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Sony Xperia 1 III review: Fine control for camera obsessives
The Xperia 1 III is another Sony phone aimed at camera fans. It sidesteps software processing tricks, popularized by phones like the Pixel series, instead showcasing Sony’s camera smarts in features like focus tracking and fine-grain controls. The gorgeous 4K screen can run at a smooth 120Hz, but specs like this come at an almost prohibitive price.
How well did the Xperia 1’s super tall screen work for users?
When our reviewer Chris Velazco took a look at Sony's oddly proportioned flagship last summer, his reaction was mixed, to say the least. It looked weird, but was comfortable to hold. The 4K screen was beautiful, but unnecessary on a smartphone, especially one with such a small battery. Ultimately, Chris declared the phone impractical for everyday use.
Sony’s first 5G smartphone is the Xperia 1 II
Sony's big MWC shindig may have been cancelled over virus fears, but the company still has a bunch of new phones to show off. The first, and most notable, is the Xperia 1 II -- dubbed the Xperia 1 Mark II -- which made its debut on the company's not-MWC livestream today. The new flagship is packing a 21:9 6.5-inch 4K OLED HDR display, Dolby Atmos and, most importantly, a 5G modem.
Sony's first 5G phone may be a souped-up Xperia 1
Sony appears ready to leap into 5G smartphones, although you might not want to rush to the store if you have one of the company's recent handsets. XDA's Max Weinbach has shared what looks to be leaked images and specs for Sony's headline phones in 2020, the Xperia 1 II and Xperia 10 II. The 1 II would, as the name implies, be a tuned version of Sony's 6.5-inch 4K flagship with 5G for low- and mid-band networks (Engadget's parent Verizon would currently be ruled out), a speedier Snapdragon 865 processor and, curiously, a motion blur feature that promises "90Hz equivalent" visuals. It's not a true 90Hz display, then, but that might not be a bad thing when a 4K OLED at that refresh speed would likely slaughter your battery.
Tell us how Sony’s novel Xperia 1 phone works for you
Senior editor Chris Velazco's first experience with the Sony Xperia 1 was a mixed bag -- while the handset featured a gorgeous 4K HDR OLED screen and a speedy Snapdragon 855 chipset, its 3,300mAh battery was underwhelming and the speakers didn't do justice to the viewing experience. While the 6.5-inch panel and 21:9 aspect ratio made for easy split-screen multitasking, the inclusion of a vibration motor was distracting and the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack was (as usual) disappointing. In the end, Chris gave the adventurous device a decent, but not outstanding, score of 76.
Sony's Xperia 1 is available with hands-free Alexa
Don't like that nearly all of Amazon's Alexa-centric phones are budget models? You won't have that complaint after today, although you might not have expected this option. Amazon has started selling a variant of Sony's Xperia 1 with hands-free Alexa commands. Yes, you can control your Echo speaker (or other smart home devices) when you're not busy watching 4K videos. It also comes with a slew of pre-loaded Amazon apps beyond Alexa itself, including Audible, Music, Photos and Shopping.
Sony Xperia 1 review: Powerful, but not sensible
I don't love admitting this, but it can be hard to take Sony's phones seriously sometimes. That's not because of a lack of effort on its part — it's more that the phones they do release often seem gleefully out of step with the mobile mainstream. Need further proof? Just look at the Xperia 1. This is the first high-powered flagship Sony has released in some time, and it's nothing if not unusual. Super-tall, super-high-res screen? Check. A vibration motor that plays along with your music? Uh-huh. A surprisingly small battery? Sadly, yes. There's little question that the Xperia 1 is the kind of device only Sony would make, and that no other smartphone maker out there is working with the same set of priorities. Occasionally, that means the Xperia 1 feels refreshing. The rest of the time, though, it's enough to make you wish Sony had just made a few decisions differently.
Xperia 1 pre-orders come with Sony's latest premium headphones
Sony has a simple, straightforward way to entice would-be Xperia 1 buyers in the US: offer a bundle that might be hard to refuse. The tech giant is starting American pre-orders on June 28th, and those who purchase ahead of the July 12th release will get a pair of the company's WH-1000XM3 headphones at no extra cost -- that's $350 of (frankly excellent) wireless audio for free. If you're buying the Xperia 1 to watch movies mid-flight or stream music during your commute, you might have everything you need.
Sony's 4K OLED Xperia 1 hits the US July 12th
Sony has revealed when you'll be able to get your hands on its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1. It goes on sale in the US July 12th for $950.
Our favorite smartphones from Mobile World Congress 2019
The last week has been a whirlwind of jamón-flavored chips, 5G talk and things that fold, so naturally, we're still reeling a bit. As we begin pulling ourselves out of this trade show-induced stupor, though, we've taken stock of everything we've seen in Barcelona and compiled this list of our favorite smartphones from the show floor. Not everything that made the cut will be a massive success, or go on sale around the world -- still, because of the ambition and ingenuity that went into each of these devices, each is worth celebrating in its own way.
Comparing the Galaxy S10+ and the Xperia 1 to the iPhone XS Max
Folding phones aren't the only big displays you'll see at this year's Mobile World Congress. Plenty of traditional, non-bendy devices have graced the show floor this year, with screens far past six inches — we're long past the days when handsets like the Galaxy Note were anomalies. This year's S10+ is certainly a contender in size, but Sony won't be left behind thanks to its super tall Xperia 1. These two flagships are entering a race that the iPhone XS Max is already in thanks to its 6.5-inch screen, though the addition of triple rear cameras will certainly help the newcomers' chances. For the full skinny on how this competition will shake out, you'll have to wait for our reviews of the new Samsung and Sony handsets in the coming weeks, but for now check out our handy spec table to see how the early numbers stack up.
Watch Sony's MWC 2019 event in under 9 minutes
Sony opened up its MWC booth a little early to announce its latest phones. We don't blame you if you slept in, it was early in the day even here in Barcelona. If you missed the festivities, don't worry: we've compiled the highlights in a 9-minute clip that will get you caught up while you wait for your next latte or cup of Earl Grey. Sony unveiled the super tall Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, both of which have 21:9 displays designed for those who love to consume content on the go. Sadly, the rest of the spec sheet is rather ho-hum. There's also the cinematic Xperia 1 flagship, a device that packs the first 4K HDR OLED display in a phone and a triple-lens camera setup with autofocus eye tracking from its A7 III mirrorless camera.
