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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.
Sony Xperia 1 V renders leak, showing us something new but familiar
Sony's stuck with a particular design aesthetic over the past few years with its smartphones, so this latest leak comes as no surprise.
Sony's been in a league of its own the past few years when it comes to smartphones. While it has made devices featuring some impressive specifications and technology, it's also made it hard for consumers to embrace thanks to the devices lofty price tags. Now, it looks like we're getting a detailed look at Sony's Xperia 1 V, which looks sleek, yet familiar.
Sony Xperia 1 IV Review: A different approach to mobile photography
The Sony Xperia 1 IV takes a different approach to mobile photography, which we break down in our review. Check out what that means here.
Sony's smartphones have always differed from other handsets on the market, in that they never seemed to care about industry trends. This could be something as superficial as bezel sizes -- Sony has never bothered to chase the all-screen look the way other Android brands have -- to something as crucial as digital imaging philosophies. While every other phone brand has been touting their computational photography prowess -- the idea that their phones' AI is so smart at analyzing scenes it can practically take the photo for you -- Sony's doubled down on giving users more manual controls over its smartphone camera. In fact, Sony invited the engineers of its popular Alpha camera line to develop the camera system of last year's Xperia 1 III (pronounced Xperia One mark three), which became a cult hit among camera enthusiasts.
Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 start receiving stable Android 11 update
The Android 11 update for the Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 have started rolling out. The OTA also brings in December 2020 security patches.
Back in November of last year, Sony released its update schedule detailing Xperia devices it was planning to update to Android 11. Among the devices included on the list were the first generation Xperia 1 and Xperia 5, which the Japanese OEM said would receive the update "from February 2021."
Here's when Android 11 will roll out for Sony Xperia phones
If you own a Sony Xperia device, your wait for Android 11 won't be that much longer. Here's when the update will roll out for your device. %
Since being released in September, Android 11 has been slow to roll out to third-party devices, with the Vivo V20 and OnePlus 8T among the first to receive the update. Unless you purchased a Pixel device, chances are you’ve been patiently waiting, but the good news is if you own a Sony Xperia device, you won't have to wait much longer.
Sony’s Open Devices Program releases an Android 11 build guide and binaries for select Xperia phones
Sony has published an Android 11 build guide and software binaries for several Xperia phones via their Open Devices initiative. Read on!
Unlike some major OEMs, Sony Mobile has yet to publish an elaborate roadmap for Android 11 update distribution. The company doesn't even offer a public beta program to evaluate the newest iteration of Android on Xperia smartphones, but that's not the whole story. With every major Android revision, Sony releases software binaries and instructions on compiling the latest version of AOSP for devices that are part of its Open Devices program. Since the codebase of Android 11 has officially been up on AOSP for a while, the Japanese OEM has now released Android 11 compatible binaries along with a step-by-step guide to build AOSP 11.0 for a bunch of Xperia devices.
Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 get temp root access on a locked bootloader with an exploit
Here's how you can achieve root access on the Sony Xperia 1 and the Xperia 5 using a privilege escalation exploit without unlocking the bootloader.
When it comes to bootloader unlocking and custom development, Sony is undeniably one of the most developer-friendly OEMs out there. The company maintains an initiative called the Open Devices program through which they provide tools and guides to the development community to help them compile Android Open Source Project (AOSP) builds on select Xperia devices. Moreover, Sony offers a dedicated online portal for bootloader unlocking, but there is a catch.
Some Sony Xperia 1 and 5 users are using tape to improve fingerprint scanner recognition
A few Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 users are covering the fingerprint sensor on their devices with clear tape to improve recognition. Check it out!
Sony's Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 from last year were widely regarded as some of the best devices to come out of the company's stables in the last few years. The devices packed top-of-the-line specifications, impressive camera setups, and stunning 21:9 OLED displays. Thanks to the tall CinemaWide displays with no notch or selfie camera cutouts, Sony's flagships clearly stood out in comparison with flagship devices from other manufacturers. But the tall displays weren't the only thing that Sony did differently with its flagships. Instead of featuring in-display fingerprint scanners like most of the flagships last year, Sony opted for side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanners on the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5. The scanners were marginally faster than optical fingerprint scanners and the convenient location made them easy to access. However, according to several reports from Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 users worldwide, the fingerprint scanners aren't as good as Sony chalked them up to be.
Google Play Services for AR now supports the LG V60, Moto G8 series, Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite/Note 10 Lite, and many more
Google Play Services for AR, formerly known as Google ARCore, has added official support for a bunch of new devices. Read on to know more!
Google’s ARCore (now Google Play Services for AR) is an SDK that allows developers to add augmented reality features to apps. While it doesn’t require any specialized hardware, Google still has to work with OEMs to create custom calibration profiles for each device. Since each device has a different camera and sensor setup, getting the calibration correct is crucial for the AR features to work properly. Google regularly keeps expanding the list as more and more devices receive support, and since our last coverage, many more devices have gained official support for ARCore.
Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 receive official Android 10 update
Sony has finally started rolling out a stable Android 10 build for the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5, featuring Android security patches for November 2019.
Back in September this year, Google officially rolled out a stable build of Android 10. Since then, several manufacturers have rolled out stable Android 10 builds for their devices. While Sony might not have been the fastest to jump on the bandwagon, the company did promise Android 10 builds for 8 Xperia smartphones last month. As per the update schedule, the company was expected to release Android 10 builds for the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 this month. Sticking true to its promise, the company has now started rolling out the update for the two devices.
Japanese carrier reveals which Sony Xperia smartphones are getting Android 10
Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo has revealed that the Sony Xperia XZ2/XZ2 Compact/XZ2 Premium, Xperia XZ3, Xperia 1, and the Xperia 5 will receive Android 10.
Sony was once a top tier Android device maker, but the company's smartphone division (Sony Mobile) has seen better days. After years of decreasing sales and market share, the company downsized its smartphone division in 2019. Sony has chosen to "defocus" on the Indian, North American and South American markets. Instead, Sony's focus regions are now Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and Hong Kong. This year, the company has launched the flagship Sony Xperia 1, the compact flagship Sony Xperia 5, and the mid-range Sony Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus (review). Its most recent phone launch was the Xperia 8 in Japan, which had very low-end specifications. The company's popularity can't hope to match Chinese device makers like Xiaomi and OnePlus, but Sony still regards itself as a premium device maker. The company's phones run on a lightly skinned version of Android, instead of running a full-blown custom user interface such as MIUI, so users have been expecting to see details regarding the Android 10 update rollout. Now, Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo has revealed the Android 10 update plans for Sony's recent smartphones.
Sony Xperia 1 Camera Review: Better Than "Good Enough"
XDA TV's Daniel Marchena recently published his full video review of the Sony Xperia 1. Now he has a separate camera review.
The Sony Xperia 1 isn't as popular as the latest and greatest from Samsung or Huawei, but it's still an excellent device. XDA TV's Daniel Marchena recently published his full video review and came away very impressed. One thing he liked about the phone was its camera quality. In fact, he has also published a dedicated camera review.
Sony Xperia 1 Display Review — Made for Cinema, and for Social Media Feeds
The Sony Xperia 1 has a 6.5-inch screen, but what makes it special is that it's 4K OLED and has a 21:9 aspect ratio. Here's our Xperia 1 display review.
Smartphone design has become rather interesting, lately. While some believe that it has become pragmatically stale, 2019 continues to showcase screen form factors we've never seen before. Last year, we had our first glimpse into a true full-screen display package with the Vivo NEX and the OPPO Find X, utilizing motorized pop-up front-facing cameras. However, many users are against motorized parts due to their additional layer of potential failure, and would prefer a stationary front-facing camera. In 2019, we got "hole-punch" displays, which are full-screen displays with a hole in the screen for the front-facing camera. Many argue that this is no better than a notch, but that's personal preference.
Sony Xperia 1 Review - A True Contender [Video]
XDA TV's Daniel Marchena spent a month with the Sony Xperia 1 and he came away extremely impressed with the company's latest flagship.
Sony's mobile division isn't going great, and it's sadly been that way for a while. Still, the company continues to pump out interesting smartphones. These devices aren't on the radar for most people, but they do still have their fans. XDA TV's Daniel Marchena is one of them as he came away extremely impressed with the company's latest flagship, the Sony Xperia 1.
Sony Xperia 1: Gaming on a tall 21:9 display
The obvious question with a tall display is how does it affect usage? Daniel Marchena from XDA TV put the Sony Xperia 1's display to the test with gaming.
There are a lot of phones out there with quirky and unique features to stand out. The Sony Xperia 1 (along with the Xperia 10 series) has something you won't find on other phones: a 21:9 display. The obvious question with a tall display is how does it affect usage? Daniel Marchena from XDA TV put the Xperia 1's tall display to the test with gaming.
Sony Xperia 1 Hands-on: The Tall 4K OLED Smartphone
XDA TV's Daniel Marchena recently shared his first impressions of the Xperia 1. It has a lot of typical Sony features, but there are a few "firsts" as well.
It's been a while since the Sony Xperia 1 was announced (it's still not for sale in the US), but we finally got our hands on this flagship device. XDA TV's Daniel Marchena recently shared his unboxing and first impressions of this device. It has a lot of the typical Sony features, but there are a few "firsts" as well.
Download the live wallpaper from the Sony Xperia 1
XDA Senior Member rocco6victor just uploaded the Sony Xperia 1's live wallpaper, which can now be installed on all Sony devices with Android 8.0 or later.
Sony Xperia 1 is one of the newest flagships from the company. The device was announced back in February at Mobile World Congress, but the sales haven't even started yet. The Xperia 1 comes with all the latest specs, both on the hardware and software side of the smartphone, including a crazy tall 21:9 display. If you've ever owned an Xperia device, then you probably know that they usually come with beautiful live wallpapers. Being Sony, all of them are proprietary, just like any Xperia application, so you won't find them on the Google Play Store.
Sony Xperia 1, Xperia 10, and Xperia 10 Plus forums are open
The Xperia 1 is the flagship, high-end phone, while the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus are mid-rangers. Forums for these three devices are now open!
Among the plethora of devices announced at MWC 2019, Sony dropped three new Xperia phones with peculiar names. The Xperia 1 is the flagship, high-end phone, while the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus are mid-rangers. Forums for these three devices are now open!
Sony unveils the Xperia 1 with a 4K OLED 21:9 display and the mid-range Xperia 10 and 10 Plus
Sony has announced the flagship Sony Xperia 1 smartphone with a 4K OLED 21:9 display and the mid-range Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus with 21:9 displays.
In 2018, smartphone manufacturers competed to see who could release the smartphone with the thinnest bezels—but not Sony. We crowned the Sony Xperia XZ3 the anti-2018 smartphone because it bucked the big design trends of 2018. With the new Sony Xperia 1, Xperia 10, and Xperia 10 Plus, the Japanese smartphone maker has once again forged their own path while others compete to build the best 5G-enabled or foldable smartphone. All three of these smartphones have incredibly wide 21:9 displays and large top but thin bottom bezels, but the Xperia 1, in particular, caught our attention since it's the first smartphone with a 4K OLED display.
Sony Xperia 10, Xperia 10 Plus, Xperia 1, and Xperia L3 all leak in full glory
Four new Sony devices have leaked ahead of MWC with full specs and images: Xperia 10, Xperia 10 Plus, Xperia 1, and Xperia L3.
With Mobile World Congress 2019 starting next week, the leaks of devices are pouring in. Sony's expected devices have shown up a few times in recent weeks, but now the floodgates have opened and we can see their entire lineup. Four new devices have leaked with full specs and images: Xperia 10, Xperia 10 Plus, Xperia 1, and Xperia L3. Let's take a look.