The best Sony phone 2023

The Xperia 5 IV is our pick above the pricier, larger Xperia 1 IV. The more compact 5 IV has everything its pricier sibling has but in a nicer form factor. All it really lacks is the 1 IV’s truly optical moving lens, which is no big miss.

You get awesome utilitarian build quality, great battery life, a headphone jack, front facing speakers, and capable cameras – though the latter require patience as Sony has opted to prefer manual controls, like its Alpha cameras, for you to get the most out of them. The auto mode is good, but results aren’t on par with premium phones from Apple, Samsung and Google.

The phone charges a little slow too and it’s criminal that Sony only offers two years of software and security updates. This is the worst thing about an otherwise excellent phone, and Sony needs to do better here. But if it’s an Xperia you want, this is the one to buy.

Sony has stuck to its guns in recent years by producing premium (and expensive) smartphones bleeding edge camera hardware – and the Xperia 1 IV is no different.

It’s the best Sony phone you can buy thanks to its gorgeous 4K HDR OLED display, with a tall but manageable 21:9 aspect that allows full screen video playback for films and TV shows with no letterboxing. It’s also the perfect viewfinder for the several included camera and video apps. If you put in the time and effort to learn their professional-grade nuances, you’ll be rewarded with outstanding control over your photos.

That is this phone’s main caveat as well as its strength though, as this is not a camera for casual point-and-shooters – and let’s face it, that’s most of us. The phone also heats up a little too often, particularly when charging.

But it’s still the best Sony phone going if you want one of the best displays on a phone and the deepest level of options and control in photography and videography on a mobile device. It’s also the first phone ever to have a physically moving optical zoom lens, from 3.5x to 5.2x.

The Xperia 1 III offers up more of what we’ve come to know and love from Sony’s flagship phone line – namely a killer camera setup and an eye-popping 4K display.

The big upgrade for 2021 was the move to 120Hz, which joins a smattering of other cutting-edge display technologies; including 4K resolution, an HDR OLED panel and an uncommon 21:9 aspect ratio, that’s brilliant for enjoying movies on the go.

The rear camera setup takes a little work to get the most out of it but offers unprecedented control, especially with regards to video capture; while the pairing of a Snapdragon 888 chip and 12GB of RAM delivers some of the best performance for an Android phone out there.

Battery life and price are the main things holding the 1 III back from true greatness but for some, it’s otherwise an obvious choice.

As with Sony’s last two generations of flagship phone, 2021’s Xperia 5 III is essentially a more compact incarnation of the Xperia 1 III.

As such, it features most of the 1 III’s strengths, as well as the same set of weaknesses. There’s no 4K display to speak of here, instead having access to a (still-excellent) Full HD+ 6.1in 120Hz HDR OLED panel.

Performance is still strong (although the phone is prone to heat-up), while a consistent and capable set of cameras is primarily held back by a convoluted still/video app setup.

Sony’s 2020 flagship doubles down on the unique attributes of the original Xperia 1; with an enhanced 21:9 4K HDR OLED display, a wealth of audio technologies (including a 3.5mm headphone jack) and a Sony Alpha-influenced triple-camera module.

Its augmented but clean take on Android includes meaningful inclusions and despite not looking as competitive on paper as other Android flagships from the same time, its performance and battery longevity prove more than capable in real-world testing.

In a world where so many smartphones look similar, you have to admire Sony’s desire to be different. Having a notch-less display and 3.5mm headphone jack is practically unheard of in the current smartphone market, but phones like the Xperia 5 II, remind us that we wish they were on more phones.

Not only does the 5 II feel like a notable upgrade over 2019’s model, it beat its sibling – the Xperia 1 II – to the punch with regards to adopting a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Performance is superb across the board, while the all-too-rare front-facing stereo speakers are a delight.

On the flip side, the cameras flatter to deceive – unless you’re willing to play around in the Photo Pro app – while a surprising amount of bloatware taints an otherwise excellent software experience. There’s also no wireless charging – a major omission at this price point, but battery life is considerably stronger than that of its Mk III successor.

While 2019’s Xperia 1 and 5 flagships are more impressive entries in general, Sony’s inconsistencies with long-term software support mean – as of early 2022 – the more modest but newer Xperia 10 III makes for a more sensible buy within the Xperia family.

Performance is good enough for some competitive mobile gaming, battery life is great and Sony’s Android tweaks are both as meaningful and unobtrusive as ever.

Despite its unique attributes for a mid-ranger, however – namely the pairing of an OLED display and IP65/68 dust and water resistance – there are a few too many shortcomings versus competitors outside of the Sony camp to make this an easy recommendation beyond the most die-hard fans of the brand on a budget.

The Xperia 1 goes for broke on being really, really Sony – and it pays off. By catering to a niche audience, this phone can still please, if you want an amazing display with a cinematic aspect ratio, very capable cameras and excellent build quality.

The tall design still feels different but makes the phone slimmer and so easier to hold in one hand, while a dedicated shutter button and the Cinema Pro manual video recording app are tailor-made for film enthusiasts.

Just bear in mind this phone is quite old now so it may not get any more security software updates.

The Xperia 5 is a scaled-down version of the larger flagship Xperia 1 from 2019 but retains much of what makes the 1 so capable.

A then-flagship Snapdragon chip, the same considerately-customised take on Android and the same trio of rear cameras all marry up with the Xperia 1’s feature set. The 5’s smaller footprint does mean a smaller battery, smaller, lower-resolution display and a lower asking price, though.

Besides the 21:9 aspect ratio, however, this is a tough recommendation, considering what else is out there at the same price and entries that have launched since. It also may no longer be supported by Sony for software updates.

With no budget entry in Sony’s lineup since 2020, your only option at the lower end of the price spectrum is the Xperia L4.

There still aren’t many phones around this phone’s low price point that boast an expansive 21:9 display, making this a unique budget mobile media player.

Look past the mediocre cameras and Sony’s excellent user experience, plus its somewhat premium design, will help the L4 stand out from the crowd for some.