Comparing Sony’s smartphones has never been easier

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Name	Product	Display	Display	Rear camera	Battery size	Overall rating	More info	More info
Sony Xperia 1		6.5 inches	Display 6.5 inches Rear camera 12MP + 12MP + 12MP Battery size 3,330 mAh	12MP + 12MP + 12MP	3,330 mAh	Not yet rated	View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XA2		5.2 inches 1080 x 1920px	Display 5.2 inches 1080 x 1920 Rear camera 23MP Battery size 3,300 mAh	23MP	3,300 mAh		Buy at Amazon View details	Buy at Amazon View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact		5 inches	Display 5 inches Rear camera 19MP Battery size 2,870 mAh	19MP	2,870 mAh		View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia 10 Plus		6.5 inches Full HDpx	Display 6.5 inches Full HD Rear camera 12MP + 8MP Battery size 3,000 mAh	12MP + 8MP	3,000 mAh	Not yet rated	View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra		6 inches 1080 x 1920px	Display 6 inches 1080 x 1920 Rear camera 23MP Battery size 2,700 mAh	23MP	2,700 mAh	Not yet rated	Buy at eBay View details	Buy at eBay View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XZ3		6 inches 1440 x 2880px	Display 6 inches 1440 x 2880 Rear camera 19MP Battery size 3,330 mAh	19MP	3,330 mAh	Not yet rated	Buy at Catch View details	Buy at Catch View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia L3		5.7 inches HDpx	Display 5.7 inches HD Rear camera 13MP + 2MP Battery size 3,300 mAh	13MP + 2MP	3,300 mAh	Not yet rated	View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XA1		5 inches 720 x 1280px	Display 5 inches 720 x 1280 Rear camera 23MP Battery size 2,300 mAh	23MP	2,300 mAh	Not yet rated	View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XZ2		5.7 inches 1080 x 2160px	Display 5.7 inches 1080 x 2160 Rear camera 19MP Battery size 3,180 mAh	19MP	3,180 mAh		Buy at Amazon View details	Buy at Amazon View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia XZ Premium		5.5 inches 2160 x 3840px	Display 5.5 inches 2160 x 3840 Rear camera 19MP Battery size 3,230 mAh	19MP	3,230 mAh		Buy at ebay View details	Buy at ebay View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Sony Xperia 10		6 inches Full HDpx	Display 6 inches Full HD Rear camera 13MP + 5MP Battery size 2,870 mAh	13MP + 5MP	2,870 mAh	Not yet rated	View details	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What to consider when choosing a Sony phone

Shopping for a high-end smartphone can be daunting. Complex jargon and slick-sounding buzz terms make every handset seem like a miracle of technology. Parsing fact from fiction can be tricky for even the most tech-savvy consumer, so we've run down the key features you'll want to focus on when comparing Sony smartphones:

• Internal storage

  Sony's latest Xperia handsets are typically available with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage only. While this might seem small compared to the 128GB+ included with the latest phones from Apple and Samsung, most Xperia handsets come with a microSD card slot for expanding their storage by 256GB or more. Since you can pick up microSD cards relatively cheap these days, the amount of internal storage an Xperia handset comes with needn't be a make-or-break factor.

• Screen size

  Settling on a particular screen size isn't as simple as following the "bigger is better" mantra. Larger screens might be great for watching Netflix or playing games, but that's a small consolation if your phone no longer fits in your pocket or even your hands. Fortunately, the Xperia line spans a wide range of screen sizes, from slim 5-inch handsets up to 6-inch behemoths.

• Price

  Like most Sony technology, Xperia smartphones are premium devices and come with price tags that reflect this. Buying the latest top-of-the-line Xperia handset will typically set you back around $1,000, though you can avoid paying the full amount upfront by purchasing the phone on contract with an Australian mobile provider. Of course, this often means locking yourself into both phone and plan repayments for 24 months or more which can prove quite costly in the long run.

  Alternatively, you can look at purchasing a mid-range or older Xperia handset rather than springing for the latest and greatest. Even models from just a year ago can be several hundreds of dollars cheaper.

• Headphone jack

  As is sadly the norm these days, many modern smartphones are ditching the standard 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of Bluetooth-only audio output. Sony appears to be following this trend, with the latest Xperia XZ2 line doing away with the familiar port. However, other Xperia handsets like the XA2 or older XZ models do sport the headphone jack, so you still have options if you're not a fan of Bluetooth headsets.

• Security options

  Between online shopping, mobile banking and private emails, our phones handle a lot of our personal information, so it's critical that they ensure this information is adequately secure. Along with the standard security features built into the Android operating system, Sony's Xperia handsets include a fingerprint sensor that helps you prevent unauthorised people from unlocking your phone and accessing your data.

• Camera quality

  Thanks to Sony's experience manufacturing high-end digital and DSLR cameras, its Xperia phones have the chops to take some impressive photos and videos. Whether you're after a wide-angle lens, the ability to capture 4K HDR video or shoot in super-slow-motion, you'll find an Xperia handset fit to replace most dedicated handheld cameras.

• Selfie camera quality

  As with most modern phones, the front-facing camera on Xperia handsets is never quite as fancy as the primary rear-facing one, but Sony does offer one neat feature that the competition doesn't. Newer Xperia models include a wide-angle lens on the front camera, allowing for larger group selfie shots than are possible on the average smartphone.

• Network speed and support

  Fast mobile Internet requires more than just a high-speed 4G connection. To take full advantage of that speed, a phone must have a sufficiently-powerful modem. The modems included in Xperia handsets can vary significantly from model to model, with some as low as Category 4 and others as high as Category 18. For more insight into how these different categories impact browsing the Internet on the go, take a look at our Network Category speeds guide.

• Wireless charging

  With the XZ2, Sony added support for wireless charging via the Qi wireless power standard. Earlier Xperia handsets are limited to traditional wired charging, so if you're dead set on ditching wires, you'll need to spring for the XZ2.

• Battery life

  Sony has put a lot of effort into shoring up battery performance in its latest Xperia handsets, ensuring they can make it through a full day on a single charge without issue. Newer handsets also boast features like Adaptive Charging, which promises to prolong battery lifespan by monitoring its health, and a dedicated "Stamina" mode, which minimises battery drain by disabling services you don't need or use.

  Recent Xperia handsets also benefit from Qualcomm quick charging, which can recharge an Xperia handset with hours' worth of power in just a few minutes.

• Waterproof design

  After spending hundreds of dollars on a new smartphone, the last thing you want is for a tiny drop of water to squeeze between the seams and turn your purchase into an expensive paperweight. That's why it's important to check the IP rating of a handset before laying down your hard-earned cash. Pay special attention when considering Sony's Xperia handsets: while newer models sport a rating of IP65/68 for protection against water jets and submersion up to 1m, some handsets come with no official water resistance at all.

  If you're curious about IP ratings, check out our guide to waterproof phones.

• Performance

  Sony's Xperia handsets tend to deliver higher-than-average performance compared to other smartphones in the same price range. This is an attractive selling point for anyone fed up with the sluggish response times and intermittent crashing of less-powerful smartphones.

  That said, it's always important to read reviews to get a clearer picture of what "performance" actually means. Benchmarks and test results can be helpful with this, which is why you'll find them in our own reviews of phones like the Xperia XZ2, the Xperia XA2 and the Xperia XZ2 Compact.

Which Sony phone is best?

First things first: there is no one "best" phone for everybody. Factors like how you use your phone, what your budget is and your love (or hatred) for big screens all influence what phone is most likely to meet your needs. Nevertheless, we've spent a lot of time testing and reviewing phones over the years, and we feel this puts us in a position to recommend handsets worth your time and money.

Just remember to weigh our recommendations against your specific needs before making a buying decision.

Note: Sony hasn't released a new phone in Australia for quite some time, so many of our recommendations are phones released in 2018 or earlier. Bear this in mind if you're looking for a handset equipped with the latest in smartphone technology.

Finder's pick

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

A pint-sized premium phone without compromise

A slim exterior hides plenty of power in Sony's Xperia XZ2 Compact smartphone.

While we had a few gripes with Sony's Xperia XZ2 smartphone, we were far more impressed by its smaller sibling, the Xperia XZ2 Compact. Comfortable to hold and packing excellent performance on par with many larger, more-expensive handsets, the XZ2 Compact represents top value for those after a smaller smartphone that doesn't short-change you on performance.

Read our full review of the Xperia XZ2 Compact here

Best Sony phone for photography

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

A premium experience across the board

A powerful and feature-packed camera is just one of the impressive features that justifies the Premium in Sony's Xperia XZ Premium smartphone.

Buy Now

Despite being a year old at this point, the Xperia XZ Premium still represents the best option for photography enthusiasts keen on a Sony smartphone. Its 19MP front-facing camera exhibits none of the wonkiness we experienced with the more recent Xperia XZ2, and its support for 4K video recording and HDR photo capture remains a standout feature even among the latest competing handsets.

Read our full review of the Xperia XZ Premium here

Best cheap Sony phone

Sony Xperia XA2

Great performance at an affordable price

With the Xperia XA2, Sony delivers a capable mid-range handset with top-notch battery life and a price tag that won't send you broke.

Buy Now

Sony doesn't exactly make "cheap" phones, but by smartphone standards, the Xperia XA2 is quite affordable – especially if you shop around. Affordability doesn't come at the expense of quality, either, as the Xperia XA2 combines solid performance and a powerful 23MP camera with a high-capacity battery that leaves competing handsets in the dust.

Read our full review of the Xperia XA2 here

Looking for a Sony phone on a plan?

Unfortunately, there are no Sony plans currently available from Australian telcos.

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Matt Sayer

Matt Sayer is a writer for Finder, covering all things technology and telecommunications. Along with reporting on events like CES and Mobile World Congress, he has produced comprehensive guides for popular products like smart speakers and graphics cards. He has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about helping Aussies leverage technology to better their lives.

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