First Sony Xperia 1 III renders show a periscope camera, slimmer bezels

28 January 2021
The design is otherwise unchanged - all flat sides and 90° angles. Sony will keep the 3.5 mm jack and microSD slot that we enjoyed on the Mark II.

Sort by:

Shanti Dope, 29 Jan 2021Bigger sensor doesn't immediately guarantee that image... moreAgain you have to consider the PRICE

1. Pixel Binning for low light. 2.4um pixels.
2. Again S21U or S20U have 120hz on a brighter and bigger 6.8/6.9inch display PLUS 5G. While the Xperia 1 II has 4K @60hz on a smaller body. According to GsmArena S20U/S21U Endurance Rating is 87hrs and 114hrs while the Xperia 1 II is only 84hrs. Between the S20U and Xperia 1 II, I'll call it a TIE.
3. In Display Scanner: It may cost more but it doesn't really reflect to the S21U SRP.
4. Yup Fast Charging may degrade battery life. But again CONSIDERING the PRICE. Also 25W is not bad for a 5000mah Battery.
5. If Xperia 1 III is a Multimedia device to you. S21U is an All Rounder. Yup 4K is widely available especially on Movies. But a 120hz is much noticeable than 4K Resolution especially on a phone.
6. Xperia 1 II 4K dispaly is also OLED, everything you've said is also true for Xperia 1 II. And even if Samsung can go broghter which is better it is only when the phone is use in AUTO mode. And if it's true that there are only LITTLE to No Complaints from user about the OLED Display, it might be because it only sell less so there are also less complaint. Especially that 2018 was one of Samsung best year Selling 200+ million compared to sony less than 10millions.

Overall for me S21U offer better Hardware for the Same price that can be utilize to its potential throughout it's 3yr software update compared to Xperia 2yrs software update.

BUT AGAIN, if the Xperia 1 III cost lower than the S21U I'll give it a pass

    • K
    • Kea
    • 62Q
    • 29 Jan 2021

    I wish it will be used IMX710.

      Anonymous, 29 Jan 2021Not 5. Mark Two uses 8MP Isocell (some gossips say it ... moreSo they put the 8MP sensor but only use the centre 5MP portion? Interesting if true, but what you end up getting is a cropped 5MP image with no option to expand the field of view to utilise the full sensor area. That's still effectively a 5MP camera.

        • l
        • loner
        • Dk@
        • 29 Jan 2021

        Shanti Dope, 29 Jan 2021To think that this is probably the only remaining flagship ... morewell said, people are weird. i can't even imagine sony leaving this business as lg 😢 our beloved brands are hurted by paid reviews and bad choices of customers.

          • C
          • CmD
          • D0b
          • 29 Jan 2021

          I think this is a highly underrated design. It is one of a kind in the current market.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • thv
            • 29 Jan 2021

            Anonymous, 29 Jan 2021Public info. Just saw an article about those youtube ba... moremaybe "the leather" on the back could be the cause of overheat

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • thv
              • 29 Jan 2021

              Love the front, but maybe it needs some revamp for the back. Because they have been using the same design for two years in a row.

                Gorgeous 😍

                  Shanti Dope, 29 Jan 2021To think that this is probably the only remaining flagship ... moreblame the "paid reviewer"... remember that reviewer who throws tantrums just because sony did not send him a unit? ridiculous... even that "expensive pro" reviews are ridiculous, these reviewers should know better as they use camera rigs and all that stuff more often...
                  that is why i am already selecting reviewers... avoiding those who are just riding the bandwagon for the views, those who complain unnecessarily and is too critical or friendly to a brand... (yeah, even those who are now claiming that they are fans of xperia... "for the views")

                    To think that this is probably the only remaining flagship option for people looking for a proper content creation and multimedia device (as LG leaves the mobile scene) is quite saddening to say.
                    What's even worse is how people are overly hating on this company for giving them the essential things that others don't (headphone jack, no screen cutout, proper dual front-facing stereo speakers, battery protection measures, near stock Android, charger inside the box).

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • JT5
                      • 29 Jan 2021

                      Public info.

                      Just saw an article about those youtube battery tests.
                      The 21 Ultra with SD888 does not have same issues with heat like Mi11.

                      Peak temperature was 53 celsius, while mi11 reached 65.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 6jG
                        • 29 Jan 2021

                        Add a periscope to the Xperia II and we can talk about business.... This will be too expensive.

                          Aldwin123, 29 Jan 2021You can say that if they price the Xperia 1 III is the same... moreBigger sensor doesn't immediately guarantee that image quality will be better. It does indeed have a larger sensor, but the number of pixels are significantly higher as well; so much so that it affects its low light performance.
                          By having more pixels, it gives up on speed. The S21U still can't do the same 20fps AF/AE burst mode that the last year's 1 II and 5 II could. The natively larger 1.8um pixels on the Xperias also means better light sensitivity.

                          Bigger battery is nothing with poor optimization. It was only this year that they finally made their 5000mAh battery perform just as expected for its size. Sony, on the other hand, can make a 4K panel powered by a 4000mAh battery to last a whole day, and it's expected that the 1 III is going to have an even larger capacity.

                          In-display fingerprint scanner is quite overrated. Not only is it more expensive, but it's also a pain to consider when applying screen protectors. Physical fingerprint readers are every bit as accurate and as fast as in-displays, while costing significantly less.

                          Faster charging guarantees faster battery degradation as well. Sony focuses more on longevity over a little speed improvement. This explains why even a XZ Premium from almost 4 years ago can still hold more than 80% of its battery capacity since its first day of use, while an S8+ would definitely be in dire need of battery replacement at this point already (assuming both phones were used starting on the year that they were released).

                          The 1 III is more of a multimedia consumption device, and current Android flagship processors don't support 4K 120Hz yet, so it definitely can't do it due to the resolution. They may lower the resolution to enable it though.

                          For OLEDs, brighter also means higher risk of getting burn ins. And NO, not even Samsung's highest quality panels are immune to this problem. The explanation is simple: this is the nature of OLED panels. They degrade over a period of time, and since the materials are organic, they would eventually die after being used for some time.
                          This is worse for smartphones, as they tend to constantly have many static contents to display, such as the time and notification panel, while TVs or other monitors don't always show the same contents from time to time.
                          Sony's choice of sacrificing a little brightness for better longevity is the better decision overall, and it's evident from how there's little to no complaints from users about the OLED panels from their Xperias even after 2 years (since XZ3 is from 2018).

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • JT5
                            • 29 Jan 2021

                            Nick Tegrataker, 29 Jan 2021I love the minimalistic design that Sony has been using for... moreSD888 cant run above 4K@60.
                            Software will lock screen at 60 again. Just like XZP, XZ2P, 1 and 1ii.

                            Weird fact is the first to support 4K was 805. (The 808 does not, nobody knows why)
                            Since then: 810, 820, 835, 845, 855, 865 and 880.
                            7 years and nothing changes.

                            Samsung says 2100 can do it, I highly doubt.
                            It is has worse performance than 888 despite higher clock and same cores.


                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • JT5
                              • 29 Jan 2021

                              Nick Tegrataker, 29 Jan 2021I love the minimalistic design that Sony has been using for... moreNot 5.

                              Mark Two uses 8MP Isocell (some gossips say it is part of deal for screens, nobody really knows if is true).

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • JT5
                                • 29 Jan 2021

                                Nick Tegrataker, 29 Jan 2021You're wrong. In QB, the data from 4 pixels are treate... moreBeing smaller does not guarantee faster readout. Many apsc sensors have horrible rolling shutter compare to many FF. Tech used on sensors matters a lot.

                                1ii cant do 20fps with the other two cameras. Both way smaller.
                                1 cant do 20fps like 1ii, despite smaller 1/2.6" + dram.

                                Imx600 = P20 Pro ... Similar size compared to 557. Still slower , no matter if used at 10MP.

                                If 557 was 48MP QB 1/1.7", it would be slower.

                                Look at new Alpha 1.
                                50MP bayer, readout 1,5x faster than A9ii.
                                It is now the fastest sensor ever.

                                The 61MP QB Sony Semicon made (nobody so far had interest) is a joke compared to it. No matter if used as 15MP.

                                Quadbayer sensors are simply sensors with smaller pixels.
                                They do not earn the most advanced tech implemented on bayer sensors like DRAM, ADC etc ...

                                Purpose of quadbayer: smaller pixels = lower manufacturing costs = more profits per unit

                                Sony has many manufacturing processes. Quadbayers are only gen2. While other bayer sensors are gen6 already.

                                The 64MP tetracell Samsung uses for their midranges is way cheaper than the one used by S20. Also far inferior.


                                You will never see quadbayer being used by drones, professional cameras, security, cars, industry, medical, webcams etc ...



                                  Gorgeous! I would buy one in heartbeat if they ran anything else than Android.

                                    Arzeey, 29 Jan 2021Samsung out here killing the power plug, QHD display and th... moreYou can say that if they price the Xperia 1 III is the same or lower than the S21U. Remember that last Xperia 1 II start at $1,199 same with the new S21U.

                                    Remember that Samsung is using a bigger sensor, battery, Display, Ultrasonic FPS, a little bit faster Wired and Wireless Charging, Reverse Wireless Charging, and 120hz. Also even if the S21U or even the S20U is only QHD+, it is more brighter than the last year Xperia 1 II.

                                      Imagine 5000 mAH 50W , x10 optic zoom and more stabil android

                                        I love the minimalistic design that Sony has been using for last 2 years, but I have a bit of concern over its tiny selfie camera on the top bezel - don't tell me they're trying to reuse the same miserable 5MP shooter inside Mark II in 2021, because that would be a really stupid move to make in this era where the virus is forcing tens of millions of people to lock themselves at home and use a video chat for communications.

                                        The implementation of a new tele lens is quite worrying as well. So far Sony hasn't employed any sort of stacking techniques to increase the resolution of a photo, and obviously they won't do what Oppo and Huawei are doing to fill in the missing details at higher digital zoom level, so there's a very high chance that you will end up having to resort to a combination of pure digital zoom and upscaling until you reach 5x magnification where the periscope lens can be used. You know what it will be like if you see some of Note 20 Ultra 2/3x zoom samples, and spoiler alert - they are awful.

                                        A headphone jack and a MicroSD card slot are a hugely welcome addition that every manufacturer need to take note of. I'm still wondering how good (or bad) the battery life would be if they would actually keep the same 4K panel but increase the refresh rate to 120Hz as the rumours suggest, though.. Sony is making a huge bet this year.