Sony Xperia 1 III Review | Best Niche Smartphone of 2021?
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- 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 - Наука та технологія
4k, 120hz, heaphone jack, sdcard slot, 21:9, great audio and better with headset and nice camera... I want one!
I hope Marques is watching. This is how you do a tech review, and not be a baby about a probable bug in a pre-production device. Good job Chris.
Agree 100%
He's not recommending the phone. No one is
@@carver9312 did I mention about recommendation? I don't think I did. This is a proper review however but I could not say the same for Marques'.
@@nilascocaguimbal1882 what's wrong with MKBHD video?
@@carver9312 when you're reviewing a phone, don't make your stupid opinions influence the potential buyers. That's what is wrong about mkbhd video.
I don't watch Chris for the tech, I watch him for the timeless shenanigans.
I watch him for anime wallpapers.
@@Mido_ a scout
@@Mido_ a
@mido hey where to download these anime wallpapers
Every other UA-camrs say the camera isn't good in 1iii but this pictures look absolutely stunning. I don't understand pfffft
As such, the images are fine enough, they are sharp, etc. but they lack contrast - color and then they are often overexposed or underexposed, that is the fault of ALL Sony's mobiles. You can easily get good pictures out of it if you want to spend 5-15 min on each picture in Adobe photoshop, have had 3 Xperia now but do not buy more also due to service and support, Sony mobiles have a maximum of 1 year with android update and 2 years of security update if one is lucky, Samsung and Google have 5 years now.
The pro mode on video sucks
You definitely get more attractive results just by pointing and shooting with the iPhone etc, but the Xperia delivers photos that are closer to what you see with the naked eye. It definitely does struggle at times in stronger light unfortunately, so it's best suited to users who are happy to tweak the settings manually with testing conditions. I found the pics I got were great on the whole though and the Xperia is unbeatable for shots of kids, pets etc - which most UA-camrs don't seem to bother testing. As usual, these images are all untouched - no post-edit shenanigans.
Because it's part of the narrative they push. You will notice that it's always the same tired old talking points they harp on about. 1) is the price..... despite it costing about the same as the iphone 12 max pro and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Yes it's expensive. But then flagships are expensive. It's a bit like complaining that a Mercedes or Lexus is expensive. 2) the camera. Despite plenty of UA-camrs (usually ones that understand how cameras actually work) getting fantastic results. The UA-camrs who claim the cameras aren't good tend to not understand how anything except an iphone works. So when they say the cameras are bad. That means different and not like an iphone. I have had the Xperia 1 mark ii for one year now and the camera system is as good as any. It's just different. More natural colours and manual focused.....like an actual camera. Not better or worse than an iphone or Galaxy. Simply different. I have frequently gotten good results with it, and occasionally astonishing results with it.
What many of these UA-camrs do .....aside from being deliberately disingenuous imho because they get benefits from other brands......is that they are doing the equivalent of a car reviewer complaining that a manual sports car doesn't drive or work like an automatic sedan (except no car reviewer would do this). No shit......they are two entirely different things, made for two different purposes, with two different approaches to the engineering. Exactly how the Xperia camera system is made from a different approach to an iphone. It's only a question of if it's to your taste and suits/fits your needs.
Just APK the Google camera app and ur sorted, all modern phones have the hardware, they just lack the camera software. 😏
I've always noticed that flaws in iPhones mean that it's always a great phone I love Sony I want this phone 📱
In my experience, I phones are totally unable to photograph what we actually see; their photos are over processed, over corrected, over colour saturated, overly use of high dynamic range (HDR) - with a luminance far beyond that experienced through the human eye and visual system, to create a photo that bring forward what the human eye naturally dismisses. A photo so far from what we actually see that it is as if someone coloured the photo in adding detail (eg every leaf, stone, spot etc) like an artist does to early B/W photos.
Detailing every edge adding a sharpness, depth and contrast we, as human beings, automatically process as 'scene' as we focus on our subject of vision, the iphone automatically processes all as subject of vision emphasizing everything.
Even if we use bokeh (Japanese word for blur) the iPhone creates a fantasy image of, for example, a bird on a branch floating in a green cloud of dark lines - like one took an image and placed it in a different background using photoshop. Americas favourite phone is creating memories through photos that have no reality to the moment. I suspect as engineering photos they are useful - but then not quite up to the ability needed.
Having said this I think if they created a microscope camera phone for iPhone the image of a fleas testicle - or whatever - would prove that iPhone cameras can take photos real photos.
Video is a totally different subject where iphones are up with the very best, if not the best.
@@terrytartu I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with the cameras in other phones regarding the processing, I just think of the photo/video ability of the Xperia cameras are essentially the visual equivalent of flat response studio headphones.
I'm switching from years of Samsung note adherence to this. Reason? It's the only flagship phone today with expandable memory, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Pretty important stuff for high res music fans. It's that simple. Thanks for being the ONLY manufacturer keeping things real, Sony.
A no holds barred down to earth review, with zero shenanigans. Great photos and I like that they are natural and not over processed ergo no unnatural colour action.....
One of my top 5 reviewers on UA-cam. Great video yet again 👍
Wow the camera results look SO GOOD!! The colours are very natural and realistic. But we're so used to the unrealistic HDR look these days...
do not but this phone.. after few updates even fingerprint disappeared& they cannot help
2021. Still watching UA-cam videos on devices I'll never buy.
Nothing wrong with being informed on the latest in tech
im a salesman, this is how i get my information about the devices i sell :)
@@zefnreaj3548 that's awesome. I'm not a salesman but I have a severe addiction to phones. I buy all flagships released every year. I can't wait to get the III. I hope it's like the II but with better connectivity and hopefully wifi calling on TMobile, lol.
I mean you might be should can afford this when phone at 2-3 year because it's get more and more cheaper
@@zefnreaj3548 need more salesmen like you!
I’ve probably watched like 30-40 reviews. You would have to watch 10 of them to get the same amount of information you gave. You’re also one of the few to mention the heat issue and the only one to give an approximate gauge of the severity. Best review so far by far. Thank you. It’s only logical to sub at this point.
It's been a common complaint for the SD 888, not just with the Sony Xperia series.
This phone is beautiful!
The Saori Xperia One Mark Three?
Or is it the Sasha Xperia One Mark Three?
Either nickname... it is still a premium smartphone beyond reach in Indonesia.
@@GerardPedrico online purchase?
Yup
Yes it is nice but it needs more than a good look
pawaa is also beautiful
Great video as always
Cheers Chris. I've been using mine for a week now thanks to Wanda shipping in a HK model for £1,000. Surprised by the battery; very quick to jump down to 60% but I guess i'm playing with it a lot. Had to install Nova Launcher as the stock launch app lacked many settings I wanted (like forcing you to have your home screen as the very left screen, amongst other nags). And the mess of buttons long the side is just annoying. Couldn't understand why the camera was taking loads of selfies as I was trying to set one up, until I realised my thumb was pressing the button as i just held the phone up. Coming from an LGV50, it's comparible in most respects but I'm still diving into the camera, which is the main reason I bought it. Loving the wide angle.... Cheers for the review. Ian
Currently rocking the Xperia 1 MK II, very happy with it. Still lasting to bedtime time. Don't think I need the MK iii just yet. Also less cluttered button wise.
Fantastic review as always Uncle Spurt 😎👍 great choice of classic TV with Bottom aswell 🤣
Thanks for the reviews!
Thx! Great review!
I already pre ordered mine. I can't wait to get it in 10 years
MAKE A VIDEO ON YOUR FAVORITE APPS WOULD LOVE THAT
Great review, subscribed!
Uncle Spurt, I really didn't think we would treated to another Nigel Farage joke, plus having pictures and video from Wimbleton, a man of many surprises. Another excellent review. Great to see your assistant in another video. When will be seeing the rest of the family? Take Care. Best wishes for Monday and the travel back to the pubs.
Great review, love your backgrounds. Was seriously looking at this phone until I learned that FaceBook is preinstalled and can not be removed. Bummer, I will not be buying any Sony phones anytime soon.
I don't understand how it's "niche". I always find it so damn odd when reviewers call it "niche". How is having the features that have mostly been removed from other flagships that cost about the same "niche"? Not to mention that every other flagship equally makes various hardware compromises in certain areas 🤷🤷🤷🤷🤷🤷. It's certainly different from the other flagships but I hardly think that makes it "niche". It makes it different.
aye aye, I'm sick of hearing this from all reviewers. Why is it "niche"?
My guess is because not many people will buy it. It really only appeals to a certain crowd hence why they call it niche. Your average joe doesn't care about headphone Jack's or expandable storage etc etc. They care about price and branding.
The problem sony has with a majority of their products is that they never price them accordingly as well as advertise them well. When you have phones for cheaper that are doing similar things then you really have to sit there and ask yourself what's the point? Most people will just go for a Samsung or Apple product and others will stick to whatever is in their budget that's a recognizable brand. Yes Sony is recognizable but how many people have you honestly seen with a Sony phone? I literally have not. For 1200 beans, I think it can be considered niche for the audience willing to buy it.
Why do you care so much whether they call it 'niche'? People take offence at everything these days 🙄
@@franklingoodwin so kinda like you are now
@@megadeth8592 Not taking offence,, pointing out others being easily triggered. Not every observation is taking offence. By your logic you also took offence at my comment 🤦♂️
Excellent review. Objective and concise. Some of your compatriots on other tech channels could learn a thing or two.
As long as Gorilla Glass still has the word "Glass" in it, I'll always buy a case and tempered glass screen protectors.
Gotta get that glass to protect that glass to protect that glass lol
I can't remember the star trek film, but i think were a little way of from having transparent aluminium.
So you want screens to just be made of gorilla? 🙃
I'll use the case, but a screen protector is pointless
They're so strong now, there's no point using a screen protector. Even the old gorilla glass 5 on my XZ Premium only has very minor scratches after 4 years of use without a screen protector. No one believes me when I show them my phone, they're all like "there's no way you never used a screen protector"
Looking forward to the Sony 5iii review 👍
Roast your chestnuts! Classic, man. Literally cracked me up (not my chestnuts, thank goodness).
Watching on my Xperia1 and want to upgrade for this new beauty 😍👍
Edit: bought it today 🥰✌️
Nice!
Welcome to the club!
Got mine in purple, this holds up without cover and screen protector, got Imak and Copter, but it's sexy as hell naked.
@@Dankzzz 😍👌
How is it all these months later?
Man of culture, Power best girl
NICE. Watched on my Sony Xperia 1 II 💪
Software will be improved, but for what you tested it's simply OUTSTANDING! TOP GUN!!
Cheers!
I bought Xperia 10 III about 2 months ago, the camera is amazing. I never been in love with Sony like since I bought. I'm happy that Sony get back to keep me as client. I was hesitant to buy another brand but nothing pays my attention. I had Xperia Z5 premium. Xperia 10 III is much much better in spite it was double price. I got it for €800 about 4 years ago.
better than in 1 ii? camera:)
how’s performance nowadays? should buy it for $202?
Good job
It's only as niche as other phones in the same price range, like the Samsung Ultra phones or the iPhone Pro Max line. In general it's just an alternative. While other manufacturers are dropping features like bad habits, Sony keeps them around for those of us that still use them. I got the 5 mkii a couple months ago as an upgrade from my XZ1 and I'm doing just fine. If you can't justify the price, the 5 series is an easier pill to swallow.
Great review, thanks. I noticed the video shots were juddery. Is this how the phone recorded the video or the UA-cam upload?
Thank you for calling it your full time phone instead of the cringeworthy phrase "daily driver" that all the techies love to use.
Daily driver terms doesn't make sense to me
I hope they fix the basic camera mode and the screen touch response with a software update..
Great job 👌 thanks
I don't understand how this review is critical yet accurate and fair about the camera but other reviewers kicked the nads out of it
Nice review! This phone is beautiful! I already pre ordered mine black version in Romania! Thank you for the review Chris!
merita banii?
@@florin9868 dacă nu ești atehnic merită fiecare bănuț dacă ești comod caută altceva
An amazing phone. Thank you for the review Chris!
Cheers for watching Jeremy!
the only sort of "niche" thing about it is the camera setup of focusing more on pro settings but camera performance is good enough and offering a phone LOADED with features is just awesome to all the people, sadly other big "tech" youtubers call offering many great features strange or "niche" which is just pathetic... if Sony would lower the price to something more reasonable and improve the battery of Xperia 1 III, then it should be an absolute monster 💪 for now Xperia 5 III is the king to me 👀
There are only two people I pay attention to when comes to Sony phones. You, and Juan Bagnell. No hidden agenda and straight to the damn point.
Sony 365 is legit too
Bagnell does have a slight agenda. He prefers phones that have a shitload of capability. He loved those LG phones of a time gone by.
Juan Bagnell definitely has an agenda. He tried to partly blame Tech UA-camrs for the death of LG's phone division
Nice video chris
Its an nice phone
i really like the tennis court shot!
My favorite phone that I never had.
Already pre-ordered. Waiting for it to arrive.
I can't believe it. 2 out of 20 reviewers I follow that don't shit all over Sony's device. The software features aimed at battery preservation are to me some of the most valuable in any current smartphone. There is always going to be a better, faster, greater camera and etc phone in several months, but normal people cannot afford to update phones that soon. Added on top the expandable memory (which given Google's decision to stop offering free storage in Photos) and headphone jack, and users do get a device that is aimed at 3 years of use at the very minimum.
This device still is behind the competition as it's a niche device and yes it's overpriced.The battery preservation for a now is a gimmick as there's still no concrete proof of battery degrading with fast charging over long period of time. The screen on time of this device will reduce significantly as the screen is 4k 120hz and in future you will have to charge the phone multiple times. Yes headphone jack and memory expansion is welcome but going by today's standard they are added features now not necessity. And no promise on software updates is the deal breaker as when you spend that much amount it's a must.
@@nitinsoni9956 the fact that smartphones heat up considerably while fast charging speaks for itself, don't try to argue that li-ion battery's longevity won't be affected by temperature. Oppo also admitted fast charging degreases battery capacity at a concerning rate.
@@nitinsoni9956 you are describing Samsung phones lol, that's why people always changing them year after year...I had one before, cheap quality...only Sony phones last for years....it don't matter what new phone come out after Xperia 1iii, it will still have better display quality and will have everything they have...they can max the saturation and over process the filter cameras but it will never be better...I can bet Xperia 1iii will still out perform every android phone in speed and ram....old Xperia 1ii is faster than new phones lol... This phone is not for broke people, it's exclusive, not many are available price won't come down...yeah exclusive niche lol
@@The-Heart-Will-Testify Yes it will as exclusive as LG phones in the future.
@@nitinsoni9956 battery degradation is a thing and I've experienced it first hand on my Oneplus 3T. Yes, it charges extremely quick, but after 2 years it loses a lot of its initial capacity. My old Lenovo laptop (also using Li-Ion batteries) had this software that prevented it from charging above 50%. After 10 years of use, battery degradation is at 14 %, and it could have been even better if I didn't leave that option on and use the laptop off the charger more often. Having in mind we no longer can use the unlimited storage of Google Photos it becomes paramount to have cheap and accessible storage options, so I don't feel the expansion sd card as a gimmick. Every phone had this back in the day.
Okay, even if I wanted to I would never be able to afford the phone, never the less thanks for the Wimbledon tour, some times the video is more entertaining than the phone.
Like the LG V60 most reviewers don't get these phones because they don't fit the bill for what they consider flagships . It's a set list of this or that or piss on it. Therefore it's doomed to be damned by the review squads . If you loved the LG V60 , then you'll love this phone .
I hate LG UI that's the reason they're falling down
Saw Chainsaw Man wallpaper , instant like .
Bit off-topic but stunning garden as well. 😲👏
I Love This Sony Xperia 1 iii 😍
Me too bro!
@@SonyEnthusiast Both Brothers Have Same Choices 😍
@@sameerumarofficial3559 👍
@@SonyEnthusiast Why are you in every video of sony xperia 1 iii?
@@rihan5846 same reason as you 😁
"bald man banging on"
hahahahaha
Nice video as always Chris, cheers!
Happy with the review..awesome! 👌... meanwhile Wimbledon results not too much 😏 lol
Love the shirt man 😂
Power!!
2:56 Came out of nowhere for me and was brilliant!
Excellent vedio.
please do a camera one in Manual mode , I have seen insane photos when it's used properly !!
Nice wallpapers. I have Mai sakurjima on my phone
Isn't the cinema mode suppose to shoot in raw (keeps meta data) and flat, so you can do colour correction later on using proper software?
I am leaning towards the MK iii. It is a 2021 phone with the Snapdragon 888 chip. it is now 2022 and Snapdragon 8 Gen1 is in most new flagship phones. The difference between the chips shouldn't stop me buying the MK iii , or should it? in the ideal world, I would wait for the MK iv.
How is the gaming performance worse with the newer chip set?
I have a 5ii and the performance has been great. Genshin would most definitely heat up the phone to dangerous levels though. I think it comes down to if your using the touch screen to play, because with a Bluetooth controller you don't get it anywhere near as much...
Be interesting to see how the 5iii compares with the 1iii!
The best looking phone, that's high quality design, nice
Am using 10 plus now but I can't wait to get 1iii cos I love the edges.
Would you know if I connect this to a 4k gaming monitor via hdmi to usbc or DP to usbc? Will I get to experience 120 fps gameplay on call of duty mobile? Awesome review by the way.
Preordered here in Denmark. Micro sd card and jack and a decent low weight and not Chinese, makes it an easy choice IMHO.
Speaking of niches, in almost all other product categories there's always some form of segmentation. Even for small markets, there's someone making something for those people, but phones seem to be way behind in this regard. And it seems to be one of the few markets that are.
May I ask dude what phone 📱do you use every day as am looking for a new phone could you suggest a phone for me that would be awesome 👌as I'm looking for a phone with 🎧jack and fm 📻 and super amoled screen my a40 is an awesome phone on android 11 so please let me no what I should go for oh and you are an awesome guy love the way you review phone's makes me laugh 😀 keep up the good work 🤟🏴🤟🏴🤟🏴
What would you say was your average screen on time?
Thanks
Just picked up my Xperia 1 mark iii, the phone is huge, but I love the screen and the speakers. Would have been nice if you could get it in purple but alas I couldn't find it anywhere
That Nigel Farage part - hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🇪🇺🤘
The reason why I love sony phones : it captures natural image.. not to bright.. not to dark.. not super saturated...just right.
Tech Spurt you still have the screen protector on the Samsung Galaxy S21. I had a scratch on mine and after some research found I did have a screen protector on which is easy to scratch. Check the top right corner of the phone and it's then easy to peal. The Galaxy S21 does have a screen protector on it. When you purchase you remove the plastic on the screen which is not the screen protector.
The review is hot enough to roast your chestnuts and blast away the shenanigans giving this device a poor shot. Nice composition on @ 9:12! Goes to prove that you don't need hdr all the time to make an interesting photo by keeping the shadows the way it should be - in the dark.
Chainsaw man is everywhere .
Did you go to Wimbledon recently, by any chance?? 😜😅
Good review, I'm looking for a phone to start learning videography with, I thought this was going to be the one, but a few things have cropped up that put me off, the screen sensitivity issues you mentioned, the poor battery life, and apparently the screen is quite poor in bright conditions... I may wait for the Pixel 6 or something else, which is a shame as I've loved every Sony phone I've owned in the past, they do seem to have superior build quality, and the headphone jack/sd storage
I wish it had a variable refresh rate and resolution. Sometimes I prefer preserving battery life.
Only samsung supplies LTPO display across the world for now. I believe Sony gets their supply from BOE so they have to wait couple years
GSMArena said in their review that Sony told them the resolution drops based on the app that's open, but they also lied about other stuff so it's not a credible source. There's a vague statement on the Sony product page (in the footnotes) stating that aspect ratio and refresh rate may vary by content and other factors, so it may by variable. I haven't been able to confirm this for sure and no reviewer talks about it.
You can set it to 60 Hz by the way.
🔥🔥🔥
My favorite phone yet and guys it's a beast if you are wanting to watch UA-cam or you mostly use social media this is the phone for you and the settings are so in depth even changing color spaces like insane so good lol
Also the green is sony white balance they use lut so it isn't a tint man
£1200 is too expensive for a Sony phone that is going to have maximum 3 yr software updates. iPhone 12 Pro Max is cheaper and will most probably still updated for at least 5 years and therefore a better buy especially in the long run.
I like Sony phones and software and still have the Sony XZ1 Compact.
So you're saying there's a chance Sony will get three years of updates? Good news!!!!
@@chetlyp Usually 2 yrs software updates and 3 yrs security updates.
@@chetlyp I just read that it would have only one software update, This has not been confirmed by Sony
I've got the MK2 but my Dad has the MK3. I've just had the update to Android 12 and it's awesome. Definitely the best update I have had with a Sony. It's like I have a new phone. Great review man x
What are you smokin'? Android 12 looks like dogshit on Sony UI. They even ruined the one-handed mode.
I want the experia 5 III review!
Love seeing these chainsaw man wallpapers
Circa £600 now uk. Worth a punt or wait for the s21ultra to drop further? Also, coming from a capable lg40 dac headphone wizardry... Is the sony equally as imoressive? Any thoughts out there? Thx
No mention of the screen brightness outdoors? Literally the one reason I'm holding back
Hits 1300 nits outdoors
Its still pretty bad, im A sony fan but I MUST tell the truth
@@Isaac-fp1nx so...no it doesn't. Not even close.
@@chetlyp I'm using Xperia 5, 2019 version and the bright is not that bad.. it will only dim in direct super bright light....
Tech nick did a video and the brightness was over 1300 nits on auto brightness and a small UA-camr named mark victorson lives on a tropical island and he said when he was at the beach in direct sunlight wearing sunglasses that the screen was bright enough and readable. I'd recommend you watch both of their videos to hear what they say verbatim
absolutely Best♥
Send it here in PH, Never had one for my review as well. Thanks
Nope ... for the phone. Quality review, as usual! Such a high price for a single Android update, for overheating in almost any situation, photo-video at medium level, sometimes not even that, modest battery life. Nope, that is!
More and more polished year after year.
Yeah I’m hoping the mark 4 irons out a lot of the shortcomings of the previous versions. Had high hopes for the 1iii, but it failed to meet my expectations.
I was waiting for your review! Thanks!! I found the Xperia 5 ii for 600€ probably will drop to 500 in some sale, do you think it's still a good phone to buy? Or should I take a look elsewhere?
I bought one last year, it's still a fantastic phone and really not much of a downgrade. Be warned though after a week with 120Hz it's difficult to go back to 60, it does my eye's in now 😬
I got it a couple months ago. No issues. Definitely not a bad phone to buy right now. The phone will be good for much longer than it's supported.
Will you have a 5 III review coming before release date? :)
Good thing I have the Xperia 5 mark II 😎
Hey you Certified Button Mash Monster...erm Master.. Great video as always. Think I will be skipping this years model. THink my 1ii has still got some vodka left in it to keep it running for another year !.. Isn't that what Jonny Logan said .. What's another year ..
If I found Nigel Farage chained to my radiator I'd ask for his autograph
Hey Chris. I need your advice on which one to go for - Oneplus 9pro or this Sony. On paper, Sony looks better, but if the software is as laggy as they say, then it can be a problem. What you reckon?
I'm sold my oneplus 9 pro and bought Sony 1iii!