Free up space · Sony
How to free up space on the Sony Xperia 1 III
Short answer
To free up space on the Xperia 1 III, open Settings > Storage to see what is using it, clear duplicates with Google Photos: Free up space on this device, then empty Google Photos's Trash. A default 12 MP photo is about 3.6 MB, so 5,000 photos take roughly 18 GB of the 256 GB base model.
Last updated
Where is the storage screen on the Xperia 1 III?
The Xperia 1 III launched in June 2021 with Android 11 and Android 11. On that software the storage screen is Settings > Storage. Sony promises 2 Android upgrades, so menu names can change after updates.
How much space do Xperia 1 III photos take?
Xperia 1 III: 12 MP main sensor, plus 12 MP 3x/4.4x variable telephoto, 12 MP ultrawide. 1,000 default Xperia 1 III shots take about 3.6 GB.
| File | Typical size | Fits in 10 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Default photo (12 MP) | about 3.6 MB | about 2,778 |
| RAW / DNG (12 MP) | about 23 MB | about 435 |
| One minute of video at 4K 120fps | about 350 MB | about 29 minutes |
The Xperia 1 III has no high-resolution mode beyond 12 MP, so photo sizes stay predictable. RAW files from the Xperia 1 III run to about 23 MB each, which is why RAW folders fill a phone faster than anything except video. Recording at 4K 120fps, the Xperia 1 III writes about 350 MB a minute, so a ten-minute clip takes 3.5 GB, the same as 972 default photos. Selfies from the 8 MP front camera are about 2.4 MB each.
What is specific to the Xperia 1 III?
4K 120 fps recording on all three rear cameras makes video the main storage cost. It keeps the microSD slot.
Where do deleted photos go on the Xperia 1 III?
On the Xperia 1 III, Google Photos's Trash holds them for 30 days (Google Photos > Collections > Trash). It launched on Android 11, so it also has Android's system trash.
How much of each Xperia 1 III storage option does a big gallery use?
| Storage option | 5,000 default photos | 30 minutes of top-quality video |
|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | 18 GB (7%) | 11 GB (4%) |
On the 256 GB Xperia 1 III, every 10 GB you free holds about 2,778 more default photos, and a gallery of 20,000 photos would fill 28% of it.
Which built-in cleaners did the Xperia 1 III ship with?
Out of the box on Android 11, the Xperia 1 III has Google Photos: Free up space on this device (Google Photos > profile picture > Free up space on this device) and Files by Google cleaning suggestions (Files by Google > Clean). How each works is in the Sony guide.
Can you move Xperia 1 III photos to a memory card?
Yes, the Xperia 1 III takes microSD. A 128 GB card would hold about 35,556 of its default photos.
How does the Xperia 1 III compare with other Xperia 1 phones?
Against the Xperia 1 II (May 2020), the Xperia 1 III has the same 256 GB starting storage. Against the Xperia 1 IV (June 2022), the Xperia 1 III has the same 256 GB starting storage.
| Model | Launched | Storage options | Default photo | microSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xperia 1 III | June 2021 | 256 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
| Xperia 1 II | May 2020 | 256 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
| Xperia 1 IV | June 2022 | 256 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
What will GalleryJury do on the Xperia 1 III?
GalleryJury, coming soon for Android 11 and later, will pick the best shot of each burst. At about 3.6 MB a Xperia 1 III photo, its $5 pack of 5,000 photos covers roughly 18 GB, after 50 free.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos fit on a 256 GB Xperia 1 III?
In theory about 71,111 default photos if nothing else were stored; in practice apps and Android take a large share.
How much storage does the Xperia 1 III have?
It was sold with 256 GB, plus a microSD slot.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Sony Xperia 1 III (checked 31 October 2026)
- Android Help: Free up storage on your Android device (checked 31 October 2026)
- Google Photos Help: Delete & restore photos and videos (checked 31 October 2026)
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GalleryJury is coming soon to Android
It keeps the best shot from every burst and clears the clutter around it. 50 free photos to try, then $5 for 5,000 photos or $15 for 20,000. Pay once, nothing renews. No subscription.