Xperia headphone jack loyalty and 3 other ways Sony's premium phones out-flagship the rest

[Redaktion]

Sony's Xperia 1 III, Xperia 5 III, and Xperia Pro-I phones offer a complete flagship package and worthy competition for even the best that Samsung and Apple have to offer. While Sony eschews unnecessary trends like a 108 MP camera, it maintains support for legacy connectors and sticks to a tried-and-true design.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Xperia-headphone-jack-loyalty-and-3-other-ways-Sony-s-premium-phones-out-flagship-the-rest.612653.0.html

[Joe Black]

Sadly low quality headphone jack implementation.

[Frank64]

Sadly low quality headphone jack implementation.

I've used the headphone jack daily for two years on my Xperia. It works just fine

[julian.vdm]

Sadly low quality headphone jack implementation.

Fine for listening, not great if you intended to use it as a mic input. But having it is better than not having it, imo.

[Hmmm]

No hole or notch in display! Fingerprint on the side,card reader,shutter button!

[RinzImpulse]

Sadly low quality headphone jack implementation.

Hey, its quality is much better than Samsung's and Apple's! oh wait...

[Xperia_User]

What about the poor screen brightness in sunlight?  What about the poor implementation of Android 12 with multiple app failures?  Loss of user support functionality through model iterations? Incredibly slow to release OS upgrades and security updates? Tempramental finger print reader that actives and says no more tries when not even touched? Random Google voice activations when no words being said. Xperia 1III using Android 11 was the best one yet but since the update to 12 is the worse android phone I've ever had. This will be my last Sony / android since I ditched iPhone 5S. Google screwed the pooch with Android 12 material you removing customisability further. Tie that with Sonys inability to get software right I'm done. If I'm going to have a locked down OS I might as well go iOS and have one that actually works.

[mixedfish]

Don't understand how people can work from home and not have a phone with a headphone jack. Voice quality and reliability of connection is so much higher than bluetooth.

This makes Xperia alone the best business phone on the market.

[Michael 1811]

I have 2 Sony smartphones; a Xperia XZ PREMIUM for work that I use for 4 years without problems and an Xperia 1. And I didn't have the problems that you have mentioned.
Super happy with them and more stable theny wife's Note 10 Plus.

[LOL]

1) Poor after-sales support.

2) No changelog in software updates.

3) Camera specs sound good, but actual performance still loses to the big boys (Samsung, Apple, Google Pixel).

4) Overpriced, and that includes Sony's midrange phones.

5) Terrible resale value.

6) Phones are only available months after official announcement, most would have lost interest after that time has passed.

By all means, be a Sony fanboy, Sony does make some excellent products. Get a Playstation 5, LinkBuds, Alpha camera, Walkman, Sony smart TV etc. But when it comes to a smartphone, there are better options out there.

And if the lack of a headphone jack alone is the dealbreaker for you, there's no stopping you from buying some cheap Chinese Android phone. Most of those have a headphone jack.

[Sion1886]

1) Have only had one issue with a Sony phone in the past (I have had 4, wife has had two, my mom is still on her first one)  and that was resolved through the dealer no problem (was a battery issue).

2) True, but is a very minor issue for most people. And unofficial change logs can be found online in most cases

3) Again,  depends on what you want out of your phone. If you only want point and shoot, and you feel what the result the pixels or Samsungs deliver is good enough most of the time, sure, then they are better.  But if you want to be able to tinker and adjust settings, then the Sony phones are a great choice. 

4) Overpriced compared to what?  It's a matter of opinion.  I feel I get tremendous value when I buy a Sony phone. Usually there are great discount on them through carriers after a few months following release. Also I have supplied my family with free high quality Sony headphones through bundle deals.

5) Only of you plan on selling them, I have had my phones for a minimum of 3 years, and I have usually worn them out by then.  Also, pretty much only iPhones hold their value well. All Chinese phones have even worse resell value and Samsung is not much better outside the super premium phones (like flips and folds)

6) That's a problem for the Sony marketing department. Has absolutely influence on the quality of the phones. Don't see how it is relevant to the discussion at all.

Feel free to call me a Sony fanboy. I have had Samsungs and HTC phones in the past, but since I bought my first Xperia phone I have stayed with the brand since.
The shutter button, SD card expansion, the near stock software, no notch or hole punch, stereo front facing speakers, good/great screens, all this is not offered by any other respectable brand.
Lately, the software updates have been coming more regularly and phones are supported for longer.

But as much as you may think I'm a fanboy, you must admit, you sound a little bit like a Sony hater ;)

[Sion1886]

1) Poor after-sales support.

2) No changelog in software updates.

3) Camera specs sound good, but actual performance still loses to the big boys (Samsung, Apple, Google Pixel).

4) Overpriced, and that includes Sony's midrange phones.

5) Terrible resale value.

6) Phones are only available months after official announcement, most would have lost interest after that time has passed.

By all means, be a Sony fanboy, Sony does make some excellent products. Get a Playstation 5, LinkBuds, Alpha camera, Walkman, Sony smart TV etc. But when it comes to a smartphone, there are better options out there.

And if the lack of a headphone jack alone is the dealbreaker for you, there's no stopping you from buying some cheap Chinese Android phone. Most of those have a headphone jack.

Also, and what if you don't want a cheap Chinese phone but really want a headphone jack?  ;D

[SalamiPUNCH]

Been using my Sony Xperia X since 2017 and it still runs great! Everything works.

[E36nut]

I absolutely love the two Sony phones I've had.  Started with an Xperia Z5 compact that I ran for 6 years, would still be using it if AT&T hadn't lied to me and told me it wasn't 4G capable.  Regardless I decided it was time to upgrade and purchased the 1III, and absolutely love it.  I wouldn't dream of buying a smartphone without a headphone jack and really appreciate the quality of the device.  The stock Android is very good.  I've not had a single software issue on Android 11 or 12, though 12 was a learning curve.  Heck even my old Z5 compact running Android 7 was just fine when I got rid of it, never had a security issue.
I appreciate the IP68 rating, I have high chances of getting my phone wet or oily and the Xperias always seem to survive their liquid immersions fine.  The 1III is definitely an expensive phone and I wish it was smaller but I feel it
is excellent in every way I've interfaced with it.  Good software goes a long way for me, I hate ads and bloatwear so the stock Android is is pretty great.
The only item I miss is the FM tuner the old one had, I genuinely used it daily so that I didn't rack up data listening to music at work.  As a replacement I use the FM tuner in the Creative Zen MP3 player I bought in 2008.

[Plehdo]

Sadly low quality headphone jack implementation.

Unless you own an audio precision apx555 you're going to have an extremely hard time proving this.... Keep in mind Sony makes high end walkman products still and they haven't even bothered to tap into their walkman division yet.