The best Sony phones of 2019: find the right Sony Xperia smartphone for you

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Sony phones are designed with you in mind if you’re a movie buff, or like your media consumption. That’s not exactly a surprise given Sony also makes headphones, TVs, and games consoles, but it means Sony Xperia smartphones are great for entertainment.

Between the high-quality screens, competitive cameras and impressive processing power under the hood, Sony’s Xperia handsets have built a big fan following, and there are many customers dedicated to the brand.

Best phones by brand

If you’re a new Sony fan, or a returning one looking for a new Xperia smartphone, we’ve reviewed each and every Sony phone to see which the best are.

However if you’re not a Sony aficionado it can be hard to know which Sony phone it’s worth looking in to – it’s hard enough to even work out Sony’s newest handset judging by the numbers, as before the Xperia 5 was the Xperia 1, and before that the Xperia 10.

In order to help you work through the confusion, we’ve made this list of the best Sony phones you can buy right now, which we’re constantly updating when a new Xperia phone comes out (if it’s worthy, of course). Most recently that meant adding the Sony Xperia 5, so read on to see where that ranked.

If you’re excited to get your hands on the best Sony Xperia phone for you, bear in mind that Black Friday 2019, and then Cyber Monday 2019, are just around the corner, so we could see some great Sony Xperia deals soon. Amazon Prime Day 2019 brought some decent savings on Xperia handsets, and we could see the same happen during the late-November sales bonanza.

Best Sony phones 2019 at a glance:

Sony Xperia 5
Sony Xperia 1
Sony Xperia XZ3
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
Sony Xperia XZ2
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
Sony Xperia XA2
Sony Xperia 10 Plus
Sony Xperia 10

Best Sony phones 2019

1. Sony Xperia 5

Honey, I shrunk the Xperia 1

Hand-friendly size

Impressive processor performance

Unreliable fingerprint sensor

Screen is rather dim

The Xperia 1 might be Sony’s true flagship, but the Sony Xperia 5 is newer and arguably slightly better.

Sure, its screen is smaller and not quite as sharp, but it’s actually a more manageable size for many people, and still fairly large at 6.1 inches. The loss of pixels meanwhile is unlikely to be noticed unless you have the phone pressed against your eyeballs, as at 1080 x 2520 you still get 449 pixels per inch.

And in most other ways the Sony Xperia 5 matches the Xperia 1 – it has the same 21:9 aspect ratio that makes it great for movies, the same high-end Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM, the same amount of storage, and the same triple-lens rear camera.

Plus, the battery lasts slightly longer and the price is slightly lower. So if you want a high-end Sony handset and don’t fancy waiting for the Sony Xperia 2 (or Xperia 3 as it might be called), then the Sony Xperia 5 is the best choice for most buyers.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia 5

Best Sony phones 2019 — Sony Xperia 1. Image credit: TechRadar

2. Sony Xperia 1

The Xperia 1 is one of the best Sony phones you can buy right now

Useful 21:9 aspect ratio

Impressive chipset

Display max brightness is too dim

Battery life on the short side

It didn’t look like 2019 was going to be Sony’s year after the poorly-received Xperia 10 and 10 Plus, but the company knocked it out the park with the Xperia 1. It’s a true premium smartphone, that utilizes the best parts of previous phones and charges it up with improved specs in loads of areas.

The Xperia 1 has a 21:9 screen, and now there’s content to match. It’s also got a dedicated film-making app for budding directors, that recreates the experience of using a Sony Alpha camera.

On top of that you’ve got three powerful cameras, a cutting-edge Snapdragon 855 chipset, and 4K screen. Although it is definitely on the expensive side, it’s close to being the best Sony smartphone you can get right now.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia 1

3. Sony Xperia XZ3

The last of the Sony Xperia XZ range

Incredibly good screen

4K HDR video is excellent

Awkward fingerprint scanner

The camera is good, not great

The Sony Xperia XZ3 is getting on a bit but it’s still a great Sony phone, offering up a great mix of features that are particularly handy if you’re addicted to movies, TV shows and gaming on your phone.

The main feature on the XZ3 is its 6-inch HDR OLED display, with a QHD+ resolution, ensuring video looks great. If you have a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription, the HDR content offered by these services really shines.

There’s enough power under the hood, and the camera on the back is a solid snapper, although it won’t blow you away. On top of that it’s no-where near as pricey as the Xperia 1, so if you’re a Sony fan who doesn’t want to blow the bank, this is a more viable option.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia XZ3

4. Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

A great Sony phone with a 4K display

Bold, sharp screen

Good low light photos and video

Awkward fingerprint scanner

Big and heavy

There’s just one spec you really need to know about the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium: it has a 4K display.

This isn’t the first Sony phone to pack a 4K screen (it’s actually the third), but it’s the newest generation and the one that you can actually easily buy. If you have a bank of 4K video, or have the right subscription on streaming services, no other smartphone can offer you the clarity and detail on screen.

However if 4K content isn’t your priority there are probably better Sony phones to suit your needs, so keep on reading!

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

5. Sony Xperia XZ2

An older flagship which still has a lot to offer

Great sound quality

Feature-packed camera

Design not as desirable

‘Only’ Full HD display

The Xperia XZ2 is technically two flagship generations old (having been superseded by the Xperia XZ3 and then more recently by the Xperia 1), but it’s only 18 months old itself and still has plenty to offer.

There’s the HDR-supported QHD display, feature-packed camera, 4K HDR video recording and you can even capture super slow motion footage at 960fps in Full HD.

What’s more, it’s now more affordable than ever with several price drops since launch. The design isn’t going to wow you, but at this price it’s a reasonable compromise.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia XZ2 review

6. Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

A great Sony phone for those with smaller palms

Solid camera

Great performance

Feels cheaper than it is

No headphone jack

Smartphones are getting bigger and bigger each year, and Sony phones are no exception – well, apart from the Xperia XZ2 Compact.

This dinkier device comes with a 5-inch display, which is small by today’s standard, and it means the XZ2 Compact nestles nicely in the palm.

Don’t be put off by its diminutive proportions though, as this handset packs the same power and camera as the larger, former-flagship Xperia XZ2 – ensuring it can still cope with most apps and games you throw at it.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

7. Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

If you need great battery life, this is the best Sony phone for you

Excellent battery life

Dual front cameras

Boxy design is bulky

Performance can be patchy

If money is a little tighter, but a big screen smartphone is a must, this could be the Sony phone for you.

The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra boasts an affordable price tag and a large 6-inch display, giving your games, videos and apps plenty of space. What’s more, the XA2 Ultra offers great battery life. You can easily get a day and a half from a single charge.

The camera feels like it should be better, the design isn’t the most attractive or modern, and the Android overlay won’t be to everyone’s taste, but these are compromises you should be able to live with.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

8. Sony Xperia XA2

A solid Android phone at a sensible price

Good performance

Punchy screen

Ordinary battery life

Quirky camera operation

This is the cheapest Sony phone in our round-up, and the Xperia XA2 represents great value for money if you opt to get it on contract.

It’s a no-frills phone, but its performance is rock-solid and despite being thicker than most it’s easy to handle and scores fairly high on the plain likability factor.

If a Sony phone is a must but your finances don’t allow for much wiggle room, this is the handset for you.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia XA2

9. Sony Xperia 10 Plus

Love movies? This Sony phone boasts a 21:9 display

Extra screen space is useful

Good low-light photography

Short battery life

Uncomfortably big

Want something a little different? Something to spark conversations with friends, family and maybe even strangers? Say hello to the very, very tall Sony Xperia 10 Plus.

This Sony phone boasts a skyscraper of a screen with the 6.5-inch display packing a 21:9 aspect ratio, making it perfect for movie playback.

It’s not always easy to find movies at 21:9 on the popular streaming services, but when you do find one the experience is great. It’s rather unwieldy in the hand though, and the battery could be better.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia 10 Plus

10. Sony Xperia 10

A 21:9 display for those who can’t afford the Xperia 10 Plus

Strong build quality

Extra screen space is useful

Disappointing battery life

21:9 screen can prove frustrating

Like its plus-sized sibling, the Sony Xperia 10 also boasts a 21:9 aspect ratio screen, but this time it’s in a slightly more manageable (but still tall) 6-inch form factor.

Its performance, battery and camera are slightly weaker versus the 10 Plus, but overall it’s still a solid, mid-range smartphone with the latest software and a range of features.

Read our in-depth review: Sony Xperia 10