SpecEagle
SpecEagle review · Sony

Xperia 1 III review: The first variable-periscope 4K 120 Hz flagship.

SpecEagle Editorial·Aug 2021·$1,299
Overall
78/100
Class rank
#129 of 206
Tier
Flagship
Buy?
At the right price
The verdict, up front

A camera-and-display showcase for enthusiasts.

Xperia 1 III delivered a 4K 120 Hz screen and a variable periscope no one else matched. Built for pros who wanted a jack and microSD on a flagship.

01Display

90/100

90/100 puts it above the 85-point average for flagship phones of 2021.

Type4K OLED HDR, 120 Hz
Size6.5 inches (21:9)
Resolution3,840 × 1,644 px

02Camera

82/100

82/100 puts it above the 78-point average for flagship phones of 2021.

Main12 MP, f/1.7, OIS
Ultrawide12 MP
Variable periscope12 MP, 70 mm + 105 mm
3D iToFYes

03Performance

78/100

78/100 trails the 83-point cohort average for flagship phones of 2021.

ChipsetSnapdragon 888 (5 nm)
RAM12 GB
Storage256 / 512 GB + microSD

04Battery

76/100

76/100 trails the 79-point cohort average for flagship phones of 2021.

Capacity4,500 mAh
Wired30 W
WirelessYes

05Build

84/100

84/100 puts it above the 81-point average for flagship phones of 2021.

06Value

66/100

66/100 is one of the weaker value results among flagship phones of 2021 — 8 points under the average. Check the rows below before buying for this.

What works
  • Only 4K 120 Hz phone display.
  • Variable 70/105 mm periscope.
  • Headphone jack + microSD on a flagship.
  • Front stereo speakers.
What doesn't
  • SD888 thermals.
  • Pro camera UI steep.
  • 21:9 awkward.
  • Expensive + niche.
Cross-shop it against
Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G
$1200 · score 89/100

How this review is built: every section score, spec row and comparison on this page comes from SpecEagle's tracked catalogue — scores weight measured specs against the 206-phone cohort of flagship devices released around the same time. We don't publish invented lab anecdotes. Spot an error? .