location.
It has a 5G signal on four sides, helping ensure it can get a signal however it is mounted, and taking advantage of the high data speeds available on the most recent cellular networks. And you don't have to use the Xperia's cameras - you can plug in your own system camera to get the full creative control of a Sony Alpha camera, or any camera with a clean HDMI output for that matter.
• Sony Xperia Pro as a video monitor & streaming tool: your questions answered
One of the best ways to get a good deal on a smartphone is to purchase an older generation, assuming there are discounts on offer at the time. While you might not get the latest up-to-date features, you'll usually find that there's not that much difference between the two models.
The original Sony Xperia 1 features a 4K notch-free HDR 21:9 screen that's good for viewing movies or playing games. It has a triple-12MP rear camera array, although it's missing the ZEISS optical coating that the Xperia 1 II, above, features. So if you're looking for an older flagship for a great price, this is definitely a good investment.
The original Sony Xperia 5 review is still one of the best Sony phones – especially if you're interested in shooting video and want a camera phone that's compact and capable for a reasonable price.
Featuring a 21L9 OLED display, the Samsung Xperia 5 has the same triple camera unit as the Xperia 1, but it features 4K HDR and the Cinema Pro app, which adds manual cine camera-like controls. There's even an automated pull-focus feature!
When the Sony Xperia 5 was first launched, its $799/ £699 price tag meant that it wasn't fantastic value for money. However, now that there's a newer generation hogging the spotlight, you should be able to pick up the Xperia 5 at a pretty good price.
How we test camera phones
As a photography website, we pay special attention to the photo and video quality of camera phones. We rate resolution, noise and color rendition in the context of what rival cameras can do, and where there are any special features, such as ‘night modes’ or ‘portrait modes’, we check that these perform as the makers describe. Camera phones are all-around digital assistants too, of course, so we will also check general handling, usability and practicality – such as battery life.
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