Motorola Edge (2021) vs Sony Xperia 5 III: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value, the Motorola Edge (2021) offers a strong balance of performance and features. However, the Sony Xperia 5 III justifies its higher price with a significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset and a brighter display, making it the superior choice for demanding users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge (2021) | Sony Xperia 5 III |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 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, 48, 66, 71 - USA |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 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, August 19 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 02 | Available. Released 2021, October 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169 x 75.6 x 9 mm (6.65 x 2.98 x 0.35 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 |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| Water-repellent design | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, planned upgrade to Android 13 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | 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 | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens | 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@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120ps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 0.7µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 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, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | Wired, PD, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue | Black, Green, Pink |
| Models | XT2141-1 | XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B |
| Price | About 90 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) |
Motorola Edge (2021)
- More affordable price point
- 144Hz display refresh rate
- Smooth performance for everyday tasks
- Less powerful Snapdragon 778G chipset
- Display brightness likely lower than Xperia 5 III
- Camera details are limited
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Flagship Snapdragon 888 performance
- Brighter and sharper display
- Faster charging capabilities
- Significantly higher price
- Potential for thermal throttling
- Compact size may not suit all users
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 5 III boasts a brighter display, measured at 590 nits, compared to the Motorola Edge (2021)'s unspecified brightness. This difference is noticeable in direct sunlight. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal for the Xperia 5 III), the Xperia’s smaller 6.1-inch screen contributes to a higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper image. The Edge (2021) counters with a 144Hz refresh rate, potentially offering smoother scrolling and gaming, though the Xperia 5 III’s 120Hz is still very responsive. The lack of LTPO on either device means refresh rate scaling isn't as efficient as on newer flagships.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but details are limited. The Xperia 5 III, being a Sony product, likely benefits from their renowned image processing expertise. While sensor sizes aren't specified, the Xperia 5 III’s focus on professional video features suggests a more sophisticated camera system. The Motorola Edge (2021) likely offers a more versatile camera setup for general use, but the Xperia 5 III is geared towards users who demand high-quality video recording and advanced photographic controls. The absence of details on the Edge's camera specs makes a direct comparison difficult, but Sony's brand reputation in imaging is a significant advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Sony Xperia 5 III’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) significantly outperforms the Motorola Edge (2021)’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). The 888 features a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, versus the Edge’s Cortex-A78 at 2.4 GHz. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. While the 6nm process of the 778G offers better efficiency, the 5nm 888’s raw power is undeniable. Both devices utilize an octa-core configuration with similar mid and low-tier cores, but the Xperia 5 III’s superior architecture provides a clear advantage. Thermal management will be a key factor for the 888, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both devices share an endurance rating of 100 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing charging speeds. The Sony Xperia 5 III offers faster charging at 50% in 30 minutes with PD support, while the Motorola Edge (2021) takes longer with its 30W wired charging. The actual battery capacity isn't specified for either device, but the Snapdragon 888’s higher power consumption in the Xperia 5 III is likely offset by software optimizations and potentially a slightly larger battery. The faster charging on the Xperia 5 III is a convenience factor for users who need a quick power boost.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge (2021) if you need a capable 5G smartphone with a smooth 144Hz display and solid performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, all without breaking the bank. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 III if you prioritize top-tier performance for demanding applications like video editing, gaming, and photography, and value a compact form factor with a bright, high-quality display.