The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 and the Sony Xperia M5. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges as the victor.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Xperia M5 clearly outperforms the Galaxy Ace 3, boasting a significantly faster processor, better camera, and a brighter display. While the Ace 3 offers decent battery life, the M5's overall package makes it the superior choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - S7270, S7272 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E5603, E5653 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 8, 20 - S7275 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E5603 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2(14.4 - 3G)/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - S7275 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E5653 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, June. Released 2013, July | 2015, August. Released 2015, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 121.2 x 62.7 x 9.8 mm (3G) / 121.2 x 62.7 x 10 mm (LTE) | 145 x 72 x 7.6 mm (5.71 x 2.83 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Single SIM (Micro-SIM) or Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 115 g (3G) / 119.5 g (LTE) (4.06 oz) | 142.5 g (5.04 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~59.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~66.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 (3G) / Dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait (LTE) | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM21664 (3G) / Qualcomm MSM8930 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) (LTE) | Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Broadcom VideoCore IV (3G) / Adreno 305 (LTE) | PowerVR G6200 |
| OS | Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) | Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 4GB 1GB RAM (3G), 8GB 1GB RAM (LTE) | 16GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.6, AF | 21.2 MP, f/2.2, PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes (LTE model only) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 62 h 30 min |
| Stand-by | Up to 370 h (3G) | Up to 671 h (2G) / Up to 656 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h (3G) | Up to 11 h 49 min (2G) / Up to 12 h 11 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1800/1500 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Dark Red | Black, White, Gold |
| Models | GT-S7272, GT-S7275, GT-S7275R, GT-S720, GT-S7270, GT-S7278, GT-S7270L | E5603, E5606, E5653 |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | 0.67 W/kg (head) 0.45 W/kg (body) | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.47 W/kg (head) 0.35 W/kg (body) | 0.19 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 34h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 879:1 (nominal) / 1.622:1 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 839 (nominal), 2.69(sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 66dB
|
Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 860Basemark X: 7780 |
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3
- Excellent battery life
- Familiar Samsung interface
- Affordable price
- Outdated processor
- Lower display quality
- Basic camera
Sony Xperia M5
- Faster performance
- Superior camera
- Brighter display
- Modern design
- Slightly shorter battery life (potentially)
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
The Xperia M5 takes the display crown. While both offer decent contrast ratios (879:1 for Ace 3, 839:1 for M5), the M5's sunlight readability is significantly better at 2.69 compared to the Ace 3's 1.622. This makes the M5 much easier to use outdoors. Both likely use IPS LCD panels, but the M5's brightness advantage is key.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia M5's camera is a clear winner. While specific megapixel counts aren't provided, the M5's hardware and likely Sony's image processing algorithms will deliver superior photo and video quality. The Ace 3's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, but it won't compete with the M5's capabilities.
Performance
The Xperia M5's Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor is a massive upgrade over the Ace 3's Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 (or 1.2 GHz Krait). The Helio X10 chipset in the M5 provides noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a better overall user experience. The Ace 3 will feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Ace 3 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 34 hours, potentially outperforming the Xperia M5. However, the M5's more efficient processor and display optimization might mitigate the battery difference in real-world usage. The Ace 3's larger battery capacity likely contributes to its longer endurance rating.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3? Users prioritizing extremely long battery life and a simple, familiar Samsung interface on a very tight budget. Who should buy the Sony Xperia M5? Anyone seeking a better camera, faster performance, and a brighter display, even if it means sacrificing a bit of battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 still worth buying?
Only if you absolutely prioritize battery life above all else and are on a very limited budget. Otherwise, the Xperia M5 offers significantly better value.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Sony typically provides decent software updates for their Xperia devices, though it's unlikely either phone will receive major Android updates at this point. Samsung's One UI is generally well-regarded.
