Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Photography

The Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G and Sony Xperia 1 III represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The Reno6 Pro+ aimed for a compelling price-to-performance ratio with its Snapdragon 870, while the Xperia 1 III doubled down on a premium, creator-focused experience with the Snapdragon 888 and a professional-grade camera system. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing value and consistent performance, the Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 870 offers excellent efficiency and avoids the potential throttling issues of the Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888, coupled with incredibly fast 65W charging. However, the Xperia 1 III caters to a niche audience demanding a truly professional camera and display.

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G Sony Xperia 1 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 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 bands1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A (CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2021, May 272021, April 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 05Available. Released 2021, August 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions160.8 x 72.5 x 8 mm (6.33 x 2.85 x 0.31 in)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits (HDR), 1100 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, ColorOS 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesDual LED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Quad50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)-
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanoramaHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 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 jack-Yes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, 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, compass, color spectrumFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging65W wired30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsArctic Blue, Lunar GreyFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
ModelsPENM00XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
PriceAbout 520 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)

Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G

  • Significantly faster 65W charging
  • More thermally efficient Snapdragon 870
  • Potentially better value for money

  • Missing display refresh rate information
  • Camera details are unknown

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • High-brightness display (620 nits)
  • Professional-grade camera features
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Snapdragon 888 prone to throttling
  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 620 nit peak brightness, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Reno6 Pro+, though the Reno6 Pro+'s panel specifics are not provided. The Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a true OLED panel, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. While the Reno6 Pro+ likely also uses OLED, the Xperia 1 III’s display is geared towards content creators, potentially offering wider color gamuts and more accurate color reproduction. The lack of refresh rate information for the Reno6 Pro+ is a key omission, while the Xperia 1 III’s 120Hz refresh rate (assumed based on market positioning) provides a smoother visual experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices emphasize photography and videography, but approach it differently. The Xperia 1 III is geared towards professional users, offering extensive manual controls and features like 4K 120fps video recording. While both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Xperia 1 III’s sensor size and lens apertures are crucial differentiators not provided in the data. The Reno6 Pro+’s camera system is likely tuned for social media sharing and everyday photography, prioritizing convenience and ease of use. The absence of specific sensor details for both phones makes a direct comparison difficult, but Sony’s history suggests a focus on image quality and detail, while Oppo often emphasizes vibrant colors and AI-powered scene optimization.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Oppo Reno6 Pro+ utilizes the Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), while the Sony Xperia 1 III features the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 5nm process of the 888 *should* offer better power efficiency, but its higher peak performance also generates more heat. The Xperia 1 III’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz) provides a performance advantage over the Reno6 Pro+'s Kryo 585 (3.2 GHz), but the 870’s more balanced core configuration (1x3.2 GHz, 3x2.42 GHz, 4x1.80 GHz) and 7nm process may result in more sustained performance under load. The Xperia 1 III benefits from potentially faster LPDDR5 RAM, though the Reno6 Pro+'s RAM speed is unspecified. The Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle under sustained load, a potential drawback for gamers, while the 870 is generally more thermally efficient.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite differing battery capacities (unspecified for the Reno6 Pro+). However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The Oppo Reno6 Pro+ boasts 65W wired charging, allowing for a full charge in under 40 minutes. The Sony Xperia 1 III offers 30W wired charging with PD, reaching 50% in 30 minutes, and also includes wireless and reverse wireless charging. The Reno6 Pro+'s significantly faster charging is a major advantage for users who prioritize convenience and quick top-ups. The Xperia 1 III’s wireless charging options add versatility, but the slower wired charging speed is a compromise.

Buying Guide

Buy the Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G if you need a powerful all-rounder with exceptional charging speeds and a smooth, reliable experience for everyday tasks and gaming. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prioritize a professional-grade camera system with extensive manual controls, a high-brightness display for outdoor use, and are willing to manage potential thermal limitations for peak performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 888 in the Xperia 1 III likely to overheat during extended gaming sessions?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 is known to generate significant heat under sustained load, potentially leading to thermal throttling and reduced performance during long gaming sessions. While Sony likely implemented cooling solutions, the 870 in the Reno6 Pro+ generally offers better thermal management.
❓ Does the Oppo Reno6 Pro+ 5G support high frame rate gaming (90fps or 120fps) in popular titles like PUBG Mobile?
While the Snapdragon 870 is capable of handling high frame rates, support depends on the game itself. PUBG Mobile offers 90fps support on many devices, and the Reno6 Pro+ should be able to achieve this with optimized settings. However, sustained performance at the highest settings may vary.
❓ What type of wireless charging does the Sony Xperia 1 III support, and is it as fast as wired charging?
The Sony Xperia 1 III supports Qi wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. However, wireless charging is significantly slower than the 30W wired charging. Expect a full wireless charge to take several hours.
❓ Given the lack of detailed camera specs for the Oppo Reno6 Pro+, can we assume it's a significant step down from the Xperia 1 III's camera?
Not necessarily. While the Xperia 1 III is geared towards professionals, Oppo often delivers excellent image quality with strong software processing. Without knowing sensor sizes and apertures, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Reno6 Pro+ is likely a capable camera for everyday use and social media.