Sony is no longer one of the major players in the smartphone space in 2023, and we hardly ever see the Xperia phones making it to our list of the best phones. The company may have exited from several markets around the world, but it still caters to various niche audiences in a few markets, including the U.S. The current crop of Xperia phones may not offer the best value for your money, but they remain standout options on the market with their terrific camera chops, sleek design, and fantastic displays. They also pack some valuable features for creators, like the Camera Pro and Cinema Pro apps, which offer a Sony Alpha-like experience on a smartphone. If you value those features and are willing to open your wallet to pick up the best Sony phones in 2023, then check out some of your options highlighted in the collection below.

A render showing the front and back of the Sony Xperia 1 V smartphone.
Sony Xperia 1 V
Best overall

The best and the most powerful Xperia phone you can buy

The Xperia 1 V is one of the newest and the best Sony phones we've had in years. It sports a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED panel, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and an impressive triple camera setup.

Pros
  • Has a headphone jack and microSD card slot
  • Flagship performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • 5,000mAh battery
Cons
  • Same dated design
  • Expensive price tag

Sony's latest Xperia 1 V flagship is undoubtedly the best Sony phone you'll find on the market today. It arrives in the U.S. market on July 28 to lock horns with the best Android phones out there right now. It's not significant over the last year's Xperia 1 IV model, which my colleague Ben took out for a spin, but it still packs a new set of internals that may be worth considering. The phone packs Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, a brilliant 6.5-inch 4K OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, a massive 5,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support, and more. It also sports an updated triple camera setup at the back now, which includes a 48 MP f/1.9 main camera with a 12 MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor and a 12MP f/2.3 telephoto camera.

It may not be the most exciting smartphone out there, given all the options in 2023, but it's a capable handset that'll reward you with good photos and videos and deliver a reliable user experience. It's the most feature-rich phone in Sony's lineup this year, and you can't go wrong with it if you're hellbent on buying an Xperia flagship. You can also consider buying the last year's Xperia 1 IV model if you're not chasing the latest hardware, although you may have some trouble finding it in stock in the U.S.

A render showing the front and back of the Sony Xperia 5 IV.
Sony Xperia 5 IV
Best compact phone

For those who want a compact powerhouse

The Sony Xperia 5 IV counts itself among the rare breed of compact flagships, as well as phones that offer a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot for storage expansion.

Pros
  • Compact form factor with sturdy construction
  • Good battery life
  • Impressive set of cameras
Cons
  • No variable refresh rate
  • The performance could've been better

If you're looking to buy a compact Xperia flagship, then look no further than the Xperia 5 IV. This is essentially the smaller and relatively less powerful version of the Xperia 1 IV. It also goes a bit easy on your wallet, coming in at $1,000 as opposed to a more expensive $1,400 price tag. Don't let its compact form factor or the cheaper price tag make you think of it any less than the options mentioned here because it still comes packed with almost all the bells and whistles that you'd expect from a top-tier Xperia phone.

Some highlights of the Sony Xperia 5 IV include a 6.1-inch 21:9 OLED panel with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset for reliable day-to-day performance, and a massive 5,000mAh battery. It also packs a capable triple camera setup at the back, albeit not as impressive as the one you get on the flagship model. I also like the fact that it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microSD card slot for storage expansion, an IP65/68 rating, and more.

The Sony Xperia Pro-I 5G is a camera enthusiasts dream. it's got a 1-inch sensor, the largest that you can find on a smartphone coupled with Zeiss optics. The rest of the phone is also flagship-grade making it a great option for photography and videography, provided you're willing to spend $1,800 for that hardware.
Sony Xperia PRO-I 5G
Best camera pick

A 1-inch image sensor, a 4K display, and more in a premium package

The Sony Xperia Pro-I 5G is a camera enthusiast's dream. It's got a 1-inch sensor, the largest that you can find on a smartphone, coupled with Zeiss optics. The rest of the phone is also flagship-grade, making it a great option for photography and videography, provided you're willing to spend $1,800 for that hardware.

Pros
  • Versatile camera setup
  • Impressive 4K display
  • Premium build quality
Cons
  • Still expensive compared to the competition

Sony's Xperia Pro-I was a tough sell when it entered the market carrying an eye-watering $1,800 price tag. It didn't even make sense to recommend it to serious camera enthusiasts who'd want the best camera hardware. Thankfully, the inevitable price cuts and discounts have now made it a bit easier on the wallet, so I believe it's worthy of a spot in this roundup. It remains one of the first phones to enter the market with a 1-inch image sensor. While that's not a rare sight in 2023, it still makes it a lucrative choice for professional photographers or enthusiasts who are looking to get their hands on a top-tier camera flagship.

The rest of the hardware, besides the camera, is still quite powerful and is very much capable of going toe-to-toe with some of the best phones out there. We're looking at a Snapdragon 888 SoC, a 6.5-inch 21:9 4K 120Hz display to serve the best visuals, and Zeiss optics for the cameras. The primary 1-inch sensor is accompanied by an ultra-wide and telephoto lens, rounding up a versatile package overall.

A render showing the front and back of the Sony Xperia Pro 5G.
Sony Xperia PRO 5G
Best for media professionals

A very, very niche smartphone

The Sony Xperia Pro 5G is an upgraded version of the Xperia 1 II that offers some additional features for professionals. It's definitely a bit expensive but may be a worthy buy for professional photographers and mobile content creators.

Pros
  • Impressive build quality
  • Nice-to-haves like a 4K display and an HDMI port
  • Versatile and reliable camera system
Cons
  • Supremely expensive price tag
  • Dated specs and software

The Sony Xperia Pro 5G is an upgraded Xperia 1 II that offers some novelties for professionals. It is, however, a very, very niche smartphone that is not recommended for everyone. I say that because it carries a ludicrous $2,000 price tag, which is simply too much for any smartphone, let alone for something that offers dated specs and software. It's not a completely redundant phone, though, which is why it deserves a spot in a collection that talks about the best Sony phones out there right now. For one, it's still available to purchase, and it's powered by a decent set of hardware that's not completely out of place in 2023. Sure, it's going to beat the modern flagships in benchmarks, but it'll serve you well for at least a couple of years or at least until Sony decides to keep it updated.

It also supports 5G, which is one of the features you want in a phone in 2023. And I also want to highlight the fact that it features a micro-HDMI port at the bottom that allows it to be used as a 4K external display for professional-grade cameras. I see the Xperia Pro 5G being a popular choice among professional photographers and videographers or those who prioritize creating content on their phones.

A render showing the front and back of the Sony Xperia 10 IV.
Sony Xperia 10 IV
Best budget pick

The best mid-range offering in an otherwise flagship-heavy offering

The Xperia 10 IV is a mid-range phone that has a lot of going for it. It supports decently powerful internals that won't burn a huge hole in your wallet unlike many other Xperia phones.

Pros
  • Relatively affordable price tag
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Beautiful and bright OLED panel
Cons
  • Limited to 60Hz refresh rate
  • No 4K video recording

This particular roundup of the best Sony phones, as you can see, is clearly dominated by a ton of expensive phones, with some of them going as far as $2,000 in the U.S. It only makes sense to top it off with at least one relatively inexpensive Xperia phone. Allow me to introduce you to the Sony Xperia 10 IV, a mid-range Xperia phone with a sleek design, a 5,000mAh battery, and perfectly capable hardware. The best thing about it, however, is the fact that it would burn a huge hole in your wallet. It's due for an update this year, but I'll keep the Xperia 10 IV around until its successor arrives later this year.

In terms of hardware, the Xperia 10 IV sports a 6-inch FHD+ display with Gorilla Glass Victus protection, an IP65/IP68 dust/water-resistant rating, a 12MP + 8MP + 8MP triple camera setup at the back for photos and videos, and a Snapdragon 695 5G chipset with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. You also get support for expandable storage with a microSD card, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 5,000mAh battery, among other things.

Best Sony phones in 2023: Final thoughts

Your options are fairly limited while shopping for Sony phones in 2023, especially in the United States. Even the certified flagships that are available to purchase right now are a bit on the expensive side, some of which are more expensive than the best iPhones, even the best foldable phones out there. That being said, I recommend checking out the Xperia 1 V if you're in the market to buy a Sony phone in 2023. It's their latest phone that comes with all the bells and whistles, including the newest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, top-tier camera hardware, and more.

A render showing the front and back of the Sony Xperia 1 V smartphone.
Sony Xperia 1 V
Editor's Choice

The Xperia 1 V is one of the newest and the best Sony phones we've had in years. It sports a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED panel, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and an impressive triple camera setup.

The Xperia 5 IV is a good option to consider if you're looking for something a bit cheaper. I've also highlighted some other interesting options, including the Xperia Pro-1 and the Xperia 10 V, so be sure to check out the entire list before making a purchase decision. This is an ever-evolving list, and I hope to add some newer and better options later this year.