LG K22 vs. Sony Xperia 5 III: A Tale of Two Smartphones

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we're pitting two very different devices against each other: the budget-friendly LG K22 and the flagship Sony Xperia 5 III. Can a budget phone truly compete with a premium offering?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia 5 III utterly dominates the LG K22 in almost every category. Its powerful Snapdragon 888, stunning display, and exceptional camera make it a clear winner, though at a significantly higher price. The K22 offers basic functionality at a low cost.

PHONES
Phone Names LG K22 Sony Xperia 5 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40 - Brazil1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2020, September 12. Released 2020, September 122021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, October 08
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions155.7 x 75.4 x 8.4 mm (6.13 x 2.97 x 0.33 in)157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169.5 g (6.00 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditionsIP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 400 nits (typ)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 (28 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 308Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 3.X
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, 27mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro)-
FeaturesLED flash, 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
Triple-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
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radio (market/operator dependent)No
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 3000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitan, BlueBlack, Green, Pink
ModelsLMK200Z, LMK200E, LMK200B, LM-K200XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B
PriceAbout 140 EUR€ 431.90 / £ 199.99
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 100h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

LG K22

  • Extremely affordable
  • Simple and easy to use
  • Decent battery life for light use

  • Slow performance
  • Mediocre camera
  • Low-resolution display
  • Outdated chipset

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Exceptional performance
  • Outstanding camera
  • Vibrant OLED display
  • Fast charging
  • Premium build quality

  • Expensive
  • Software updates can be slow
  • Design can be polarizing

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 III boasts a vibrant OLED display with a measured 590 nits brightness and an infinite contrast ratio, offering exceptional color accuracy and deep blacks. The LG K22's LCD display is adequate for its price point but lacks the punch and clarity of the Xperia 5 III. Viewing angles and color reproduction are noticeably inferior.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 5 III's camera system is a standout feature, offering excellent image quality, video recording capabilities, and a range of creative options. The LG K22's camera is functional but produces mediocre results, especially in low light. The Xperia 5 III's processing and sensor technology are far superior.

Performance

The Snapdragon 888 in the Xperia 5 III provides blazing-fast performance, easily handling demanding games and multitasking. The K22's Snapdragon 215 struggles with anything beyond basic tasks, resulting in noticeable lag and slow app loading times. The difference is night and day.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have endurance ratings of 100 hours, but the Xperia 5 III's more efficient chipset and optimized software likely translate to better real-world battery life despite its more demanding usage. The K22's smaller battery may struggle to keep up with heavier use.

Buying Guide

The LG K22 is for users on a tight budget who need a simple phone for calls, texts, and basic apps. The Sony Xperia 5 III is for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who demands top-tier performance and a premium experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the LG K22 good for gaming?
No, the LG K22's chipset is not powerful enough for smooth gaming. It will struggle with even basic games.
❓ Which phone has better video recording capabilities?
The Sony Xperia 5 III offers significantly better video recording quality and features due to its advanced camera system.
❓ Is the Xperia 5 III worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a premium display, then yes, the Xperia 5 III is worth the investment. If you just need a basic phone for calls and texts, the LG K22 is a more budget-friendly option.