Sony undoubtedly likes to take its sweet time releasing smartphones – in fact, the Japanese brand is perhaps the one that consistently allows the most time to pass between the announcement of a new gadget and its availability.

Consider the Xperia 5 III. It was first shown in April of last year and was eventually released in October, half a year later.

Sony doesn’t sell many smartphones in the US, so when a new one debuts — especially a high-end one — it’s usually major news. The Xperia 5 III, which was released in several regions last year, is now available in the US for $1,000.

Specifications

The Xperia 5 III is a high-end flagship, as the price suggests. It boasts a Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 4500 mAh battery, and a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2520 x 1080 pixels.

Three rear cameras are available: a 12 MP main camera, a 12 MP ultrawide camera, and a 12 MP 3x telephoto camera. The Xperia 5 III is one of the smallest Android phones on the market, measuring just 68 mm wide.

It boasts a very tall 21:9 display, although it’s only 4 mm wider than an iPhone 13 Mini in terms of breadth.

Although it ships with Android 11, an update to Android 12 is expected soon.

Aesthetics

Photo credit: PHOTOGRAPHY ADDICT | Twitter: @bigphotoaddict

When it comes to design, Sony undoubtedly follows their own drumbeat. Sony’s phone is aggressively rectangular and has a sleek, minimalist style, as is customary for the company.

The bezel on the front of the watch is a one-of-a-kind feature. Instead of a notch or a hole punch, Sony chose a large bezel to give the camera some breathing area, resulting in a continuous display.

A large blank area was also added to the bottom of the phone to make the front symmetrical.

A fingerprint scanner on the side, a hardware camera button, a microSD card, and even a 3.5 mm headphone port are among the other unusual design choices.

US market

For most people in the United States, this announcement is the sole reminder that Sony still makes smartphones. If the extended US delay wasn’t clear enough, the company’s smartphone business isn’t aimed at Americans.

You have to question about Sony’s future in the market after witnessing LG throw in the towel on Android after years of struggle. In April 2021, Sony’s mobile division reported its first profitable quarter in a long time, but the news isn’t all good; the profit came on the back of some of the company’s lowest phone shipments in years.

The division was able to balance the books solely by decreasing expenditures, and sales have been steadily declining since 2014.

The Xperia 5 III is now available for purchase, and Sony says that orders received before February 27th will include a free set of WF-1000XM3 headphones as well as 43,200 Call of Duty: Mobile CP points.