The best Sony phones are often quite expensive, but they tend to be worth it. Luckily, there are some affordable options among the best Sony phones, so you don’t have to break the bank to get the best Sony handset. You’ll also find mid-range and older handsets on this list.
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Best Sony Phones
1. Sony Xperia 1 VI
The Sony Xperia 1 VI combines durability with a compact and lightweight design, with an IP68 water and dust resistance rating. The 6.1-inch OLED LTPO display delivers stunning visuals and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, it delivers fast performance, while the 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage provide plenty of space and power for multitasking.
In the camera department, the Xperia 1 VI doesn’t disappoint, especially with the added support of Sony Alpha, delivering high-quality images. The front camera can record 4K video at 60FPS, making it a great choice for content creators.
Connectivity options are also quite comprehensive, including NFC and WiFi 7, while the 5,000mAh battery with 30W fast charging should power the phone all day long. There’s a 3.5mm audio jack for those who prefer wired audio, and best of all, Sony promises up to four years of software updates.
However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. The microSD slot is integrated with the SIM card slot, which could be inconvenient for some users. The phone also doesn’t include an infrared blaster, a feature that’s available on some other models.
2. Sony Xperia 1 V
Don’t let the naysayers get to you. The Xperia 1 V is the best Sony phone your money can buy, and there are plenty of reasons to buy it. For starters, it has a 4K 120Hz OLED display (the first in the world to have such a spec) and boasts Sony’s cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, with no notch, cutout, or other unsightly features.
Recent Sony phones have managed to stand out from the rest of the smartphone pack thanks to this tall 21:9 form factor, along with a few other quirky features we’ll get to in a moment.
The Xperia 1 V retains the innovative periscope zoom camera of its predecessor. The Xperia 1 III featured the first zoom lens with a moving optical element that could switch between 70mm and 105mm, while the Xperia IV upgraded the system to offer a continuous zoom between 85mm and 125mm.
The Xperia 1 V has it all, with a newly developed dual-layer transistor pixel main sensor that Sony calls Exmor T. Sony has placed the transistors and photodiodes on different layers to achieve lower noise levels and better light capture in low-light scenes.
This phone is very fast, with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and 12GB of RAM. And guess what? You can expand the internal storage (up to 256GB) with our old friend the microSD card slot.
There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, bucking the trend of modern smartphones, and the Xperia 1 V also offers a stereo speaker setup (front-facing) and it’s very good in that regard. It’s not your typical unbalanced speakerphone/loudspeaker combo.
Overall, the Xperia 1 V is the best Sony phone out there right now, and a worthy successor to the previous ultra-premium Sony flagship. However, there’s one downside: the price.
Sony has somewhat corrected the “misconception” of the previous model at $1,600 and has priced this technological masterpiece at $1,399, which is still a bit pricey, but for diehard Sony enthusiasts, it’s the best for now.
3. Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is incredibly expensive, but it offers some unique features that make it perfect for professional content creators. One of those features is the continuous optical zoom, which allows the telephoto lens to move between 3.5x and 5.2x without the need for digital zoom.
There’s also 4K and 120fps video recording, mobile game streaming capabilities, a better battery, and a stunning 6.5-inch display.
It may have a finicky fingerprint scanner, but the Sony Xperia 1 IV is well-designed for creative types and those who want to consume media, right down to the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The fast-moving Sony Xperia 1 IV is expensive, but it’s a true high-end device for the most part.
4. Sony Xperia PRO-I
Let’s start with a very special phone. It’s not the best Xperia, but it’s probably the most professional phone. The Xperia Pro-I is what Sony internally calls “The Camera”, and for good reason. The device features the same 1-inch sensor found in the award-winning compact camera Sony RX100 Mark VII.
The 12MP main camera also has two aperture settings of F/2.0 and F/4.0, and huge 2.4µm pixels. Everything about this phone is tailored for photography enthusiasts. There’s the new Videography Pro app, as well as the familiar Photo Pro and Cinema Pro.
As a phone, the Xperia Pro-I borrows almost all of its internals from the Xperia 1 III, which is not a bad thing. It’s got a Snapdragon 888 and 12GB of RAM. There’s a microSD card on board (a rarity these days), and a 3.5mm audio jack. The phone is also IP65/68 water and dust resistant.
5. Sony Xperia 1 III
The Sony Xperia 1 III is considered one of the best camera phones that utilizes the high-quality technology of Sony’s Alpha line.
The OLED display offers a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth video. The body is IP65/IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, and weighs around 180g.
In terms of performance, it is powered by the Snapdragon 888 chipset and comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, giving users ample space for apps and games.
The rear camera can record 4K video at up to 120 frames per second and supports NFC for seamless connectivity. The downside is that the external memory slot is combined with the SIM card, which might not be ideal for everyone, and there’s no infrared blaster either.
6. Sony Xperia 5 V
The Xperia 5 V perfectly embodies the idea of a “compact flagship”, with a 21:9 design, no notch or cutout, and a 3.5mm audio jack and microSD card slot, continuing to defy the mainstream. The model features the new and popular Exmor T camera sensor, which was first introduced on the Xperia 1 V earlier this year.
At the heart of the Xperia 5 V is the latest and greatest Qualcomm silicon, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Sony has made some updates to the cooling of the Xperia 5 series, and the phone now runs less hot than its predecessor.
The phone is a typical Xperia, with plenty of creator-focused pro software, and a 5,000 mAh battery that should last you almost two days. But there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that Sony has slightly reduced the price of the Xperia 5 V.
7. Sony Xperia 5 IV
Priced lower than the Sony Xperia 1 IV but with similar specs in many ways, the Xperia 5 IV comes very close to being the better phone, especially since it packs a 5,000mAh battery that offers excellent longevity.
The screen is also great. Sony has finally added wireless charging to its smaller flagship line, and it looks and feels great, while also packing plenty of power and slick software overall.
It’s still not the best value handset, though, and while the camera is packed with pro features, the Xperia 5 IV is limited to a 2.5x optical zoom, making it less adept at just point-and-shooting.
These and other minor issues are a bit of a turn-off, but as a compact flagship, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is one of the best.
8. Sony Xperia 5 III
The Sony Xperia 5 III comes with a minimalist design along with a solid build quality. The body is IP65/IP68 dust and water resistant.
Despite its bulky appearance, the phone is lightweight at just 168g. The 6.1-inch OLED display offers a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. Both the back and front are protected by Gorilla Glass 6.
The camera is powered by Zeiss technology and can record 4K video at up to 120 frames per second. Powered by the Snapdragon 888 chip, the performance is stable and includes WiFi 6 and NFC for seamless connectivity.
However, the microSD slot is shared with the SIM card, and the fingerprint sensor is on the side of the phone rather than under the display.
9. Sony Xperia 10 V
Sony did a great job with the Xperia 10 III and there were high expectations for its successor. The budget line seems to be selling well and for good reason. The packaging is great for the price. Then there was the Xperia 10 IV, which topped the charts with its amazing battery life.
The Xperia 10 V delivers a much-needed upgrade and makes the 10 series even more refined. You get the same 6-inch notchless OLED panel. It’s a real treat for a very affordable phone. The build quality and materials are slightly better and there’s more RAM than the previous generation.
There are some minor improvements here and there, but overall the spirit of this budget phone is the same. The sensor on the main camera is now larger, the display is 50% brighter and there are stereo front-facing speakers! It’s a treat for such a cheap phone.
One area where Sony has done a great job is battery life. Squeezing a 5,000mAh battery into the same body is no small feat (in fact, the Xperia 10 V is 1mm smaller than its predecessor). Combine that with a 60Hz OLED display and a decent chipset, and you get record-breaking battery life. Seriously, this phone is our new battery life champion.
There are some minor annoyances, like the aforementioned 60Hz refresh rate and the lack of 4K recording (thanks to the Snapdragon 695 chipset), but if you want a stylish phone that can last for days, the Xperia 10 V is one of the best choices.
10. Sony Xperia 1 II
Last but not least is the Sony Xperia 1 II. It excels at low-light photography, making it a reliable choice for those who enjoy capturing moments in dark environments.
The software experience is smooth thanks to the pure Android operating system. The design is compact yet sophisticated, and the lightweight construction weighing only 181g makes it highly portable.
The phone is IP65/IP68 certified and is well protected against dust and water. The OLED screen is bright and clear, and Gorilla Glass 6 provides additional protection.
Under the hood is the Snapdragon 865 for great performance, and the 12GB of RAM allows for smooth multitasking. The device also includes a variety of connectivity options, such as USB-C 3.1, NFC, and WiFi 6.
The downside is that the microSD slot shares space with the SIM card, and the screen refresh rate is stuck at 60Hz, which may not provide the smoothest scrolling experience.
11. Sony Xperia 10 IV
We always appreciate a solid mid-range phone, especially when it has the feel of a flagship. Not everyone can afford to spend a fortune on a new device, so we highly recommend the Sony Xperia 10 IV. It’s incredibly comfortable to hold, even for long periods of use, and more comfortable than many high-end phones.
Like the other phones on this list, the 10 IV has fantastic photography capabilities. It comes with a 12MP wide, 8MP telephoto, and 8MP ultra-wide triple-camera system, putting it on par with the Pixel 7a and OnePlus 12R in terms of being the best mid-rangers for taking high-quality photos.
This option also boasts a solid 5,000mAh battery that should get you through most of the day, and a bright OLED that offers a better content streaming experience than some of the flagships we’ve spent time with.
Before we continue, we should mention that we were a bit disappointed with the performance of the 10 IV, especially when it came to gaming.
While it’s a solid all-rounder in every other respect, it struggles to keep up with phones in its price range when it comes to tasks that demand more than the most basic mobile titles, which frankly isn’t surprising given its older chipset.
It’s also not the fastest when it comes to charging, with a measly 21W charging speed that falls far short of its competitors, so if you choose to use this phone while travelling, you’ll want to always bring a charging device with you.
Conclusion
The best Sony phones to buy in 2024/2025. This list is a work in progress, of course, and the Sony Xperia 1 VI has made its way to the top of our recommendations as the best Sony phone you can buy right now, as expected. Despite the screen downgrade.
Let’s hope Sony keeps up the momentum and bounces back from its market share slump. Xperia phones offer a unique perspective that helps the market. Needless to say, for dedicated Sony fans, every new model is the ultimate Sony phone, so a loyal fan base can help Sony Mobile get back to where it belongs.