The Sony Xperia 5 III is the device that Sony positions between the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Xperia 10 III. The device takes over many specs from previous Xperia 1 and 5 models and adds a decent battery life to it. Plus: a camera that you usually find on a more expensive device.
Sony Xperia 5 III
MSRP € 999,-
Colors black, blue
OS Android 11
Screen 6.1 inch OLED (2520 x 1080, 120 Hz)
Processor Snapdragon 888
RAM 8GB
Storage 128 or 256 GB (expandable)
Battery 4,500 mAh
Camera 12, 12 and 12 megapixels (rear), 8 megapixels (front)
Connectivity 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC
Format 15.7 x 6.8 x 0.8 cm
Weight 168 grams
Other 3.5mm headphone port, waterproof and dustproof
Website www.sony.nl 7.5 Score 75 
- Pros
- Feels good in the hand
- Camera (software and hardware)
- Battery
- Negatives
- Gets warm quickly
- Charging takes a long time
- Maximum brightness
At first glance, the business-looking Sony Xperia 5 III is difficult to distinguish from its predecessor. The big difference this time is in the camera module: there we find a rectangular sensor. Other elements have remained virtually the same, such as the many buttons on the side and the 6.1-inch OLED screen. That screen (still) has impressive specs, such as a refresh rate of 120 Hertz, a 21:9 screen ratio and the resolution of 1,080 by 2,560 pixels. The brightness is not impressive at less than 600 nits.
The mentioned resolution ensures a sharp pixel density of 449 pixels per inch and less battery consumption. The Sony Xperia 5 III has a battery with a capacity of 4,500 mAh (500 mAh more than the Xperia 5 II) and therefore it easily lasts a day and a half. Charging takes a relatively long time, due to the 30w charger. The device is fully charged within two hours; after thirty minutes it is about fifty percent charged. This is beneficial for long-term users, because fast charging is not good for your battery. By continuing to do that slowly over time, a smartphone generally lasts much longer. So a point for sustainability.
Can get hot at times
Under the hood is a blazing fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, just like in the Xperia 1 III. In addition, there is 8 GB of RAM. That is enough for many Android smartphones. If you want more, you can go to the Xperia 1 III. It has 12 GB of RAM. It is striking that the device – even with less demanding tasks – heats up quickly. This does not affect the performance of the device. It is also good to know that you can choose from 128 or 256 GB of storage space. Fortunately, a faithful micro-SD card also fits in it.
The fingerprint scanner on the side is in a nice position. When you hold the device with your right hand, your thumb falls perfectly in the right position. The scanner is fast and accurate and functions as promised. What works less well is the proximity sensor. That sensor determines whether the screen is on or off when you call, for example. Sometimes the sensor has trouble recognizing distance. During a call, the screen sometimes goes on and off and that can become quite irritating over time. Not just because of the flashes; but also because you might touch something with your cheek.
The android 11 software on the Sony Xperia 5 III is very clean and tidy. During the installation, the device asks whether you want to install a number of apps or not, so that you do not have to remove that number later. That does not mean that there is no bloatware at all, but the number of these types of apps remains limited. Android works quickly and efficiently and can count on two years of software support. Compared to other smartphone manufacturers, that is quite meager. Certainly in the context of security updates, which can determine how long a device has to live.
Square camera sensor
For the most part, the Sony Xperia 5 III takes over the camera system of the Sony Xperia 1 III. The system consists of three sensors, which have twelve megapixels. Here you have a wide-angle lens, ultra-wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens. They offer focal lengths of 16, 24, 70 and 105 millimeters. Those cameras offer useful gadgets, such as eye tracking, HDR and recordings from 30 to 240 fps, ranging from 4k to 1080p. On the front is an eight-megapixel selfie camera. As is always the case with Sony smartphones, the software options are decisive.
Photos that you take with this device generally show true-to-life colors. That means they are not pumped up by artificial intelligence and blown up elements. Those functions are there – if you are looking for them – but they are not activated by default. The device can therefore capture reality as it is. The comprehensive photo camera app, which is installed by default, offers modes for different moments and types of photos. So don’t be put off by the overwhelming menu of options, but take a moment to read what those modes do.
Compared to last year, Sony has simplified the software a bit. This time, for example, we do not see duplicate apps for photo and videography, but everything is now processed in one app. The app allows you to switch modes very quickly. This way you can set everything up yourself if you want, but you can also let the device do the work for you. Sony is of course not unique in this. But it simplifies taking beautiful photos enormously. And if you still want to get more out of the hardware, you can. You get access to the same software environment that was inspired by the Alpha cameras. This gives you as a future photographer a little more grip and overview.
Sony Xperia 5 III worth buying?
In general, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a very nice smartphone. The device is relatively compact, feels good in the hand and has specs that come close to the (much) more expensive Sony Xperia 1 models. In addition, there is a headphone jack, the camera scores more than reasonable and we appreciate the extra button for shooting. The battery lasts a long time. However, there are a few things that you as a consumer have to take into account.
The biggest disadvantages of the device are that the design is almost unchanged compared to last year. Did you skip that device because you already bought the Xperia 5 I? Then this is not too big a disadvantage, provided you like that design. In addition, the device can become quite warm, the long charging does not always come true and you often reach the limit of the maximum brightness. The price is also quite hefty, but at the bottom of the line it is of course still a high-end smartphone.
While the Sony Xperia 5 III is a smartphone we can recommend – albeit at a slightly lower price – there are still some options that may be more appealing. For example, the Asus Zenfone 8 offers a very complete experience, in a compact size that is fine for many users. The OnePlus 9 Pro is now cheaper to purchase and offers fast and wireless charging, but is much larger and has a slightly less camera system. And for a few bucks more, you will soon score a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. That is a device for which you make few concessions.
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