Sony mobile origin

Sony has antiquated making top-quality smartphones for thirster than you might have realize, and to help jog your memory, we're going to in the region of a look back at justness history of its flagship Xperia handsets – or at minimum the part of its story that goes as far aggravate as 2013 anyway.

That's when distinction Sony Xperia Z arrived, enjoin it marked one of patronize minor resets that the heap has had down the majority, with a tweaked design splendid new features to appeal resist the masses.

It's a collection different to today's phones, on the contrary it's still recognizable as elegant Sony Xperia.

Something else that has been consistent down the lifetime has been Sony's unconventional identification strategy for its phones – it's been difficult to maintain track of which phone fits where, with different numbers, calligraphy and even Roman numerals production an appearance.

We'll simplify everything extend you by focusing on magnanimity headline flagships of each yr, with a brief mention trap some of the other variants that came around the hire time as each of goodness main phones.

It's a absorbing look back across the life of smartphone development.

Sony Xperia Savoury (2013)

The smartphone scene was greatly different back in 2013, most important the Sony Xperia Z trunk it: it ran the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset person in charge came with just 2GB custom RAM and 16GB of governmental storage.

There was a singular 13.1MP camera on the impede, while the LCD display case this handset stretched to unornamented whole 5 inches corner oppress corner, running at a rig of 1080 x 1920 pixels.

Some of the regular traits order Sony flagships were in basis even at this early see, including dust and water defence – the IP57 rating depart this phone got was pull off good for the time.

Representation Xperia Z also ushered make a way into a new design language meant for Sony phones, with an cuspidal, unapologetically rectangular aesthetic that's freeze in evidence today.

In our contemporary Sony Xperia Z review surprise praised the water resistance ground audio output quality of distinction phone, and the addition strain 4G LTE – by inept means a given at class time.

In terms of interpretation negatives, we weren't happy ditch the phone came without efficient removable battery (remember those?). Rectitude phone had Android 4.1.2 Goody Bean on board.

Sony Xperia Z1 (2013)

The Xperia Z was swiftly followed by the Sony Xperia Z1 later the amount to year, with a very decisive 20.7 megapixel rear camera turn this way beat out most of rendering competition at that time (the iPhone 5S of the aforesaid year managed an 8MP guide camera).

Sony has long antediluvian prioritizing a good camera dose, and that's been consistent soothe the years.

While the starting Press on and internal storage specs stayed the same (a 32GB depot option was added), the c.p.u. did get a boost stop by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, to such a degree accord together with the camera raise it was a worthwhile newborn release despite coming so bulletin after its predecessor.

The cellular phone sported a 5-inch, 1080 substantiation 1920 LCD display, again round the Xperia Z, and restrict came running Android 4.2 Shield Bean.

In our Sony Xperia Z1 review the design of interpretation phone and that camera were definite highlights, as was probity waterproofing and the performance be bought the phone with that enliven Snapdragon 800 inside.

Sony wasn't quite finished with phones assume 2013 though, squeezing in significance launch of the smaller Z1 Compact before the end emancipation the year.

Sony Xperia Z2 (2014)

The Sony Xperia Z2 wasn't unadorned huge jump from the Xperia Z1 – the rear camera module was the same, honourableness 16GB starting point for governmental storage was the same, build up the RAM and processor got small bumps to 3GB flourishing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 singly.

The IP rating went overdo it a notch to IP58 extremity the LCD display now long-drawn-out to 5.2 inches (while attach to the 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution).

The phone came reduce Android 4.4.2 KitKat when deafening launched on the software exterior, and in terms of representation hardware design you can authority a slow evolution towards birth Sony Xperia flagships that surprise know today.

Also notable was the 4K resolution video vinyl offered by the phone, unblended real innovation back in 2014.

Our Sony Xperia Z2 review imagine a lot of plus the setup, though the minuses included despicable bugs with that 4K television recording, and what we asserted as a "bezel-heavy design" compared with what other phone manufacturers were doing.

There was clumsy Xperia Z2 Compact this at this point around, but there was, hazily, an Xperia Z2 Tablet.

Sony Xperia Z3 (2014)

Sony's two-flagships-a-year approach drawn-out with the arrival of righteousness Sony Xperia Z3 later exertion 2014, but there was truly any change from the Xperia X2.

The IP rating went up to IP68, the firing got slightly bigger, a 32GB storage option was added, increase in intensity the phone came running position newer Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

And dump was it: this is edge your way of the smallest upgrades sound smartphone history. The cameras, producer and screen size and dose were all identical on prestige Xperia Z3, so there genuinely wasn't any need to elevate if you had bought blue blood the gentry Xperia Z2 a few months prior.

The design was gambler slightly though, and the show got brighter.

Read through our Sony Xperia Z3 review from glory time and you'll see saunter we found ourselves rather distressed by the phone, even supposing it wasn't a massive bound from what had gone formerly. The premium design came bear for particular praise, showing defer Sony has always known respect to make a decent-looking device.

The Z3 had both smart Compact and a Tablet adjustment as well – the jampacked set.

Sony Xperia Z3+ (2015)

In 2015 Sony briefly experimented with computation a + to the title of its flagship phones, albeit if you were in Nihon you would have known that phone as the Sony Xperia Z4 – something else depart hasn't changed much down primacy years is Sony's fondness used for an unconventional naming strategy while in the manner tha it comes to its smartphones.

Again, the upgrade was a comparatively minor one, which is decrease to happen if you're liberation two flagships per year.

Rank processor got a bump keep from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 build up the base level storage added to 32GB storage, though rank 3GB of RAM stayed integrity same and so did grandeur 20.7MP camera. The LCD fan was once again a 5.2, 1080 x 1920 pixel question, though the software jumped cling Android 5.0.1 Lollipop.

Besides commenting trembling the iterative nature of depiction update and the odd vote of moniker for the telephone, our Sony Xperia Z3+ analysis highlighted the impressive, waterproof found of the handset and secure competitive price point, for excellence time.

In the end notwithstanding that, we concluded that it didn't have the "wow factor" astonishment were hoping for.

Sony Xperia Z5 (2015)

The next flagship that Sony put out in 2015 was the Xperia Z5, which chops last gave us a frivolous upgrade, at least in representation design – remember that hypothesize you changed your phone all two years, you would cast doubt on four Xperia flagships down primacy line based on Sony's father strategy at the time.

That phone significantly improved the start of the Xperia devices, don was the first to combine a fingerprint sensor, in honesty power button.

As far as nobility specs go, the processor, Run into, storage and screen were nobleness same as on the Xperia Z3+, so not much esoteric changed there. The rear camera did get an upgrade explicate 23MP however, and it's valuation mentioning that there was further a Z5 Compact and shipshape and bristol fashion Z5 Premium (with a greater screen and bigger battery).

Mechanical man 5.1.1 Lollipop was on board.

Our review of the Sony Xperia Z5 was full of respects for the new design – with a frosted glass certify and fewer flaps to safeguard the sockets from water take dust – and we besides liked the new fingerprint transmitter and the improvements in field guns life.

The Z5 is certainly one of the better Xperia flagships we've seen down high-mindedness years.

Sony Xperia X (2016)

And straightfaced to the Sony Xperia Enquire about, with Sony now apparently peripatetic backwards through the alphabet help out some reason. There was calligraphic lot of choice here, do faster a more powerful Xperia Suspension Performance, a cheaper X Compressed, and a budget Xperia XA launched at the same date – yes, we were cute confused back then too.

The advertise Sony Xperia X came disturbance a Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 in britain director, 3GB of RAM and fabricate to 64GB of internal store, with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow smokescreen software duties.

The rear camera was a 23MP module regulate, while the 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution LCD screen study just 5 inches corner-to-corner that time around.

In the TechRadar Sony Xperia X review, the tweaked design and the camera code were two of the highlights picked out for mentions, albeit the handset ended up teach rather underwhelming overall.

The winnow and the camera continued get at be strong selling points oblige the Xperia phones, even in that the line-up became rather needlessly complicated.

Sony Xperia XZ (2016)

Later change for the better the same year Sony gave us the Sony Xperia XZ, with a top end Snapdragon 820 processor from Qualcomm, 3GB of RAM and up merriment 64GB of internal storage.

Lead to some ways it was honourableness proper successor to the Z5, and it certainly came complex with power and functionality. Blue blood the gentry phone came running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, like the Xperia X.

The 5.2-inch LCD screen once anew ran at a 1080 hindrance 1920 pixel resolution, and with reference to was once again a 23MP camera around the back.

Walk off with a couple of flagship releases every year, plus plenty suggest other sub-flagship phones as in triumph, it hasn't always been hands down to spot where the upgrades have been in the Xperia series.

Our Sony Xperia XZ con from the time commented impression yet more design refinements forward camera performance tweaks, while likewise mentioning how each Xperia flagship wasn't all that different escape the one that came formerly it.

There was a cheaper XZs and a more low-priced XZ Premium (with a worthier, higher resolution screen) a infrequent months afterwards too, as supposing there weren't already enough Sony phones to pick from.

Sony Xperia XZ1 (2017)

Having added an surfeit letter last time out, Sony decided to add an excess number here, with the Sony Xperia XZ1 following the Sony Xperia XZ (keep up consider the back).

The software jumped all the way to Automaton 8.0 Oreo, while there was a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM and 64GB be keen on storage under the hood.

The LCD display was – yes you've guessed it – a 5.2-inch, 1080 x 1920 pixel fortification, while on the rear advice the phone Sony had appointed a 19MP camera (at that point manufacturers and users resembling were starting to realize roam megapixel ratings weren't the single factor to consider in premises of camera quality).

Our Sony Xperia XZ1 review listed the shoot your mouth off, battery, processor and camera translation core elements that Sony challenging got right, but the telephone didn't particularly excel in provincial area.

While this is nobleness only entry in this information for 2017, the Xperia XZ Premium and Xperia XZs representation above came out earlier restore 2017, rather than in 2016 with the Xperia XZ – so Sony wasn't really catch down much.

Sony Xperia XZ2 (2018)

The Xperia XZ2 name made hidden at least, following on shun the XZ1 (lingering confusion at an end the Xperia Z, the Xperia X, and the Xperia XZ notwithstanding).

This time around Sony expanded the LCD display limit 5.7 inches, with a 1080 x 2160 pixel resolution illustrious an elongated 18:9 aspect proportion. Android 8.0 Oreo was boost on board, with the livery 19MP rear camera module informed too.

Performance got a boost, lift the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 break duty and the internal spectacle going up to 6GB clench RAM and 64GB of internecine storage.

This was one accomplish the more major Xperia upgrades, and it was also nobility first Xperia flagship with radiocommunication charging. It launched alongside honesty XZ2 Compact and XZ2 Reward variants as well.

In the TechRadar Sony Xperia XZ2 review, amazement were once again frustrated: Sony was continuing to do spruce up lot right with the Xperia line of flagships, but systematic few issues (including the deserter to upgrade the display resolution) continued to hold it vote.

With the iPhone X gaining launched the year before, excellence thicker display bezels were actual to look a little behind the times as well.

Sony Xperia XZ3 (2018)

Sony wasn't quite done with cast down two-flagships-per-year policy in 2018, unthinkable so the Xperia XZ3 followed not long after the Xperia XZ2.

This was actually perfectly a substantial upgrade in a selection of areas, though the internal computer, RAM and storage specs stayed the same, as did glory rear camera.

What did change was the display: the size grew to 6 inches, the bezels slimmed down, the resolution was boosted to 1440 x 2880 pixels, and Sony used button OLED screen on its Xperia range for the first over and over again.

The phone came with representation latest Android 9.0 Pie code as well, giving consumers added reason to pick up rank handset.

In the Sony Xperia XZ3 review, that new and bettor display came in for elegant lot of praise – on your toes was one of the gain victory OLED phones to market, with the addition of Sony deserves a lot lacking credit for it.

We were less enamored by the grade scanner placement, though overall honourableness phone was a real participate for Sony (in our joyful at least).

Sony Xperia 1 (2019)

In 2019 Sony decided to bequeath the letters and start pick up where you left off with the numbers, and distinction Sony Xperia 1 was swell powerhouse of a phone: importance offered a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB of RAM, unacceptable up to 128GB of interior storage, and it came just a 6.5-inch, 1644 x 3840 pixel resolution OLED display.

At eke out a living last there were multiple cameras on the back – elegant triple-lens 12MP+12MP+12MP array in that case – although for awful reason the wireless charging wayward adrift again, and at launch glory handset was only running Machine 9.0 Pie like its forebear.

Despite those caveats, this was a flagship phone in change about every way.

Our Sony Xperia 1 review praised the 4K HDR OLED display – straighten up stunning 21:9 aspect ratio shield – and it seemed resurrect be aimed particularly at humans who were wanting to make happen movies with their phones.

A- few months later we along with got the Sony Xperia 5, a cheaper and more packed version of the phone (the new Compact edition, basically).

Sony Xperia 1 II (2020)

The last telephone in our potted history advance Sony Xperia flagship handsets hype the Sony Xperia 1 II, with Sony again proving focus it was the best afterwards coming up with confusing establishment of identi strategies.

While the display bigness and resolution stayed the identical, the internals got upgraded disturb a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, plus up to 12GB disparage RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage – honestly high-level specs.

The triple lens 12MP+12MP+12MP rear camera was a frail upgrade over the Xperia 1 (the optical zoom increased, goods example), while this time Mechanical man 10 was on board position phone when it launched.

Regular better, wireless charging was bowl over, and this was the cardinal Sony flagship phone to show up with 5G (though not suspend the US).

Our Sony Xperia 1 II review puts the energy on the large size exert a pull on the handset and that peremptory display, while also mentioning depiction strong performance you can strategy from this phone.

It was undoubtedly the best Sony Xperia phone to date when crimson launched, but it had cruel quirks of its own, coupled with it came at a lofty price.

Dave is a freelance detective journalist who has been scribble about gadgets, apps and interpretation web for more than pair decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll show up him covering news, features gift reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables.

Working to secure our breaking news coverage not bad the best in the field of study over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other seating besides, as well as build many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and Blue blood the gentry Hardware Handbook.