Sony Xperia 1 III test: a magnificent “mule’s head”

This Sony Xperia 1 is already the third of this series 1 (Xperia 1 “mark” 3) which definitely does nothing like everyone else. The ogre Sony, world leader in Hifi, video games and cinema, is no longer a major player in the smartphone market. So at the risk of blending into the crowd, the Japanese company preferred to stand out with devices with atypical design. But far from being a simple aesthetic bias, this monolithic 21: 9 format is there to serve specific purposes: video and handling. If little hands will have trouble finding the side buttons and the fingerprint sensor (in the end it’s a matter of habit, just hold the device a little higher), the smartphone fits well in the palm. . There is a photo trigger on the lower right side: a real plus for this type of camera.

Regarding watching videos, this is a must. We will come back to the qualities of the screen a little later, but this “cinemascope” format is very pleasant in landscape mode. This year, the Sony Xperia 1 III sports a very pretty matt back and comes with a rather welcome 3.5 mm jack port. Sony obliges, the stereo speakers deliver quality sound even if we would have liked a little more power. The device has an IP68 certification and allows itself the luxury of offering a micro SD slot. And even if it will be necessary to choose between dual SIM and the expansion of storage to 1TB, lovers of 4K video will appreciate. Now comes the price of the gear. Although it can be found 2 months after its release at € 1,072 at Rakuten for example, it still came out at € 1,299. The price of a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G or an iPhone 12 Pro Max to a few deniers. When we know that in this segment, the OnePlus 9 Pro or the Xiaomi Mi 11i offer many advantages between 500 and 600 €, we can wonder if the Sony baby is really worth the detour …

The screen: a real gem

Let’s start with this screen. In our test of the Xperia 1 II, we found it strange that this 4K screen is confined to 60 Hz while the panel of the Xperia 5 II offered FHD + at 120 Hz. For this “1 mark III”, Sony has accumulated the best of the 2 worlds with a record resolution of 643 DPI (3840 x 1644 pixels) and non-adaptive 120 Hz refresh. An enchanting result even if it inevitably affects the battery. We pay the price for this panel, but it’s perfect on Netflix or with a good old Torrent 4K in H.265.

However, it will take a tour in the settings to polish this diamond. Note also that to display a bright brightness, you will have to go through the “creator” mode which allows you to override the “standard” parameters. Here, Sony listened to its users since it gives connoisseurs the opportunity to do as they see fit without disgusting customers who prioritize immediacy.

The potatoe !

On the power side, this Qualcomm Snapdragon coupled with 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM has already shown that it is at the top. But it must be said that on this Xperia 1 III, it is felt. Why ? Quite simply because the Sony device has very high-end photo / video applications that require a lot of resources. When you have a Snapdragon 888 on a OnePlus 9 Pro for example, you know that you won’t be using it at full power 90% of the time. When you opt for a Sony Xperia 1 III, it is not the same thing in terms of photo or video requirements. It is clearly a creative person’s device. And we are not talking about an iPhone handled by a “wanna be director” in art school fucked up at Cleopatra. It is not a device made for gamers to begin with, but it runs 100% of the games at the moment fully. So it’s true that in video it heats up a little and that in games it can heat up a little more. It’s not that disturbing, even if we are more used to this kind of phenomenon.

Complete on the photo… and without macro!

This Sony Xperia 1 III is equipped with four Zeiss lenses including a 12 megapixel main module (f / 1.7) which delivers quality photos and precise even if the Sony does not include a “pixel binning” option that all other competitors have adopted. It is well exposed without resorting to aggressive treatment. The autofocus is very responsive, it’s a pleasure to take photos, even if objectively, we are a little lower than its big competitor the Galaxy S21 Ultra. At night it is also very good with respected colors, little noise and good management of artificial lighting. Very great art. Like last year, the ultra wide-angle of the Sony Xperia 1 III is surprising with results that are also usable when there is no light… And even at night! Certainly the noise is present in the periphery, but it remains very acceptable.

With a slight light source, we achieve very satisfactory results. The optical zoom allows you to go from a focal length of 70 mm (f / 2.3) to 105 mm (f / 2.8): x3 or x4.5 therefore. The first focal length is very interesting even if on some shots we observe a slight blur. This is not a recurring problem. By taking several pictures of the same subject, we get to have a convincing result. Software problem? Stabilization problem? This slight concern for sharpness is also present at night without it being really annoying. The most powerful optical zoom isn’t a bad bugger, but it will take optimal light conditions to get a good shot. By day, it lacks a bit of sharpness and you will have to be careful to take stock where you want it. It’s still worse than the Galaxy S21 Ultra at the same focal length.

At night, unless you have a tripod, you will be hard pressed to get anything suitable. Thank you also Sony for not having added an unnecessary macro lens, but especially for its Pro Photo mode which allows you to adjust its parameters like a real photographer. There is even a “ring” in the application like those that can be found on SLR or hybrid cameras. A success that we will find in the Video Pro mode, even if the interface can seem confusing. In this regard, Sony did not see fit to add 8K. Here we can enjoy a 4K 60 fps mode (120 fps in slow motion) with flawless stabilization.

Autonomy a little inside …

As is often the case with “perfect” devices, there is this final snag: autonomy. If you use it as a “normal” device, you will end the day peacefully if you stay on the default 60Hz mode. At 120 Hz, it will depend on how you use the screen. But the problem is that if you go for the Xperia 1 III, you are not going to use it as a “boomer” (even if you are one, we do not judge). You will inevitably go to the photo settings, have fun with the zoom, the 4K shots. The first days when you are going to discover the machine, you should not stray too far from a power outlet. The 4500 mAh battery is still a little light especially since the fast charge peaks at 30 W. A real concern when we know that some competitors offer double!

With the supplied charger, it will take 1h30 to go from 7% to 100% while the OnePlus 9 Pro will do the same thing in 40 minutes without being the fastest in this category. The 11 W wireless charging is anecdotal even if it has the merit of existing. By using this method overnight, the advantage is that you have no chance of damaging the battery!

Our verdict:

This Sony Xperia 1 III is a unique device by its design, its personality and its “artistic” bias. At this price, many people will prefer the more “reassuring” side of a Galaxy S21 Ultra or even a high-end iPhone. However, the baby of Sony offers a unique experience with the most beautiful screen of the moment, undeniable photo qualities, options on the video side and top performance. There remains the “snag” of endurance. It’s up to you to see if the long day of autonomy that it offers is sufficient or not …

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