Sony Releases Xperia 5 III Smartphone, Great for Content Creators and Gamers

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Published on January 11, 2022
Christopher Piccione
Adorama ALC

With the new Sony Xperia 5 III Smartphone, the trusted and reputable company continues to push the limits of what its technology can do — and its loyal customers couldn’t be happier. 

The Xperia 5 III offers incredible performance in a mobile phone that goes above and beyond expectations. It offers rapid AF speed, 5G connectivity, and impressive battery life. This is all while combining the latest Sony technologies in a compact design that comfortably fits in your hand. Let’s discuss everything we know about this feature-packed phone so far.

Photo from Sony

Key Features of the Sony Xperia 5 III:

  • Real-time eye-AF, variable telephoto lens, and dual PD sensor
  • 360 Reality Audio, 360 Spatial Sound up-mixing
  • 120Hz 6.1” HDR OLED display, 21:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 
  • Four focal lengths on a triple camera system, Object tracking
  • Custom display, audio, and microphone settings for gamers
  • Use as an external monitor
  • IP65/68 water and dust resistance
  • 5G connectivity and speed
  • 4500mAh battery with fast charging
  • Internal memory up to 512GB, MicroSD slot

The Xperia 5 III, Sony’s latest 5G smartphone, is a follow-up to the Xperia 5 II. It’s packed with features for photographers, cinephiles, and gamers alike. You get a wide range of imaging capabilities with the triple rear 12MP lenses and ZEISS optics. This phone has a lot to offer, including subject tracking, SteadyShot 4K video, and low-light support.

Design

With Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on the front and back, as well as a metal frame, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a smartphone that boasts a glossy finish. Sony has also included a 3.5mm minijack connector on the top of the phone, which is a valued feature for many audiophiles.

Probably the most noticeable part of the design is the 21:9 aspect ratio. This results in a taller phone, but not as wide, making it easier to operate with one hand. The front camera sits next to the speaker above the screen. Similarly to the Xperia 5 II, the camera module sits in the upper left corner of the back of the phone.

The Xperia 5 III will be available in two colors: black and purple. On the right side of the phone, there is a fingerprint reader built into the power button. In addition, you will find a dedicated volume and camera button.

Photo from Sony

Display

The 21:9 OLED screen on the Xperia 5 III comes with FHD+ resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. When using Creator Mode, the full power of the display is unlocked, enabling image reproduction to be as color-accurate and lifelike as possible. The widescreen provides a wider color space, while 10-bit HDR provides more detailed reproduction of color transitions.

With the 21:9 format, you can run two apps simultaneously in the 21:9 multi-window mode. Sony’s Side Sense feature makes it easy to access apps by placing your finger along the edge of the screen. When watching supported Netflix content, Sony’s screen provides an anamorphic viewing experience — as if you were in the theater.  

Performance

Considering the Xperia 5 III is a flagship device, it’s no surprise it packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 5G chip. As a result, it delivers excellent performance that can handle the most intensive games or apps with ease, such as Call of Duty Mobile. Power, gorgeous display, and a great speaker make the Xperia 5 III a more than capable gaming phone.

The included quick charger can charge the 4500mAh battery to 50% in 30 minutes. Sony’s concern is long-term battery health, not the fastest charging speed available. Users are encouraged to charge their phones slowly and carefully using the Xperia Adaptive Charging feature. If you want your phone to charge quickly, you can always turn the feature off. Enabling it, however, will prevent the battery from being overworked, resulting in a longer-lasting battery.

Camera and Audio

Using quality headphones with your Sony Xperia 5 III enhances the cinematic experience you get from its 21:9 aspect ratio. The Xperia 5 III supports Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, including Sony’s LDAC format and DSEE Ultimate technology, as well as 360 Spatial Sound. 

Listening to 360 Spatial Sound will give you a 3D-like experience, which should make your music feel as if you were listening to it live. There are multiple streaming services that offer 360 Spatial Sound, including Tidal, Apple Music, and Deezer.

Additionally, the Xperia 5 III features three cameras: a 12 megapixel 24mm wide-angle lens, a 16mm ultra-wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens. The telephoto lens has a variable focal length that can change smoothly from 70 to 105mm. This is Sony’s alternative to a traditional optical zoom and it works incredibly fast. Furthermore, all three lenses feature Dual Phase Detection Autofocus, which produces super sharp images, even in low light situations.

Photo from Sony

Camera App

The Photography Pro camera app has completely replaced the regular camera app. The software basically has the same user interface as Sony’s Alpha cameras. Therefore, it offers manual settings for exposure, white balance, shutter speed, etc. It also features Real-time Eye-AF, which tracks and focuses on the subject’s eyes in real-time.

For videographers and creators, there’s also the Cinema Pro app which enables you to record 2K 120 fps 10 bit HDR and 21:9 4K HDR at 24, 25, 30, and 60 fps respectively. In addition, 4K HDR 120 fps slow motion. The “Looks” feature in Cinema Pro allows users to adjust color curves, contrast, and saturation. You’ll be able to create, edit, and upload cinematic-looking videos in a 21:9 format directly from your smartphone without having to apply LUTs later.

Wrapping Up

Fans of Sony’s Xperia lineup and those who wish to have more flexibility without carrying around extra gear will appreciate Sony’s Xperia 5 III Smartphone. If you’re a gamer looking for an OLED screen with a high refresh rate, or if you’re looking for pro camera features, then look no further. The Sony Xperia 5 III is a wise choice for your next upgrade.

Christopher is a freelance podcast and video editor, actor, and screenplay writer living in New York City. He is incredibly passionate about traveling, hobby photography, and filmmaking when he can afford it. A fan of dogs, cats, & a mean burrito. You can occasionally catch him on TV, the silver screen, or a film festival near you.