Reviewing the Sony Xperia 1 III, a flagship smartphone that beats the best out there for sheer media chops, with a deep camera experience and premium specs. However, this blower also comes with an eye-watering price tag of £1200 UK - so should you buy the Xperia 1 III? Or look to 2021 rivals like the Samsung S21 Ultra and Oppo's Find X3 Pro?

While this Sony phone doesn't boast the best camera right now, it's certainly one of the deepest camera experiences, with impressive control for confident photographers and videographers. If you want point n' shoot goodness, just check out the Pixel 5. For DSLR-style flexibility, with ultra-wide and telephoto options, the Xperia 1 III is unparalleled. I especially love it for shooting living, breathing subjects, so for family snaps it's perfect.

Gamers will enjoy Sony's dedicated toolset and that Snapdragon 888 performance, plus the full-view notchless 120Hz OLED screen. However, I did see some light throttling in more demanding games like Genshin Impact - but PubG and CoDM run perfectly. My only other complaint is the screen responsiveness, which is slightly off.

So the Sony Xperia 1 III has a lot to offer, but only niche users will be tempted by that extreme price tag. One of the best smartphones of 2021 in many ways, yet most people will be better served by a Pixel 5 or Samsung S21.

Sony Xperia 1 III Review Chapters:
0:00 - Bald man banging on
0:33 - Design
1:58 - Features and Xperia UI
3:55 - Screen & audio
6:10 - Performance & gaming
7:39 - Battery life
8:29 - Camera
12:02 - Review verdict