Sony's history in the mobile phone market extends all the way back to the early 2000s, when it sold pre-smartphone handsets under the Sony Ericsson brand.
Since buying out Ericsson in 2012, Sony has focused its mobile business solely on the Xperia smartphone line.
Much of the hardware used in Xperia handsets is based on other Sony technology like its BRAVIA TV line and its Cyber-shot cameras.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Looking for a Sony phone on a plan?
Unfortunately, there are no Sony plans currently available from Australian telcos. Check out the table below to compare postpaid SIM-only plans:
Matt Sayer is a technology writer and editorial engineer for Finder, combining industry expertise with data-driven solutions to help people make better decisions. His extensive portfolio spans investigate reporting on the roll-out of 5G, statistical analysis on the legacy of E3 and guides for popular products like mobile phones and smart speakers. Matt has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about finding ways that technology can better our lives. See full bio
Sony’s high-end smartphone impresses with a quality camera and high resolution display.
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