Sony Xperia 5 III review – much more expensive, so better?

Sony launched the Xperia 5 III this fall and we grabbed the smartphone for a review. Is the higher price anything to scare?

Last year we were very enthusiastic about the predecessor of this device, the Sony Xperia 5 II. The Japanese tech company had given the smartphone enough features to distinguish itself from the legion of android smart phones. Besides a great camera, you had a nice slim design, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a good purchase price and a remarkably compact weight. The question is whether Sony can continue this trend with the Xperia 5 III and in this review whether it really succeeded.

Sony Xperia 5 III review – specifications

We’ll start with the facts as usual. Because what does this Xperia 5 have to offer then? The new Sony smartphone has a 6.1-inch OLED HDR display with a 21:9 CinemaWide viewing image. Fairly common in the high segment and nice to have is the 120Hz refresh rate of the screen. The smartphone has remained nice and light at 168 grams.

There are three camera lenses at the back. This is a 12 MP + 12 MP + 12 MP construction. The selfie camera on the front has 8 MP. For the enthusiast it is nice to know that the 3.5mm headphone jack has remained. Still unique in its segment. Furthermore, you have 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage with this phone. Which in turn feels a bit thin compared to the competition.

Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor. A chipset that we have often encountered in practice with other Android flagship smartphones. A great processor that can combine speed with good battery life. Speaking of battery. The Sony has a large battery with a capacity of 4,500mAh. that is 500mAh more compared to its predecessor.

And then the price. It is 999 euros. An increase of 100 euros compared to last year’s model. That may be the pain point. More on that later.

Sony Xperia 5 III review – practice

The experience with the new Sony Xperia 5 III is actually largely on par with its predecessor. The similar look and specs make this more of a facelift than a brand new smartphone. It is as if Sony is putting the finishing touches with this new model. A better processor, a more powerful battery. Basically the standard improvements you expect with the launch of a new model.

In my practical experience, this remains a very nice and pleasant smartphone. The cameras certainly do not disappoint. Check out some of the photos we shot with this phone below. A beautiful BMW 540d Touring functioned as a photo model.

Criticism

And yet I have more criticism of this phone compared to last year. And that has everything to do with the price. In daily dealings, the smartphone does not feel 100 euros better compared to its predecessor. Of course, the innovations are there and that’s a nice bonus. But to be honest, you can expect the maximum for 999 euros. Thus, the appearance is largely the same as its predecessor.

For example, what I really miss is the fact that wireless charging is not possible. This was already a miss on the previous device. But yes, it was at least 899 euros and not 999 euros. Moreover, with a successor you expect that this would be addressed. After all, I wasn’t the only one with criticism. Now it is still not possible. Wired charging is fast with a max of 30W. That’s reasonable, but also not groundbreaking. There are cheaper smartphones on the market with which you can fast charge 65W.

Conclusion

The Sony Xperia 5 III is simply still a good phone. Just like its predecessor. But you can already feel it coming. The price difference is significant. In a year in which most costs are already becoming more expensive for everyone. Think of the energy price, the groceries at the supermarket and so on. For 999 euros you can go to many brands. From OnePlus to Samsung and from OPPO to Motorola. And then you really have to be a fan of Sony to choose this Xperia 5 III over competitors who might be able to do more for less money.