Sony Xperia 1 III
Price: £1,199 from fave.co/2WgLI5j
When Sony unveiled its Xperia Mark III line-up earlier this year, the company showcased what looked like an unmistakably familiar face. While the new flagship Xperia 1 III may resemble its predecessor, however, it promises a handful of notable upgrades and additions that stand out from the status quo.
Sony has occupied a relatively tiny corner of the smartphone market in recent years, further tailoring its Xperia smartphones to brand loyalists who value the company’s technical expertise and distinct style of hardware and software above all else.
The Xperia 1 line serves as the pinnacle of its smartphone portfolio; each new revision offers a tighter and more refined experience than the last, leaning heavily on the company’s expertise and technologies within other product categories; like its Alpha cameras, Bravia TVs and audio wares.
DESIGN
If you liked the look of last year’s Xperia 1 II, you’ll be thrilled to discover that the Mk III is cut from very similar cloth; a tall, slender glass sandwich, surrounded by a chamfered colour-matched metal frame.
Design-wise, Sony’s approach of refinement over reinvention takes the form of changes to finish and texture, first and foremost. The glossy back of the 1 II is now rendered in a more sophisticated frosted Gorilla Glass 6, which not only looks better but more readily repels smudges and fingerprints, compared to last year’s phone.
As with the Mk II, it makes for a confident, bold design that stands out from the crowd, even with the straight-sided iPhone 12 family now in the mix. Precise details, like the knurled physical dual-detent shutter button and
