Asus ROG Phone 5 vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive for Power Users
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming and long battery life, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is the clear winner. Its significantly superior 110-hour endurance rating and 65W charging outweigh the Xperia 1 III’s multimedia strengths. However, the Xperia 1 III remains a compelling choice for those valuing a more refined, creator-focused experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 5 | 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 - Version 1 | 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 - Version 1 | 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 - Version 1 | 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 |
| 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - Version 2, Version 3 | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 10 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 26 | 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) |
| RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) | 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 | 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 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 | Phantom Black, Storm White | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B048IN, ASUS_I005DB, ASUS_I005DA, I005DA, I005DB | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 370 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 110h | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -24.0 LUFS (Very good) | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 718864 (v8) GeekBench: 14536 (v4.4), 3745 (v5.1) GFXBench: 72fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Asus ROG Phone 5
- Exceptional battery life (110h endurance)
- Ultra-fast 65W charging
- Optimized for gaming performance
- Bulky and less refined design
- Camera may prioritize vibrancy over accuracy
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Excellent display color accuracy
- Strong camera image processing
- More traditional smartphone form factor
- Significantly shorter battery life (82h endurance)
- Slower 30W charging
Display Comparison
The Asus ROG Phone 5 boasts a peak brightness of 806 nits, significantly exceeding the Xperia 1 III’s 620 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the ROG Phone 5’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use and HDR content viewing. While both likely utilize high refresh rate panels (not specified in the data, but standard for these devices), the ROG Phone 5’s display is geared towards maximizing visual impact during fast-paced gaming, while the Xperia 1 III prioritizes color accuracy for professional content creation.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but their approaches differ. The provided data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both, lacking specifics on sensor size or resolution. However, Sony’s expertise in camera technology suggests the Xperia 1 III will likely excel in image processing and color science, offering a more natural and cinematic look. The ROG Phone 5’s camera is likely tuned for vibrant, shareable photos and videos, prioritizing visual pop over absolute accuracy. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Xperia 1 III’s brand reputation and focus on professional-grade imaging give it an edge.
Performance
Both the ROG Phone 5 and Xperia 1 III are powered by the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). Therefore, raw CPU performance will be nearly identical. The key differentiator lies in thermal management and sustained performance. The ROG Phone 5, designed for extended gaming, likely incorporates a more robust cooling system to mitigate throttling under heavy load. While the Xperia 1 III’s thermal solution is adequate, it may be more prone to performance dips during prolonged gaming sessions. RAM specifications are not provided, but the ROG Phone 5 is likely to feature faster RAM and more aggressive memory management for gaming.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Phone 5’s endurance rating of 110 hours dwarfs the Xperia 1 III’s 82 hours. This substantial difference is a direct result of the ROG Phone 5’s larger battery capacity (not specified, but likely significantly larger than the Xperia 1 III’s) and optimized power management. Furthermore, the ROG Phone 5 supports 65W wired charging, achieving 70% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes, while the Xperia 1 III is limited to 30W charging, reaching only 50% in the same timeframe. The ROG Phone 5 also offers 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent in the Xperia 1 III. This makes the ROG Phone 5 the clear winner for users prioritizing battery life and charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, extended battery life for marathon sessions, and rapid charging capabilities. It’s built for those who prioritize framerates and responsiveness above all else. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prefer a more balanced smartphone experience with a focus on photography, videography, and media consumption, and appreciate a more traditional, less overtly ‘gamer’ aesthetic.