Here's when Sony's Xperia 1 III might go on sale in the U.S.

By Babu Mohan
published

Sony Xperia 1 III Photography
Sony Xperia 1 III Photography (Image credit: Sony)

What you need to know

  • A new listing suggests the Xperia 1 III won't begin shipping in the U.S. until August 31.
  • The phone was announced last month, alongside the Xperia 5 III.
  • It is the world's first phone to feature a 4K 120Hz display.

Sony recently announced the Xperia 1 III, the world's first phone to come with a 4K 120Hz display and a Dual-PD sensor. While there is no doubt that Sony's latest flagship phone is a solid rival to Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra, you may have to wait months to get your hands on one.

Xperia 1 Iii B&H

Source: B&H (Image credit: Source: B&H)

According to a listing for the Xperia 1 III on the B&H website, the phone will begin shipping in the U.S. on August 31 (via TechRadar). Sony hasn't confirmed a release date for the phone yet, so there is a small possibility of the date listed by B&H being wrong. However, the Japanese tech giant is infamous for launching its phones months after their announcement. The Xperia 1 II arrived in the U.S. in July last year, five months after its announcement. When Sony announced the Xperia 1 III last month, it promised that the phone would be released "this summer."

Sony is also yet to reveal just how much the phone will cost. Going by how the Xperia 1 II was launched at $1,200 in the U.S. last year, we wouldn't be surprised if the Xperia 1 III is even more expensive than the Galaxy S21 Ultra at launch. It is also worth noting that unlike its predecessor, the phone will support sub-6GHz 5G networks in the U.S. While that's definitely an improvement, the lack of mmWave support puts it at a disadvantage compared to the best Android phones.

Babu Mohan
Babu Mohan
News Writer
4 Comments
  • It's stupid how you they take long to release the phone. No mmwave 5G is also disappointing, but at least it also supports many international 5G bands in addition to 4G ones. Plus, low and mid-band is what most people will be using anyways.
  • I am hopeful this is a placeholder because that's what they define as the end of summer (even though it's late-September). If it really takes them to August 31st, then they might as well have not even bothered making a phone. Samsung released its flagship earlier than ever this year, while this would be the latest release date for the Xperia 1 line that we have seen...and they want to make it even MORE expensive.
  • I wanted this phone but had to eventually go for the s21 Ultra instead. Come on Sony sort it out.
  • "the lack of mmWave support puts it at a disadvantage compared to the best Android phones."
    Here is yet another stupid statement put out by AC. Verizon is the only carrier to even provide this type of 5G and we ALL KNOW IT IS WORTHLESS! Why can't your writers just tell the facts and stop with their opinions? The level of 5G access provided by Verizon would barely cover my back yard! So stupid!