Stuff | Basil Kronfli

Pricey, brave, excellent - the Xperia 1 is a sensational smartphone and a film enthusiast's dream.

AVForums | David Phelan

This is an elegant, attractive and highly capable phone.

Android Central | Hayato Huseman

The Xperia 1 nails all of the essentials, with blisteringly fast performance and three excellent cameras. The extra-tall display takes some getting used to, but it makes widescreen movies more immersive, and its 4K HDR technology is unmatched.

AndroidPit | Steffen Herget

The Xperia 1 has no serious weakness, at least not if you can do without wireless charging and the jack socket.

NotebookCheck | Marcus Herbrich

The Sony Xperia 1 is an ideal companion for those who like to watch movies on the move. There are better options out there though if you do not fit this niche.

Gizmodo UK | Sam Rutherford

The Xperia 1 is certainly unique and definitely underrated, but it's not the mass market handset that Sony Mobile's bottom line wishes it was.

IT PRO | Nathan Spendelow

Xperia 1 remains a superb option that's more than worthy of a recommendation.

VentureBeat | Kyle Wiggers

The Xperia 1 isn't a bad phone - in fact, it's something of a triumph for Sony, whose handsets rarely surpass overall expectations. The screen's aspect ratio might be a bit of a gimmick, but its vibrancy isn't, and the triple-sensor cameras capture better-than-expected snaps indoors and out.

MobileTechTalk | Craig Bradshaw

The performance it delivers, the screen real estate, the stock software look and feel, the design and general aesthetic of the unit; everything screams premium until you get to the optics.

Digital Trends | Julian Chokkattu

Sony's Xperia 1 is the best Xperia phone to date. But while the cinematic screen is a treat, battery life and the camera could be better, and that's without mentioning all the quirks with the software.

AnandTech | Andrei Frumusanu

Where the Xperia's strengths lie is in the sheer amount of detail that the camera is able to capture. I was thoroughly impressed by the results and the phone is quite far ahead of all of the competition in this area, resulting in resolving significantly better spatial resolution, detail, and textures.

T3 | Robert Jones

For avid movie watchers and/or makers, film aficionados if you will, then the Sony Xperia 1 is simply the best phone on the market today.

The Inquirer | Alan Martin

If you can get past its strange dimensions - seriously, do try and use one before buying - then the Xperia 1 is a brilliant smartphone. It's lightning-fast, has a wonderful screen and takes fantastic photos.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

The Sony Xperia 1 is dominated by that 21:9 display. It's the most interesting feature of the phone and the most rewarding if you watch a lot of movies and want the utmost detail.

Trusted Reviews | Max Parker

The best Sony phone in years and a unique approach that should deservedly win fans.

ZDNet | Sandra Vogel

The tall Xperia 1 is also unwieldy to pocket and one-handed use is challenging, but overall the 6.5-inch OLED screen is more likely to be a deal-maker than a deal-breaker.

phoneArena | Nick Todorov

Sony Xperia 1 is actually a very good phone ... at this price point, however, a phone has to be more than good. It has to be flawless, and the Xperia 1 isn't.

TechRadar | Tom Bedford

You'd have to be a bit of a cinema buff to consider the Sony Xperia 1 over its competition, but for people who want a high-quality movie experience on their phone, it's a compelling purchase.

Expert Reviews | Nathan Spendelow

It's a crying shame that the weak battery life and video stabilisation niggles hold it back, but the Xperia 1 remains a superb option that's more than worthy of a recommendation.

Tom's Guide | Caitlin McGarry

I wanted to like the Xperia 1. But it's just too expensive for what you get ... the Galaxy S10+ is still the Android flagship to beat.

Android Authority | Eric Zeman

Bottom line, if you thought Sony's adoption of the triple-camera setup would lead to a dramatic improvement in imaging quality, I'm here to tell you that's not the case.

The Verge | Dieter Bohn

Yes, the Xperia 1 stands out, but making a unique form factor is easy. Making a good, complete package is not.

Wired | Scott Gilbertson

If you really want to create the next cinematic masterpiece, skip Sony's phone, grab a Pixel 3A.