The Best Sony Xperia phones - PhoneArena's handpicked models

Since its inception in 2001, Sony's mobile division has experienced multiple transformations. While Sony had produced phones prior to this period, its collaboration with Ericsson marked the serious venture into mobile devices globally. But it wasn't meant to be.

In 2011, Sony acquired Ericsson's shares, internalizing the smartphone business and giving rise to the Xperia line. Despite a diminishing market share, Sony managed to turn the tide and post profits in early 2021, attributed to the introduction of innovative concepts and ideas to the smartphone market. 

Cutting edge technologies such as true vario zoom optics, dual-layer transistor-pixel sensors, as well as other software innovations taken straight from Sony's Alpha camera department, put Xperia phones on the forefront of smartphone innovation.

As of 2024, Sony appears to be on a positive trajectory. What's more, the Xperia 1 VI, has landed and, of course found a spot on our list. In this article, we will delve into the latest Xperia models, providing insights into the best Sony phones for enthusiasts. Let's explore the options available!

In a surprising turn of events, Sony launched its latest flagship phone with a FHD+ (1080x2340) display and a more Galaxy-like aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Gone are the days of 4K, 21:9 ich displays on Xperia flagship phones, but this change comes with some positives. The new Xperia 1 VI features the brightest screen in Xperia history, 50% brighter than its predecessor, and now it's an LTPO panel, meaning it can switch dynamically between 1 and 120Hz.

The phone also comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, and it now has a vapor chamber cooling system to help dissipate the heat from this powerhouse of a processor. Another improvement lies in the camera system, the telephoto camera can go between 85mm and 170mm, compared to the previous model, which could only do 125mm at the far end of the magnification range.

The battery remains 5,000mAh but thanks to the fewer pixels in the FHD+ display (2.5 million, compared to 6.3 in the previous model), Sony now advertises this phone as a "two-day smartphone." There's some software tweaks as well, the Camera app now houses all the pro-grade software, instead of using separate apps for photography, videography and cinematography, and there's Sony AI (of course) imbued deep inside the algorithms to help you take the best photos ever. 

At 1,399 euros many hardcore Xperia fans won't be happy with the resolution downgrade, but overall Sony is trying to cater to a wide audience with this particular Xperia.

Don't let the naysayers get to you, the Xperia 1 V is the best Sony phone money can buy, and there are plenty of reasons to buy one. For starters, this phone has a 4K 120Hz OLED display (world's first with these specs) and it also sports Sony's cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio without any notches, cutouts and other eyesores. Sony phones of late kinda stand out from the rest of the smartphone crowd, thanks to this tall 21:9 formfactor and some other quirky features we're getting to in a minute.

The Xperia 1 V retains the innovative periscope zoom camera of its predecessors. While the Xperia 1 III featured the first zoom lens with a moving optical elements, capable of switching between 70 and 105mm, the Xperia IV upgraded the system so it could offer continuous zoom between 85mm and 125mm. The Xperia 1 V sports all that and then some. There's a newly developed dual layer transistor-pixel main sensor that Sony calls Exmor T. By putting the transistor and the photodiode on different layers, Sony has achieved lower noise levels in low-light scenes and better light capturing.

This phone is also super-fast with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 12GB of RAM. And guess what? You can expand the internal storage (256GB) with our dear old friend - the microSD card slot. There's also a 3.5mm audio jack present, defying modern smartphone trends and the Xperia 1 V also features a stereo speakers setup (front facing), and quite good at that - not your average unbalanced speakerphone/loudspeaker combo.

All in all, the Xperia 1 V is the best Sony phone at the moment, and a worthy successor of the previous ultra-premium Sony flagship. There's one drawback, however - the price. Sony

kind of fixed the $1,600 "misunderstanding" with the previous model and slapped a $1,399 price tag to this technology masterpiece, which is still a bit out there but for avid Sony enthusiasts this is the best they can get at the moment. 

 

We're kicking off with a very special phone - not the best Xperia out there but probably the most professional one. The Xperia Pro-I is a phone that Sony internally calls "The Camera", and for a good reason. This device features the same 1-inch sensor that's present in the award-winning compact camera Sony RX100 Mark VII.

This 12MP main camera has also two aperture settings - F/2.0 and F/4.0, alongside huge 2.4µm pixels. Everything about this phone is tailored toward the photography enthusiasts. There's a new Videography Pro app, and also the familiar Photo Pro and Cinema Pro.

As a phone, the Xperia Pro-I has borrowed almost all the internals from the Xperia 1 III, and that's not a bad thing. You've got the Snapdragon 888, paired with 12GB of RAM. There's a microSD card on board (pretty rare nowadays), and also a 3.5mm audio jack. The phone is also IP65/68 water and dust resistant. The Xperia Pro-I is a bit pricey at $1,799 but for your hard-earned money you're getting the best camera phone out there, right?

Sony has this strange habit of designing amazing technological masterpieces, which no one would ever buy. That's a bit harsh but the Xperia Pro is a very, very niche device. It's meant for video creators, professional photographers, and videographers, streamers. The main idea is that you can connect the phone to your professional camera and use it as an external display with 5G capabilities.

This might not sound as much but let's say you work in the movie industry. You need to take hundreds of set pictures, costume pictures, actor casting photos, and all of those need to go to the casting director, costume director, etc. With the Xperia Pro attached to your camera, this can happen instantaneously.

You can record video and send it directly to the editing room, no need to physically go there, deal with flash drives, SSDs, lightning cables, and stuff. Needless to say, every streamer and YouTuber out there can benefit from this device, especially if they’re making content on the go, such as a traveling blog, tourist guide series, etc.

The only downside of this phone is its price. Its MSRP is $2,499.99, and for a dedicated external monitor that’s a bit too much. When you add the phone capabilities, the amazing 4K screen, powerful software onboard, and all the bells and whistles, the Sony Xperia Pro might not seem like such a bad idea after all.

The Xperia 5 V perfects the "compact flagship" idea and continues to go against the mainstream with its 21:9 design, lack of notches and cutouts, 3.5 mm audio jack, and microSD card slot. This model features the new and hot Exmor T camera sensor, first introduced in the Xperia 1 V, earlier this year.

The beating heart of the Xperia 5 V is the latest and greatest Qualcomm silicon, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Sony made some updates to the cooling of the Xperia 5 series, and the phone now runs less hot than its predecessor.

The phone is a typical Xperia, with a ton of creator-focused pro-grade software onboard, and its 5,000 mAh battery lasts almost two full days. There's good news and bad news, though. The good news is that Sony lowered the price of the Xperia 5 V a tad; the phone starts at 999 euros (compared to 1,049 for the Xperia 5 IV), but the bad news is that the phone is not coming to the US, at least for now.

If the Xperia 5 IV is too expensive and gimmicky to you, the Xperia 5 III can be a great substitute. This phone takes everything good from its bigger sibling and shrinks it down a notch. All this without sacrificing cool features such as the 120Hz display refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate.

The Xperia 5 III is a gorgeous little phone with a gorgeous display - a 6.1-inch FHD+ HDR OLED that also features X1 Bravia mobile HDR technology and Creator mode powered by CineAlta. You get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage on this phone but you can expand it with up to 1TB via the microSD card slot. The beating heart of the Xperia 5 III comes from Qualcomm - the Snapdragon 888. It's a year-old chipset but still performing quite admirably even in 2022.

What's even more surprising is that the Xperia 5 III manages to fit the variable zoom system from its bigger sibling - switching between 70mm and 105mm focal lengths at will. This practically gives you four cameras in the space of only three. And you get the amazing double-action physical shutter button as well. 

The battery inside this phone is a hefty 4,500mAh cell, which might not sound much but consider the fact that the Xperia 5 battery size was just 3,140mAh, and the 5 II sported a 4,000mAh cell, we're talking a substantial upgrade here. We mentioned a friendlier price tag earlier on. Well, the phone's not cheap by any standard but you can get it for around $900. 

Sony did a great job with the Xperia 10 III and the stakes were high for its successor. The budget line seems to be selling well, and there's a good reason for that - the package is just great for the money. Then the Xperia 10 IV came along offering an amazing battery life and topping our charts. What could the Xperia 10 V bring to the table?

The Xperia 10 V brings some needed upgrades to the table, and refines the 10 series further. You get the same 6-inch notchless OLED panel - a real treat in a phone that's so affordable. The build quality and materials are slightly better, and there's more RAM compared to the previous generations. Small improvements here and there but overall the spirit of this budget offering remains the same. The main camera has a bigger sensor now, the display is 50% brighter, and there's stereo front-facing speaker setup! A treat on such a budget phone.

There's one area where Sony has done an excellent job - battery life. Cramming a 5,000mAh battery in the same body is not a small feat (actually the Xperia 10 V is a millimeter smaller than its predecessor), and coupled with the 60Hz OLED display, and the modest chipset, this results in a record-setting battery life. Seriously, this phone is our new battery life champion. 

There are some minor inconveniences, such as the aforementioned 60Hz refresh rate, and the lack of 4K recording (courtesy of the Snapdragon 695 chipset) but if you want a classy-looking phone that will last for days, the Xperia 10 V is one of your best bets.

One of the best ways to get a Sony flagship at a bargain price is to opt for the previous generation - the Xperia 1 Mark IV. You can get an unlocked device on a deal at Amazon for around $800 which is an amazing price for a device which launched at $1,599. It's a great phone, no question about it. It's the first device to feature the true variable zoom optics, and you can switch between 85mm and 125mm, plus it features all the software bells and whistles you'd expect from a Sony phone.

The hardware department is also strong with this one - you're getting one of the best screens in the industry - a 4K, 120Hz display with Bravia engine and no notches or cutouts. There's plenty of RAM and storage, and if you want even more, there's a microSD card slot (thanks for keeping this alive, Sony). To top it all off, there's IP68 water and dust resistance, a headphone jack, and almost clean Android OS. What's not to like?

Xperia fans are normally pretty knowledgeable, so chances are you already know what's best for you. But anyway, let's quickly add some key points that can help you determine which Xperia model will suit your needs.

Display size - Things are pretty straightforward here; if you want the biggest screen possible, you should opt for the 1 series; if you prefer compact phones, then the 5 series is the one for you. All Xperia phones sport gorgeous OLED displays with a 21:9 aspect ratio and no holes or cutouts. They are just perfect for consuming media, watching YouTube clips, or watching Netflix series.

Processor - the latest Xperia will be the fastest one, no doubt about it. But if you're not a heavy user and you don't play a lot of games, maybe you'll be just fine with a generation-old phone.

Camera - this one is one of the most important topics, as Xperia phones are rather different when it comes to their camera systems. The Xperia 5 Mark V, for example, doesn't come with a variable zoom lens, and you should go back a few generations to the Mark III if you want that in a compact form factor. That being said, the newest generation sports the Exmor T sensor, a powerful upgrade, and an innovation in how the different elements of the pixel are stacked together.

Storage - All Xperia phones feature expandable storage, so you don't need to wonder which storage option to buy. You can always expand the storage later via the microSD card slot with 1TB or even more.

Price - Xperia phones are pricy, no doubt about that, but our advice is to wait a couple of months post-official release, as prices seem to fall quite drastically. Of course, if you want the budget option, the Xperia 10-series is your best bet.

So there you have it - the best Sony phones you can get in 2024. This list is, of course, work-in-progress, the Sony Xperia 1 VI came along and unsurprisingly moved to the top of our recommendations, as the best Sony phone you can buy at the moment, despite the screen downgrade. There are some rumors about a second iteration of the Sony Xperia Pro-I but it's still early days, so fingers crossed! 

Hopefully, Sony can maintain its momentum and climb out of the market share slump, as Xperia phones offer a unique perspective that benefits the market. It goes without saying that for devoted Sony fans, every new model is the ultimate Sony phone, so the loyal fanbase could help Sony Mobile get back up where it belongs.