Sony Xperia 1 III

This is the best phone from Sony I have ever used and it’s the first time there isn’t as obvious a missing feature. I’d go as far as saying this is the most fully-featured Android phone around.

Mightily impressive in many ways, but expensive and flawed in others, the Sony Xperia 1 III is so close to brilliance.

In the Xperia 1 III, Sony has created a sophisticated device that both looks good and delivers flagship-level performance. It offers sophisticated camera hardware and software and a lovely high-resolution OLED that’s not quite like anything else in its class. And yet I’m struggling to think of anyone who should buy this phone over an iPhone 12 Pro Max or a Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The Sony Xperia 1 III is an incredibly well-built, feature-packed smartphone that's undoubtedly Sony's best handset to date. It doesn't quite match the more well-rounded feature sets of its biggest rivals and the price will be far too high for many, but if you're sold on the Xperia experience you'll love it.

More multi-division Sony greatness, with a seriously impressive screen and pro-level camera abilities. Photo novices might find it difficult to master, but no rival has such comprehensive out-of-the-box ability.

The Sony Xperia 1 III isn’t for everyone, but for those who enjoy Sony’s Android phones, or who want a top-tier smartphone with a versatile camera, a beautiful screen and strong battery life, this is a great choice. It’s expensive, and its design means it isn’t for everybody, but if your budget can stretch to it, and you're a fan of its looks, it could be a great option.

With a state-of-the-art telephoto lens made up of tiny moving lenses that can switch between two focal lengths, 5G support for the US, and a first-of-its-kind 4K high refresh-rate display, you have to wonder if Sony's trying to do too much and inadvertently mucking up what would otherwise be a magnificent phone? The fact that the Xperia 1 III costs $1,300 makes its shortcomings impossible to ignore.