The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Le Parisien tested: the Sony Xperia 5 III, small format and maximum price

2022-01-12T11:04:51.563Z


A high-end and compact Android phone: this proposition is not common in the world of this OS. This is what Sony offers with


Everyone knows the Sony brand.

But not many people use their smartphones.

For those who did not know it, the Japanese manufacturer launches, each year, several mobile phones.

Evidenced by the recent release of the Xperia 5 III (pronounced "X-Peria Mark Three").

A high-end device, which succeeds the Xperia 5 II.

To differentiate itself, the Japanese firm offers a unique score: a compact 21: 9 format and a “professional” approach to photography… A convincing proposition?

Answer in this test.

We liked

A big yes for this small format.

Like its predecessor, which we put to the test last year, the Xperia 5 III has modest dimensions (15.7 cm high, barely 6.8 cm wide) and a light weight (168 g) .

The phone is very pleasant to handle, even with one hand.

A unique and well thought-out design, while many Android smartphones tend to be overweight.

The device is elegant and refined.

Finishes with small onions.

As usual, Sony gives us a perfectly finished device, which is adorned with a shiny glass back and aluminum contours. It's sober, it's premium, we love it. Another good point: it is resistant to water and dust (certified IP65 / 68). The more fussy will notice that the phone catches fingerprints. And that the rear photo unit protrudes slightly from the hull. But nothing really shocking, in our eyes.

A very good screen.

Sony has chosen an excellent 6.1-inch Full HD + Oled panel, in an elongated 21: 9 aspect ratio, with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz (not adaptive to activity, however).

The maximum brightness rises high, allowing reading in bright sunlight without difficulty.

The black borders surrounding the screen are still quite thick, but that does not affect the immersion.

A long Oled screen.

Solid performance.

Equipped with a Snapdragon 888 processor, coupled with 8 GB of RAM, the Sony phone is very swift in everyday tasks and runs all the greedy games with ease.

Which is the least for a premium phone.

On the memory side, we are entitled to 128 GB of storage, which can be extended via a micro SD card.

Also note: Sony has integrated a jack plug, for fans of wired headsets and headphones, which is rare on this range of smartphones.

We liked less

A complicated photo app.

Where many manufacturers, such as Google with its Pixels, rely on software processing to enhance photos, Sony takes a more classic approach by focusing on hardware.

But also on the know-how of the users, who are invited to define several parameters according to the scene to be shot, as one would do with a “real” camera.

As a result, the photo application is complex to understand as the adjustment possibilities are so sophisticated and the modes numerous… Quite confusing for neophytes.

And frustrating when, looking for the best fit, we miss a moment that deserves to be photographed.

The Sony Xperia 5 III has three photo modules of 12 megapixels each.

The disappointing night photos.

The device has three modules on the back: an ultra-wide-angle, a main sensor and a telephoto lens, all of which are 12 megapixels. During the day, the Sony phone takes beautiful photos, although you should not zoom in too much in the image otherwise you will lose details. The colors, neutral without being dull, are true to life and the complex scenes well handled most of the time. We also appreciate the effectiveness of burst mode, which allows you to capture moving subjects. At night, on the other hand, the phone offers an average result compared to the competition. The pictures keep beautiful colors, but they are too often blurry ... This is undoubtedly the time needed to trigger the shooting, a little long ...

Night photos too often tend to drool, despite the beautiful colors.

Ultra wide angle.

By day, the result is satisfactory.

Main sensor.

Zoom (optical) x2.9.

Zoom (optical) X4.4.

Zoom (digital) X12.

Too many physical buttons.

This is a defect that we had already observed on the Xperia 5 II: Sony has cluttered the right edge of keys ... There are four: the volume buttons, the one dedicated to the power supply (with the integrated fingerprint sensor ), a button to activate the Google Assistant and a last button to take a photo (required in Auto and Manual mode).

This cluster of touches can destabilize and it is not uncommon to confuse them.

There are too many buttons concentrated on the right edge.

We get lost a bit ...

A slow charge

.

The phone, equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery, has an honorable autonomy: in mixed use, screen at 60 Hz, and without forcing too much, you should easily reach the day and a half.

The problem rather comes from recharging, which is very slow: it takes 30 minutes to barely recover 50% and… 1 hour and 50 minutes to refuel.

Far, therefore top names in the field, like the Xiaomi Mi 11T Pro which needs less than 20 minutes to be fully ...

Verdict

The Xperia 5 III has undeniable qualities, starting with its pleasant compact size and attractive finishes.

But it also has notable flaws, first of all its photo application which will put off novices, night shots below the competition or its very slow load.

Given its high price (999 euros), it is difficult to recommend this device to as many people as possible.

Photography enthusiasts could however find their account there, as well as consumers looking for an Android phone with reduced dimensions.

Sony Xperia 5 III,

5G, mini-jack port, NFC.

8 GB of RAM + 128 GB of expandable storage.

Possibility to insert a second SIM card.

Two colors available: green and black.

999 euros.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2022-01-12

You may like

Life/Entertain 2024-02-09T16:25:08.012Z

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.