An early look at Sony’s next flagship phone shows that it can get a more powerful zoom lens, thanks to some leaked versions posted by OnLeaks. The Xperia 1 III’s rear camera collision looks at first glance similar to its predecessor. But if you look closely at the bottom camera, it has a square housing that matches the periscope design. Previous Xperia phones offered standard telephoto lenses with 2x or 3x optical zoom; a periscope design will allow optical range of five times or more without compromising image quality.
OnLeaks also reports that the Xperia 1 III will include 5G, virtually a requirement for any flagship phone in 2021. Unlike the Xperia 1 II, it looks likely that Sony 5G will offer support for 1 III devices sold in the US , as the creator-focused Xperia Pro presents it.
Overall, it looks like the Xperia 1 III will stick with Sony’s minimalist approach. The 6.5-inch screens are very thin, and Sony sticks to the high 21: 9 aspect ratio. The 1 III should also retain the 3.5mm headphone jack – a rarity among flagships – as well as a microSDXC card slot.
Although they are a major manufacturer of image hardware, Sony’s phones lagged behind other flagships in the camera department with better software. When we reviewed the Xperia 1 II, we saw an opportunity for Sony to rely on the dedicated camera-like experience that the phone can offer, rather than catching up with computer photography. Strengthening the hardware offering with a good quality zoom is a good step in that direction.