Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and 5G connectivity, the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) is the smarter buy. While the Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a more powerful chipset and a brighter display, its higher price doesn't translate to a proportionally better experience for everyday tasks.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) | Sony Xperia 1 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, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Verizon, USA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| 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 |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 14 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 14 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 169 x 75.6 x 9 mm (6.65 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 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 Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~395 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 144Hz, HDR10 | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| 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 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB 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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| 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 | 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 | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Nebula Blue | Frosted 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 | About 550 EUR | € 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) |
Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)
- More affordable price point
- Excellent 5G connectivity, including mmWave
- Balanced thermal performance
- Less powerful processor
- Display specs are unknown
- Lacks wireless charging
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Powerful Snapdragon 888 processor
- Bright and color-accurate display
- Advanced camera features for professionals
- Higher price
- Potential for thermal throttling
- Less efficient chipset
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III’s display shines with a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021), whose brightness is not specified. While the Motorola’s display specs are unknown, the Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a deeper black level and more vivid colors. The Xperia 1 III’s 21:9 aspect ratio caters to multimedia consumption and multitasking, though it may present compatibility challenges with some apps. The lack of PWM dimming information for the Motorola raises potential concerns for users sensitive to flicker, while the Xperia 1 III’s display technology is optimized for color accuracy, crucial for professional photo and video editing.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable camera systems, but the Sony Xperia 1 III is geared towards professional photographers and videographers. While both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, the Xperia 1 III benefits from Sony’s renowned image processing algorithms and likely larger sensor sizes (specs not provided). The Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) likely focuses on providing a versatile camera experience for everyday use, but lacks the advanced features and control offered by the Xperia 1 III. The Xperia 1 III’s video recording capabilities are a key strength, offering features like 4K HDR recording and advanced manual controls.
Performance
The Sony Xperia 1 III’s Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset significantly outperforms the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021)’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) in raw processing power. The Xperia 1 III’s CPU configuration, featuring a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a noticeable advantage in demanding tasks like gaming and video rendering. However, the Snapdragon 888 is known for thermal throttling under sustained load, a potential drawback. The Motorola’s Snapdragon 778G, while less powerful, offers a more balanced thermal profile, potentially leading to more consistent performance during extended gaming sessions. The 6nm process node of the 778G contributes to better efficiency.
Battery Life
Both the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) and the Sony Xperia 1 III share a battery endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified for Motorola). The Sony Xperia 1 III supports 30W wired charging with PD, achieving a 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities. The Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) also supports 30W wired charging, but lacks wireless charging options. The Xperia 1 III’s broader charging options provide greater flexibility for users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Edge 5G UW (2021) if you need reliable 5G performance, particularly on mmWave networks, and want a capable smartphone without breaking the bank. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you are a content creator who demands professional-grade camera features, a vibrant display for editing, and are willing to pay a premium for a refined, feature-rich experience.