Sony Xperia 1 III release date: US pre-order goes live with free WF-1000MX3 and ‘Call of Duty Mobile’ CP

The flagship Sony Xperia 1 III is now available to pre-order for customers in the United States, but it will not ship for more than a month. Its smaller sibling, Sony Xperia 5 III, is also confirmed to launch in Europe in September.

The new Sony Xperia products launching this year were first announced in April, but it will take more time before tech fans can get their hands on the photography-focused smartphones. On the bright side, details about its features and technical specifications are now known to the public, helping customers make an informed decision on whether or not they are the right phones for them.

Sony Xperia 1 III, technically the more superior device of the two, as evidenced by its slight advantage in the camera department. It sports 12MP f/1.7 wide, 12MP f/2.3 periscope-style telephoto, and 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lenses. But its main advantage is it exclusively features a 3D iToF sensor, which Sony says delivers a more accurate focusing even in low-light environments.

Another camera-related selling point of the device is its four focal lengths – 16mm, 24mm, 70mm, and 105mm – available in both photo and video modes. Sony also delivers a competitive display in Xperia 1 III with its 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Its body is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, Gorilla Glass 6 on the back, and an aluminum frame. It is also water-resistant with IP65/68 rating. Sony Xperia 1 III is powered by the Snapdragon 888 5G platform. Its battery has a capacity of 4500mAh and is advertised to charge by up to 50 percent in 30 minutes.

Sony Xperia 1 III costs $1,299.99, and customers who will order until Sept. 26 will receive free WF-1000MX3 wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation and 43,200 “Call of Duty: Mobile” CP. These items are valued at $230 and $540, respectively. The device will not ship in the U.S. until Aug. 19.

Sony’s official store also indicates that the Sony Xperia 5 III is “coming soon,” but pre-order is not live yet. However, a separate press release for its European customers announced it would ship in the region in September for €999 (~$1,183). It has a smaller 6.1-inch screen (1080 x 2520) and does not have the 3D iToF sensor, but it is also powered by Snapdragon 888.