Sony launches $1,000 flagship smartphone Xperia 5 III in the US market. However, calling the device “new”is a bit of a stretch, since the phone was announced nine months ago.
As you’d expect given the price, the Xperia 5 III is a high-end flagship. It has a Snapdragon 888 SoC, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 4500mAh battery, and a 6.1-inch 120Hz 2520×1080 OLED display. There are three rear cameras: a 12MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x zoom. At just 68mm wide, the Xperia 5 III is one of the smallest Android phones on the market. It has a very tall 21:9 aspect ratio display, but is only 4mm wider than the iPhone 13 Mini. Although it ships with Android 11, the Android 12 update should arrive soon.
For most consumers in the US, this release serves as the only reminder that Sony is still making smartphones. If you couldn’t understand due to the long delay in the US, the company is not targeting the US with its smartphone business. Seeing LG throw in the towel on Android after years of suffering, you have to wonder about Sony’s future in the market. Sony’s mobile division posted its first profitable quarter in a long time in April 2021year, but not all news is positive; profitability was also at the lowest phone shipments in recent years. The division was only able to balance the books by cutting costs, and since 2014, sales continue to trend significantly lower. However, the compact Android phone is here if you want.