Sony Launches Xperia 1 III and 5 III, Unbelievable Camera Capabilities
April 14, 2021Sony has finally unveiled its flagship smartphones for this year, the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III. And they are nothing short of breathtaking. Geared toward pro photo and videography, the phones feature adjustable lenses and novel AI tech. The company has kept the candybar styled design of their predecessors, however the phones look a little sleeker and with thinner bezels.
Both phone feature the latest OLED displays but the Xperia I III gets a 6.5-inch, 4K HDR unit with 120Hz refresh rate. It’s smaller sibling is fitted with a 6.1-inch HDR OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. Surprisingly, they have a “Creator Mode”, which allows them to produce highly accurate white point which mirrors the colour reproduction of Sony professional colour monitors.
They also have the same X1 for mobile engine which incorporates BRAVIA HDR remastering technology of their predecessors. This coupled with the Dolby Atmos tuned front firing speakers, provides users with an immensely immersive experience. There’s also 360 spatial Sound, a feature that upmixes your music to make it feel more realistic.
In addition to this, there’s also DSEE Ultimate which enhances the quality of digital music using Sony AI technology, including audio and video streaming services. It automatically improves audio frequency and dynamic range in real-time. Believe it or not, these flagship devices are fitted with the 3.5mm jack, because Sony knows how much you love high definition music.
Xperia 1 III
Despite how good all this sounds, the main appeal of the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III, is the camera hardware. The trio of camera sensors have been designed and built to perform just like Sony’s Alpha 9 Series cameras. The BIONZ X™ processor enables users to shoot in low-light scenarios in Burst Mode for the first time, producing results with noise reduction.
Real-Time Tracking, allowing users to shoot the most challenging moving subjects in precise focus. Then there’s a variable telephoto lens paired with a Dual PD sensor that reaches up to a 105mm focal length. When switching between 70mm and 105mm, the focus is adjusted in an instant. You can also adjust the focal length to 16mm, 24mm, 70mm and 105mm.
Both devices also get ZEISS optics calibrated specifically for the Xperia smartphone. The ZEISS T* coating contributes to better rendering and contrast by reducing reflections. AI super resolution zoom allows users to zoom in on a subject, without losing much detail because it tries to restore detail and definition to images when possible.
Sony has also given the phones many of the manual controls available in Alpha series cameras including ISO, shutter speed, EV Indicator, RAW support plus a dedicated shutter button. Users can also check the perimeters of their recordings because each clip’s parameter details now include resolution, FPS, lens, stabiliser, WB, ISO, shutter angle/ speed, focus and audio level.
Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 888, which has the Kryo 680 CPU and Adreno 660 GPU making them about 35% faster than last year’s devices. The Xperia 1 III’s front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. However, the Xperia 5 III gets Gorilla Glass 6. Battery capacity for both are pegged at 4,500mAh with wireless charging capabilities.
The included fast charger allows both phones to be charged up to 50% in just 30 minutes. Xperia Adaptive Charging works by monitoring the phone as it charges, to make sure the battery isn’t overworked. This is said to allow the battery health to last for 3 yeas, which is something unheard of in this day and age.
When plugged in, the phones are powered directly from the power souce instead of the battery. This will allow users to play games or crunch through demanding tasks without overworking the battery. There’s also an innovative cooling solution that keeps both devices cool, regardless of what they are asked to do.
Xperia 1 III will be available in Frosted Black and Frosted Purple here in Malaysia from end of July. The Xperia 5 III will be available in Green in Malaysia from September. Prices will be announced at a later date.
