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Sony Xperia 5 III review: 5 things I like and 3 that I don’t

The Sony Xperia 5 III is further proof that the Tokyo-based company is heading in the right direction, delivering utilitarian phones with amenities best appreciated by photographers, audiophiles, filmmakers and creative types. Here are five things I like about the Xperia 5 III and three things that could be improved. Patrick on Twitter: @trickholland Subscribe…

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The Sony Xperia 5 III is further proof that the Tokyo-based company is heading in the right direction, delivering utilitarian phones with amenities best appreciated by photographers, audiophiles, filmmakers and creative types. Here are five things I like about the Xperia 5 III and three things that could be improved.

Patrick on Twitter: @trickholland
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68 Comments

  1. Bradford Tiongko

    January 20, 2022 at 12:19 pm

    Sony is the only manufacturer left who makes flagships that include features that we used to expect when buying a phone: a headphone jack, expandable storage, and a charger in the box. It’s unfortunate that the release cycle for this phone was so botched, and we’re essentially getting it nearly a year after it was announced, but if the success of this phone (and the Xperia 1 series) means I’ll continue to see Sony release phones with the features I care about, then they have my money.

  2. ronch182

    January 20, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    If you’re any kind of camera user, you buy camera, not a phone to be your camera.

  3. luna eriku

    January 20, 2022 at 1:14 pm

    Got mine already. I luv it. And watching this with my xp5iii😁. Yeah I hope, sony will make a gud price and marketing one day

  4. Sarah kai

    January 20, 2022 at 1:57 pm

    Imagine a Sony phone with a Sony OLED, a Sony PS5 gaming capability, a Sony Alpha Camera capability, and Sony Speakers, and a better branding / naming.

  5. FOSTER MTB

    January 20, 2022 at 2:27 pm

    Ron?

    • WhatsApp ➕1④⓪⑤⑧⑦⑦②③⑦①

      January 20, 2022 at 2:38 pm

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  6. Ondra Wilson

    January 20, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    Price, battery, charging, and software ruins this phone. Has all the niceties but it’s too expensive to not be nearly perfect

  7. vall 77

    January 20, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    The price and the fact that nolite doesn’t perform well that’s it that’s that’s all it is for me it’s perfect it might be worth it just to get it for the size cuz phones are way too big nowadays they’re entering tablet territory

  8. Natito Alvarez

    January 20, 2022 at 4:01 pm

    The price is high but have what I want… headphone jack, sd card 🤷🏾‍♂️

    • M S T

      January 20, 2022 at 10:29 pm

      Yea headphone jack is a must since i only use iem. There r places where i cant bring my dac everywhere so it would be pretty convenient

    • Kongen Gorm

      January 20, 2022 at 11:37 pm

      And if you use it for 2-3 years it’s totally worth it. If you are a trendy fellow then yeah better skip it. Sd card ftw.

  9. physics77guy

    January 20, 2022 at 4:02 pm

    whats wrong with cnet… when sony makes long phone they don’t like it when they make small phones they don’t like it despite it being the size of iPhone 13 pro…. but they were all raving about iPhone mini and how the size is perfect…..lol….funny

    • M S T

      January 20, 2022 at 10:32 pm

      Cz it’s apple lol

  10. Carlton Jones

    January 20, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    I have the Xperia 1 iii. I like it, but for 1300, mixing features. and the Xperia 5 iii, are missing even more features, for other phones in the same price bracket. (no wireless charging, no facial unlock, are two big ones) but I do enjoy the headphone jacks, and the expandable memory, dual sims – all depends on one, needs!

  11. SSS

    January 20, 2022 at 4:47 pm

    Nice, but it is already old smartphone in today’s world run.

  12. Scrap Bongo

    January 20, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Thanks for the review /cheers ScrapBongo Liked

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      January 20, 2022 at 5:14 pm

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  13. YoMy Zigga

    January 20, 2022 at 5:36 pm

    Zenfone 8

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  14. Max T

    January 20, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    For some reason, Sony is being discriminated against by the phone companies. I see all kinds of premium and junky no-name phones on AT&T’s website but never any Sony’s.

  15. Lorenzo C. Sereno

    January 20, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    Patrick is easily my most favorite CNET video host

  16. Mi Box

    January 20, 2022 at 9:26 pm

    CNET videos have a bad habit of either not telling us the price or a vague estimate of the price.

  17. Tec em dia

    January 20, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    👏 👏 👏

  18. David Jamgochian

    January 20, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    is Small

  19. Adam Phillips

    January 20, 2022 at 10:31 pm

    Question – if this was discounted to the same price as the Asus Zenfone 8, which would give me a better small android phone experience?

    • M S T

      January 20, 2022 at 10:41 pm

      Xperia 5iii
      U ll ve
      slightly better display better battery life
      Better camera
      Better speakers
      Better built quality
      Headphone jack, sd slot

  20. Rich V

    January 20, 2022 at 11:27 pm

    A $1000 phone that doesn’t shoot video. Next

    • Macht Schnell

      January 21, 2022 at 6:44 am

      No, it shoots video in two modes but omits a 3rd mode in it’s more expensive models.

    • Chris R

      January 21, 2022 at 8:04 am

      It shoots very good video in the photo app… And 120Hz 4k video in the Cinema Pro app… But it uses all the same hardware as Sony’s Professional range… So could run the Video Pro app too, but it’s not included, which what the reviewer was complaining about… At least you still get to choose if you want natural colours (Pixel) or over saturated (Apple/Samsung).

  21. jMon

    January 20, 2022 at 11:39 pm

    this phone is definitely worth considering!

  22. glbernini0

    January 21, 2022 at 12:36 am

    Thanks for not actually listing the size or the price???? Thumbs down for keeping the most important info. secret!!!

  23. J. Casalino

    January 21, 2022 at 12:56 am

    Very happy with the 5 iii so far. It’s got the trifecta I was waiting for. Headphone jack, SD card slot, and <70mm wide. Very few of today's phones fit that bill. I tried the Pixel 6 (non-Pro) but it was just a behemoth. Heavy, unwieldy, uncomfortable to hold for any period of time. Photos were nothing special. I sent it back and waited for this one.

    It's the first phone I've had in several years that I don't have to charge every night. Speed is great, though I had some issues with random data disconnects on the T-Mobile network. A quick Reddit search led me to what seems to be a good solution - updating the APN and blocking the phone from using battery optimizations for the cell service. Camera I'm still getting used to, and as a left-hander the power/fingerprint sensor falls exactly where I want to grab the phone, leading to occasional unintended unlocks. Still need to do some testing with lossless audio.

    Great upgrade from my old LG G7; it's almost exactly the same size and weight.

    • Gregory Lopez

      January 21, 2022 at 4:42 am

      Ha – we’re tech twins! I also got the 5III as an upgrade to the LG G7, and experienced the same disconnect problems on T-Mobile.

    • Craig Casper

      January 21, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      @Gregory Lopez ok, this is creepy, I have the G7 and am considering this as the replacement.

    • J. Casalino

      January 22, 2022 at 5:23 am

      @Gregory Lopez Great minds! Since I used the reddit data fix I’ve not seen any more disconnects or issues with MMS messages. Give it a shot if you haven’t already!

    • Almost Smart

      January 23, 2022 at 9:03 am

      Can’t blame you there I bought the pixel 6 and had to sell it immediately. I went back to the pixel 5 which is an amazing device that’s easy to keep in your pocket and is all around a way better device. I’m interested in the Sony Xperia 5 III but I want the price to come down considering it’s lacking things like wireless charging etc.

  24. ChinaFukr69 Kack

    January 21, 2022 at 4:12 am

    Awesome phone, I’ll stick to the Xperia 5ii.

  25. Anhhuy Dang

    January 21, 2022 at 4:24 am

    I want this phone so bad but should I wait for the s22 🤔

  26. Macht Schnell

    January 21, 2022 at 6:32 am

    I thought I saw it for $800 in the USA?

    Pixel 6, ignoring all other problems it has, just produces gimmicky over processed images. The photos briefly seen in this review had breath taking and correct color balance. Yeah, real cameras do not work where there is no light. Duh!

    • Roman Shocker

      January 21, 2022 at 3:38 pm

      Pixel is also having a lot of software issues now

    • әʞız zʇuәlqoɔ

      January 21, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      Yes it’s available for $800

  27. Eric Nolasco

    January 21, 2022 at 10:38 am

    Looking like Ron Jeremy’s younger brother

  28. olzt100

    January 21, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Today’s phone market is rather silly. Notice he’s talkin about a phone during the entire video and there’s no mention of texting or calls or anything related to the phone Network. Does the phone speakers have good clarity? Maybe everyone is just going to use Bluetooth on it.

  29. Howard Tan

    January 21, 2022 at 2:05 pm

    I like your reviews very natural unlike tech vloggers

  30. Jay Gab

    January 21, 2022 at 5:21 pm

    Ron Jeremy Jr.?

  31. Aravind Vinayakan

    January 21, 2022 at 9:33 pm

    I can’t wait till the 1 iv 😫

  32. T J

    January 21, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    How is the battery? I heard it doesn’t hold as good as the 5 II. Can some users share the stats?

    • G. Martinez

      January 23, 2022 at 7:30 am

      Personally I get about 6-7 hrs as a heavy user. I haven’t tried with stamina phone at 15%. Granted. I let it get down to 5%. Only because I’m pushing it to its limit. I use 120hz, 240hz touch sampling while gaming, and with razer kishi the hs power controls.

    • G. Martinez

      January 23, 2022 at 7:30 am

      Screen on time I should mention I get 6-7

    • T J

      January 23, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      @G. Martinez That’s nice. I think 6-7 hrs are after the latest updates then. Many reviewers claimed 4-5 hrs of SoT in total. You said you’re using at 120Hz. So I guess it is possible to get additional 1-2 hours in normal 60Hz refresh.

  33. Craig Casper

    January 21, 2022 at 10:17 pm

    *sadness* if the price was realistic I would get this in a hot second. It costs too much, compared to what else is out there, for what you get. ^shrugs^ Maybe someday Sony will figure out capitalism.

  34. Martin Holáň

    January 21, 2022 at 10:27 pm

    The zoom sensor is not that great. Better than S21 but still shait .

  35. Wilmer Blanco

    January 21, 2022 at 11:51 pm

    Why is video available only in 480p? 🤔

  36. billy toffingham

    January 22, 2022 at 12:27 am

    Patrick’s back ….woo hoo

  37. florin ivan

    January 22, 2022 at 6:59 am

    Nice video!
    What is the best for the Sony smartphones is the shutter button combined with natural colors of the pictures.
    Where they loose?
    – price,
    – not a good auto and computational mode compare to the big competitors that can help everyone to make easy good pictures.
    – night shoots are realistic but peoples prefere false one’s
    My last Sony phones was Z3 and Z1 compact.

    • Little patience for self righteous moral hypocrites

      January 23, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      I agree that price is a problem. You are dead right there. They have to lower the prices if they ever want to increase volume sales of their phones. But as for the camera I cannot agree because they are deliberately making a manual and more natural camera experience. They are purposefully making a more camera like experience. Hence why they are not leaning heavily on computational software. And that is exactly what I both want and like. Now do most people prefer fake saturated pictures? Probably yes. But that is also because they have been essentially conditioned to like it. It’s what people know and are used to. Doesn’t mean that cannot be changed. Plus it also doesn’t mean that there are not a LOT of people…. especially those into photography and videography that who do like a more natural and camera/manual focused approach. It’s just a question of what you like.

  38. Simon Holmes-Evans

    January 22, 2022 at 7:08 am

    Bought one in Australia to replace HTC U11 Plus and loving it

  39. namelesssnitchy

    January 22, 2022 at 9:31 am

    Agree. Sony makes perfect hardware devices. but they should compete with google samsung and apple in the stock camera app. user friendliness etc etc. you can do it sony!

  40. bifkinuk

    January 22, 2022 at 5:01 pm

    Didn’t know Ron Jeremy did reviews as well

  41. Ataur Rong

    January 22, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    Love sony

  42. UnboxingMania

    January 22, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    Love your Xperia reviews!!

  43. Digitech

    January 24, 2022 at 1:47 pm

    If it can 50x or 100x zoom i will buy it. Nowadays I feel like spying on people.

  44. Mahesh Bhattarai

    January 24, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    Where did Lexy go ? Is she still at cnet ? I haven’t seen certain people lately from cnet like Iyaz, Bridget, is Scott still around? Of course, and I dunno where Jessica went ? Is CNET moving people around?🤔 There is still a mystery to why Bryan Tong left, Hopefully his channel is up & running. I know Dong used to review gadgets like SSD, I do see 👀 Dan review some Laptops once a while, We like to see everyone.

  45. John Zaleski

    January 25, 2022 at 12:21 am

    Patrick looks like he should be vacationing with Mark on Wolters World. Mark could be the travel guy and Patrick the tech guy on the trip

  46. Me and Myself

    January 25, 2022 at 7:54 am

    Sony phones look good but not many people interesting

  47. Dendrobium Luz

    January 25, 2022 at 10:11 am

    I am watching with Pro-I…

  48. hamza k

    January 25, 2022 at 7:47 pm

    Watching this on my Sony Xperia z3 compact, even this phone has some best photography features. Sony is marvelous. May God help me I want to upgrade to this. One day

  49. Juan MunozSandoval

    January 26, 2022 at 12:45 am

    I got a pixel 6 pro two months ago but I can´t handle the gigantic size of it, I am thinking seriously about selling it in order to buy this sony phone, in your opinion screen quality differences and camera differences are that much that is not a good idea?

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