Honor View40 vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Features

The Honor View40 and Sony Xperia 1 III represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The View40, powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+, aimed to deliver premium features at a more accessible price point. Conversely, the Xperia 1 III, with its Snapdragon 888, targeted enthusiasts prioritizing a professional-grade camera and multimedia experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Sony Xperia 1 III emerges as the stronger contender. While the Honor View40 offers impressive 66W charging, the Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 provides a more robust and consistently powerful performance, coupled with a superior camera system and a longer software support lifecycle.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor View40 Sony Xperia 1 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 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 bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 - SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2021, January 222021, April 14
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2021, August 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.1 x 74.3 x 8 mm (6.42 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1236 x 2676 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~439 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.72 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz, 800 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 Always-on displayRuns at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, with Google Play Services (unconfirmed)Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, panorama, HDRZeiss 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
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 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)
Video4K, 1080p, 720p@1920fps, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Dual16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) Color spectrum sensor-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 50% in 35 min 5W reverse wired30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Rose Gold, Titanium SilverFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
Models-XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
Price-€ 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)

Honor View40

  • Incredibly fast 66W wired charging
  • 50W wireless charging support
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Less powerful chipset compared to Snapdragon 888
  • Limited camera information available

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • Powerful Snapdragon 888 processor
  • High brightness display for outdoor visibility
  • Professional-grade camera features

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • No wireless charging support

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 620 nit peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Honor View40’s peak brightness isn’t specified, its OLED panel likely delivers vibrant colors. The Xperia 1 III’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio, typical of OLED displays, provides deep blacks and a more immersive viewing experience. The lack of information on the View40’s panel technology (LTPO, PWM dimming rate) leaves questions about its power efficiency and potential for flicker-related eye strain, areas where Sony often excels.

Camera Comparison

Both devices emphasize photography and videography, but approach it differently. The Xperia 1 III’s camera system, while details are limited in the provided data, is known for its professional-grade features and extensive manual controls. The View40’s camera specs are absent, making a direct comparison difficult. However, the Xperia 1 III’s focus on video capabilities, including 4K 120fps recording, positions it as a stronger choice for content creators. The absence of sensor size information for the View40 makes it hard to assess its low-light performance relative to the Xperia 1 III.

Performance

The Sony Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) chipset significantly outperforms the Honor View40’s Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) in raw processing power. The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a substantial boost in single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth multitasking. While the Dimensity 1000+ is no slouch, the 5nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 888 offers superior thermal efficiency, mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. The Xperia 1 III’s LPDDR5 RAM further enhances performance, while the View40’s RAM specification is unknown.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite differing battery capacities (not specified for the View40). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Honor View40’s 66W wired charging can reach 60% in 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes, a significant advantage over the Xperia 1 III’s 30W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The View40 also offers 50W wireless charging, a feature absent in the Xperia 1 III. The inclusion of 5W reverse wired charging on the View40 adds a convenient feature for topping up accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor View40 if you prioritize incredibly fast charging speeds and a vibrant display on a tighter budget. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and value a sleek design. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you demand top-tier performance for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, a professional-grade camera experience with extensive manual controls, and a device built for multimedia consumption with its high brightness display and endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ in the Honor View40 struggle with sustained gaming performance due to thermal throttling?
The Dimensity 1000+ is a capable chipset, but its 7nm fabrication process is less efficient than the 5nm Snapdragon 888. This means it's more prone to thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially leading to frame rate drops. While it can handle most games, the Xperia 1 III will likely maintain higher and more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Sony Xperia 1 III noticeably slower than the 66W charging on the Honor View40 in real-world use?
Yes, the difference is significant. The Honor View40 can reach a full charge in 35 minutes, while the Xperia 1 III takes considerably longer. For users who frequently need to quickly top up their phone, the View40’s charging speed is a major advantage. However, the Xperia 1 III’s battery endurance rating suggests it may not require charging as often.
❓ How does the camera processing differ between the Honor View40 and the Sony Xperia 1 III?
Sony is known for a more natural and color-accurate image processing style, offering extensive manual controls for enthusiasts. Without specific details on the View40’s camera software, it’s difficult to compare directly, but Honor typically employs more aggressive image processing with boosted colors and contrast. The Xperia 1 III caters to users who prefer a more authentic and customizable camera experience.