Sony phones haven’t had the greatest reputation in the last few years, with underwhelming designs, a lack of game-changing tech, and a confusing naming system.
However, the Japanese giant has been working hard to transform the fortunes of its phone business. It’s already announced three new handsets this year, including Xperia 1 – the first phone ever to boast a 4K HDR OLED display.
So should you buy a Sony phone? And, if so, will you be able to fathom the confusing line-up? We’ll be answering all this, and more, in this dedicated guide:
- Which is the best Sony phone? – We compare the most important phones in Sony’s lineup to find the best
- Are Sony phones good? – Sony’s great at TVs, but are its phones anything to write home about?
- Sony Xperia 10 – The new mid-range option from Sony – is it a bargain, or just plain bad?
- Sony Xperia 10 Plus – Like the above, but bigger in size (and price)
- Sony Xperia 1 – Sony's flagship phone, a feature-rich choice
- Sony Xperia 5 – Sony's latest phone, a cheaper alternative to the Xperia 1
Which is the Best Sony Phone?
With a collection of infuriatingly similar alphanumeric names, it can be difficult to make sense of Sony’s line-up on first inspection. So, let’s clear it up now:
The XA range is Sony’s old mid-range offering. We’ve not featured any of them here, because the new Xperia 10 phones have taken their place.
The Xperia 5 is the Sony's latest phone, which has a more compact feel than the Xperia 1, and is more affordable to boot.
There’s the Xperia 1 – Sony’s new flagship phone, stuffed with high-end features and a stunning 6.5-inch display.
There’s also the Xperia L series, with the most recent model being the Xperia L3.
With that out the way, let’s take a look at how they stack up:
- Best Sony phone overall – At the moment, we’d consider the Xperia to be the best overall Sony phone on sale. It’s got big flagship specs, but the slight dip in the price compared to the Xperia 1 make it a great choice.
- Best value Sony phone – We’d go for the Xperia X10 Plus. You can now pick it up for around $429, and it's a good option for those that want to marry budget and specs.
- Best cheap Sony phone – Only one real option here, in the US at least – the Xperia 10. It costs $359, and looks very acceptable for a low to mid-range phone in 2020.
Scroll horizontally to view the full table on mobile.
| Xperia 10 | Xperia 10 Plus | Xperia 1 | Xperia 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  | |
| Verdict | Unusually tall screen aside, the Xperia 10 is a decent, affordable smartphone | Doesn’t do enough to justify the premium over the Xperia 10 | Sony's newest flagship, feature-rich phone | A compact, cheaper alternative to the Xperia 1 |
| Price | $359 | $429 | $949 | $780 |
| Screen size (in) | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.1 |
| RAM (GB) | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| Storage (GB) | 64 | 64 | 64/128 | 128 |
| Front cameras (Mp) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Rear cameras (Mp) | 13 + 5 | 12 + 8 | 12 + 12 | 12 + 12 |
| Buy it now | Click to Buy | Click to Buy | Click to Buy | Click to Buy |
Are Sony Phones Good?
Sony’s phones have been a bit hit-and-miss. The company was a pioneer in waterproofing and camera tech, but has fallen behind Apple and Samsung in recent years. Sony’s phones have, in recent years, also a bit, well, ugly. They’re getting better though, with smoother corners and slimmer bezels. But, even the new ones aren’t what you’d necessarily call attractive.
However, the brand is turning out some pretty good, if unspectacular phones. Buy one, and you certainly won’t be disappointed – but you’re unlikely to be blown away, either.
Sony Xperia 10
Launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year, the Xperia 10 is Sony’s new low to mid-range phone. As such, it has a pretty unremarkable spec sheet: A middling Snapdragon 630 processor, 3GB of Ram, a surprisingly small 2,870 mAh battery, and a 6-inch Full HD+ (1080×2520) LCD display. It costs a pretty affordable $349.
However, it does have one pretty interesting quirk. The Xperia 10 uses a 21:9 display aspect ratio, meaning that the phone is about 2.3 times taller than it is wide. Sony claims that this will give you a more immersive viewing experience – particularly for TV and films. It also allows for top-and-bottom split screen multitasking.
However, lots of content and apps aren’t optimized for this type of screen. Of course, more might become available in the future, but it’s not there at the moment. All told, it’s a pretty average mid-range phone with one interesting quirk.
Like the sound of it? Click to read our full Sony Xperia 10 review
- Tall screen makes watching some stuff better
- Not too expensive
- Plasticky design doesn’t feel brilliant
- Underwhelming battery life
Sony Xperia 10 Plus
The Xperia 10 Plus was launched alongside the Xperia 10 at MWC. The Xperia 10 Plus’ display is half an inch taller than the 10’s, and keeps the same 21:9 aspect ratio. That makes the Xperia 10 Plus taller than the already very large Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
The battery is slightly larger than the Xperia 10’s at 3,000 mAh, and it has 12Mp and 8Mp rear cameras, instead of the 13Mp and 5Mp snappers found on the Xperia 10. These minor changes have bumped the price up by $80 to $429.
If we’re honest, there’s no real compelling reason to get the Xperia 10 Plus over the Xperia 10. If you’re after a more premium version of the Xperia 10, it’s worth waiting for the Xperia 1 when it comes out.
Find out more in our full Sony Xperia 10 Plus review
- That tall display might make watching some stuff better
- Slightly improved cameras over the Xperia 10
- More expensive than the Xperia 10, with no really impressive upgrades
- Almost certainly too tall for most people
Sony Xperia 1
The Sony Xperia 1 is Sony's latest flagship phone, which means that it isn't cheap, but it does come with some interesting features, the most notable of which is its odd dimensions. The 21:9 aspect ratio screen means it looks longer and narrower than your standard phone, but this does mean that its a good choice for media buffs who like to watch movies and Netflix on the go.
Under the hood is a Snapdragon 855 processor which keeps everything running smoothly, and means that you're able to run 4K footage. Games run well too, and your experience with the Xperia 1 should be buttery smooth.
The 3,300mAh battery gives an average battery life for a smart phone – so around a day, meaning that it can't compete with the likes of the Note 10 Plus.
- Large, sharp OLED screen
- Improved speed over other Xperia phones
- Decent cameras
- 21:9 aspect ratio screen might be too tall for most
- Battery life isn't the best
- Very expensive
Sony Xperia 5
The Xperia 5 bares a lot of the same hallmarks of the flagship Xperia 1, but it's a cheaper, smaller alternative. Although it's marketed as a ‘compact' alternative, you'll still need a fairly large pocket to slip it into, thanks to its 6.1-inch screen.
That price cut also means you no longer get 4K, which movie fans might miss on the crystal clear clarity offered by the Xperia 1, although this is one of the few features that hasn't made it across, for the price, the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 are surprisingly similar.
- 21:9 aspect ratio screen is great for watching movies and TV shows
- Smaller 6.1-inch screen makes it easier to hold than Xperia 1
- Triple rear cameras
- Rapid Snapdragon 855 processor
- Still quite expensive compared to rival models
- 21:9 aspect ratio isn't for everyone
- Slightly dated, brutalist design
Should You Buy a Sony Phone?
If we’re honest, Sony phones aren’t going to be for everyone. Each of them seems to have a unique quirk which, while differentiating it from the competition, might not make it everyone’s cup of tea.
However, Sony does have some very attractive options and cater to all budgets. Buy one and you won’t be disappointed, but it might not be what you’re used to.
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