Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Cinematic Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming, the Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro is the clear winner. Its 65W charging and gaming-centric features offer a superior experience. However, content creators and photography enthusiasts will find the Sony Xperia 1 III’s camera and display more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 10 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 02 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 238 g (8.40 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision color PMOLED display (on the back) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Glossy Black | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1A079IN | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 680 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro
- Significantly faster 65W charging
- Gaming-focused features (AirTriggers, cooling)
- Likely higher refresh rate display for smoother gaming
- Less emphasis on camera quality
- Bulky design geared towards gaming
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Professional-grade camera system
- Stunning 4K HDR OLED display
- More refined and understated design
- Slower 30W charging
- Less optimized for intensive gaming
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, but their display approaches differ significantly. The Xperia 1 III boasts a 6.1-inch 4K HDR OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, offering excellent color accuracy and contrast (infinite nominal ratio). While the ROG Phone 5 Pro’s display specs aren’t provided, its focus is on refresh rate and responsiveness for gaming. The Xperia 1 III’s 4K resolution provides a sharper image for video and photo editing, while the ROG Phone 5 Pro likely prioritizes a higher refresh rate (potentially 144Hz) for smoother gameplay. The Xperia 1 III’s display is geared towards content consumption and creation, while the ROG Phone 5 Pro’s is optimized for competitive gaming.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia 1 III is positioned as a photography and videography powerhouse, though specific sensor details are absent. Its 'Photo / Video' designation suggests a comprehensive feature set. The ROG Phone 5 Pro, while likely having a capable camera, is not its primary focus. The Xperia 1 III’s emphasis on manual controls and professional features, combined with its likely larger sensor size, gives it an edge for serious photographers. The Xperia 1 III’s video capabilities are also likely superior, offering features like 4K HDR recording and advanced stabilization. The ROG Phone 5 Pro’s camera is adequate for casual use, but it won’t compete with the Xperia 1 III’s pro-grade capabilities.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This means raw CPU performance will be comparable. However, the ROG Phone 5 Pro’s cooling system is likely more robust, designed to sustain peak performance during extended gaming sessions. While RAM specifications aren’t provided, the ROG Phone 5 Pro likely features faster LPDDR5 RAM and a more aggressive thermal design to minimize throttling. The Xperia 1 III, while capable, prioritizes a more balanced thermal profile for all-day use.
Battery Life
Both devices have an endurance rating of 82h, suggesting similar overall battery life despite differing charging speeds. The ROG Phone 5 Pro boasts 65W wired charging, achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes, a significant advantage for quick top-ups. The Xperia 1 III offers 30W wired charging, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. The ROG Phone 5 Pro’s faster charging is crucial for gamers who need to quickly return to their sessions. The Xperia 1 III also offers wireless and reverse wireless charging, providing added convenience, but at a slower charging rate.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro if you need a dedicated gaming machine with top-tier performance, rapid charging, and specialized gaming features like AirTriggers. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a more balanced flagship experience with a focus on professional-grade photography, a stunning display for media consumption, and a more understated design.