Japanese tech company, Sony, is very popular for its console games and home entertainment system, which have been very successful. However, the company’s mobile phone manufacturing business, SONY Mobile, has not seen similar levels of success as those in recent times.
The Sony Ericsson joint venture was quite popular for a while, but it soon ran into trouble and Sony bought out Ericsson’s stake and once again became Sony Mobile. The company’s Xperia smartphone line-up are not as popular in the world’s top mobile brands, but they include some very good phones. In this article, we present to you some of the best Sony phones of 2020.
Why buy Sony Xperia phones? I have two key reasons for you. One: they are one of the very few mobile phone brands that are not made in China. Two: They are perhaps the only cellphone brand left that makes compact smartphones.
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Sony Xperia 1 III
If you are looking for the best Sony phone to buy in 2021, the Xperia 1 III sits at the top of the list.
This model was announced in April 2021, and it features a 6.5-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus protection, 12 GB of RAM, and options of 256 GB or 512 GB storage. It is powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor, and has a 4500mAh battery coupled with 30W fast charging and wireless charging.
Furthermore, it runs Android 11 out of the box and is available in three colour options – Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, and Frosted Purple.
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Sony Xperia 5 III
The Xperia 5 III is a Sony compact phone, also announced in April 2021. But do not let its size fool you; it is a full-fledged premium flagship. As a matter of fact, it is mostly the same device as the Xperia 1 III. The differences? It has a 6.1-inch display with Gorilla Glass 6 protection, 8 GB of RAM, and 128 GB / 256 GB storage options.
Everything else is pretty much the same. Both devices have IP68 water and dustproof rating, same battery capacity and charging standard, stereo speakers, same camera configurations, among others.
The Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III are definitely the best Sony phones anyone can buy in 2021.
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Sony Xperia 5
This smartphone is one of the best Sony phones on the market in 2020. This device has a large 6.1-inch screen with a 1080×2520 pixels resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio.
The Snapdragon 855 SoC keeps this device running and is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of in-built storage. In the back panel, three rear cameras all with 12MP sensors handle the photography, with an 8MP front camera handling selfies.
This device runs Android 9 OS (upgradeable to the Android 10), with 4G network support, and a 3,140mAh battery that supports fast charging at 18W. This smartphone is pretty pricey at $699 but offers immense value for the money spent.
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Sony Xperia L4
This device offers a number of interesting features, and is particularly handy for movie lovers and gamers because of its large screen.
This device has a 6.2-inch IPS LCD with a 720×1680 pixels and a 21:9 aspect ratio, making video quality stand out. It has got a triple-rear camera setup with a 13MP primary sensor assisted by a 5MP camera and a 2MP sensor. Up front, an 8MP camera takes care of selfies.
Sony Xperia L4 has a good battery rated at 3,580mAh that supports proprietary fast charging. The MediaTek Helio P22 processor under the hood (which is paired with 3GB of RAM), supports 4G network bands and runs Android 9 OS. It is priced at $220.50.
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Sony Xperia L3
The Xperia L3 features a 5.7-inch display, with a 720×1440 pixels resolution and an 8MP selfie camera. In the back panel, a dual-rear camera setup boasts a 13MP primary sensor assisted by a 2MP sensor.
This device is built on the MediaTek MT6762 Helio P22 processor with 3GB of RAM in tandem with 32GB of onboard storage. The Sony Xperia L3 offers 4G support, runs Android 8 OS and is powered by a 3,300mAh battery. Costing $199.99, this is one affordable Sony device that offers good quality for money spent. It is one of the best Sony phones around for budget-conscious buyers.
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Sony Xperia 1 II
Next on our list of best Sony phones is the current flagship, Xperia 1 II. Released in May 2020, it combines top-of-the-line specs with efficiency and a great design. The Sony Xperia 1 II boasts a large 6.5-inch OLED display, making it a delight for gamers and users who would love to catch their favourite series on-the-go. It sits atop a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset which is paired with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of onboard storage.
The back panel houses a quad-rear camera setup with three 12MP sensors and a 0.3MP depth sensor. An 8MP sensor is found in the front panel for selfies and video calls. This smartphone offers 5G support and runs Android 10 OS.
A solid 4,000mAh battery (which supports wired fast charging at 21W and wireless fast charging at 11W) keeps this device powered and although relatively expensive at $1,199, this smartphone from Sony sure has the specs to match the price.
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Sony Xperia 10 Plus
Released in February 2019, this mid-range smartphone boasts an expansive display with a 6.5-inch screen and a 21:9 aspect ratio, making it a delight for gamers and movie lovers.
With the Snapdragon 636 SoC under the hood, this smartphone features 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage. It runs Android 9 OS and houses two rear cameras, a 12MP sensor assisted by an 8MP shooter. In front, an 8MP selfie camera handles selfie and video call responsibilities.
One sticky point for lovers of this device is the battery life, as this device (rated at 3,000mAh) dies rather quickly for a smartphone with this kind of specs. Selling at $329.99, the Xperia 10 Plus may be a bit pricey for the quality it offers.
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Sony Xperia 10
This smartphone shares a number of similarities with the 10 Plus, also wielding a 21:9 aspect ratio but with a smaller screen which measures 6 inches.
It also has a smaller battery (rated 2,870mAh), runs Android 9 OS and also houses two rear cameras, albeit weaker than the 10 Plus. The rear camera setup consists a 13MP camera with a 5MP shooter, while an 8MP camera handles selfies.
This device is a solid mid-ranger at $299.99 despite its weaker performance against the 10 Plus.
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Sony Xperia 1
Built on the impressive Snapdragon 855 chipset, this smartphone offers a good performance, solid video quality, and three powerful cameras. All three cameras have a 12MP sensor, with the selfie camera boasting an 8MP sensor.
This device features an expansive 6.5-inch display with a 21:9 aspect ratio. It runs Android 9 OS and has 6 GB of RAM with 64/128 GB of onboard storage. A 3,330mAh battery keeps this device powered all day.
At $799.99, this device is slightly pricey but is one of the best Sony smartphones you can get around.
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Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
This device features a 5.8-inch 4K display with a 2160×3840 pixels resolution. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 845 is paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The rear panel houses two cameras, a 19MP sensor and a 12MP sensor. Up front, a 13MP sensor can be found in the panel.
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium runs Android 9 OS and is powered by a 3,540mAh battery. Because it is a little older, you will find it at good bargain prices.
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Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
The name gives it away as one of the smaller smartphones on this list with a 5-inch display, a 19MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera. If you want a compact smartphone, this is one of the best Sony phones that fit your profile.
The Xperia XZ2 Compact has the Snapdragon 845 SoC which is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. A rather small battery rated 2,870mAh may pose a worry to individuals looking to cop this smartphone.
Priced at $415, this pocket-sized dynamo is popular for its solid camera quality and great all-round performance.
What is the best Sony Xperia phone to buy?
The best Sony phone for you will depend on a number of factors, including your specific preferences and your budget. All the above-listed smartphones are the best SONY phones you will find to buy in 2021. There is something for everyone and every budget. Happy shopping as you make your choice.
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