Meizu 18 vs Sony Xperia 5 III: A Deep Dive into Compact Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around balance, the Sony Xperia 5 III emerges as the slightly stronger choice. While both phones share the same Snapdragon 888, the Xperia 5 III’s endurance rating of 100h suggests superior battery optimization, and its 590 nits peak brightness provides a more visible outdoor experience. The Meizu 18 remains a compelling option for those seeking a potentially faster charging experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Meizu 18 | Sony Xperia 5 III |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 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, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 03. Released 2021, March 08 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, October 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 152.4 x 69.2 x 8.2 mm (6.00 x 2.72 x 0.32 in) | 157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 162 g (5.71 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~563 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 93.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak) | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| 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, Flyme 9 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone 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/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 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 |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 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 | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 а/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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 36W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 50 min | Wired, PD, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Light Blue, White, Aurora | Black, Green, Pink |
| Models | - | XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B |
| Price | About 560 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) |
Meizu 18
- Faster wired charging (36W)
- Potentially more streamlined software
- Compact form factor
- Limited information on display specs
- Uncertain thermal performance
- Less established brand support
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Superior battery endurance (100h rating)
- Brighter display (590 nits)
- Stronger brand reputation and software support
- Slightly slower charging speed
- Potentially higher price
- Compact form factor may not suit all users
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize OLED panels, but the Sony Xperia 5 III boasts a measured peak brightness of 590 nits, a significant advantage over the unspecified brightness of the Meizu 18. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both have an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for OLED), the lack of detailed display specifications for the Meizu 18 – such as refresh rate or PWM dimming frequency – leaves questions unanswered regarding its visual experience and potential for eye strain. The Xperia 5 III’s aspect ratio is also geared towards content consumption, making it ideal for video playback.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications for the Meizu 18 are lacking. The Xperia 5 III benefits from Sony’s expertise in camera sensors and image processing, likely offering a more refined and consistent photographic experience. While sensor size and aperture details are missing for the Meizu 18, the Xperia 5 III’s camera system is known for its real-time tracking autofocus and cinematic video recording features. Without specific details on the Meizu 18’s camera hardware, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison beyond acknowledging both phones’ ability to capture photos and videos.
Performance
Both the Meizu 18 and the Sony Xperia 5 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, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical for most tasks. However, Sony’s thermal management system, historically strong in the Xperia line, may allow for sustained performance during extended gaming sessions, potentially mitigating the Snapdragon 888’s known thermal throttling tendencies. The Meizu 18’s thermal performance is less documented, making it difficult to assess its long-term stability.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 5 III’s endurance rating of 100 hours is a significant advantage, indicating superior battery optimization. While the Meizu 18 offers faster wired charging at 36W (claiming 40% in 15 minutes and 100% in 50 minutes), the Xperia 5 III’s 50% charge in 30 minutes is still competitive. The Xperia 5 III’s longer endurance suggests it can comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the Meizu 18 may require more frequent top-ups, despite its faster charging capabilities. The actual battery capacity (mAh) of both devices is not provided, making a direct comparison based on size impossible.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu 18 if you prioritize fast charging and a potentially more streamlined software experience, and are comfortable with a brand that has a smaller global presence. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 III if you value long-lasting battery life, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a more established brand with a wider range of software features and support, particularly for photography and videography.