Sony Xperia 1 III vs Xperia 1: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 1 III offers a noticeable performance boost thanks to the Snapdragon 888, improved video capabilities, and slightly better battery life. However, the Xperia 1 remains a compelling option, especially for those prioritizing value and a slightly brighter display. The 1 III is the clear winner for power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 1 III | Sony Xperia 1 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 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, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 14 | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, May 30 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 25 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) | 167 x 72 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 2.83 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 3.X | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 8 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) | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@24/25/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Native Sony Alpha camera support | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Ion 3330 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple | Black, Gray, Purple, White |
| Models | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 | J8110, J8170, J9110, J9150, SOV40, SO-03L |
| Price | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 | About 500 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 82h | Endurance rating 79h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.5 LUFS (Good) | -26.7 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 356734 (v7), 418206 (v8) GeekBench: 10985 (v4.4), 2753 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Significantly faster performance (Snapdragon 888)
- Variable telephoto zoom
- Improved video recording (4K 120fps)
- Reverse wireless charging
- Slightly better battery efficiency
- Higher price
- Slightly dimmer display than the Xperia 1
Sony Xperia 1
- More affordable
- Slightly brighter display
- Excellent camera quality
- Premium design and build quality
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 855)
- No reverse wireless charging
- Slower charging speed (18W)
Display Comparison
Both devices boast stunning 6.5-inch OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 21:9 aspect ratio, perfect for cinematic viewing. The Xperia 1 III edges out the Xperia 1 with a slightly higher peak brightness of 620 nits versus 665 nits, though the difference is minimal in real-world usage. Both offer exceptional contrast ratios (infinite nominal).
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a triple-lens rear camera system with a 12MP main, ultrawide, and telephoto lens. The Xperia 1 III introduces variable telephoto zoom (2.4x-7x), a significant advantage for capturing distant subjects. Video recording capabilities are also improved on the 1 III, supporting 4K 120fps recording. Image processing is generally excellent on both, with Sony's signature color science.
Performance
The Xperia 1 III's Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a substantial performance upgrade over the Xperia 1's Snapdragon 855. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance on the 1 III. The 888's 5nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
Battery life is comparable, with both devices achieving an endurance rating of around 82 hours. The Xperia 1 III's more efficient chipset helps offset its slightly larger battery. Both support 30W wired charging, but the Xperia 1 III also includes reverse wireless charging.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia 1 III is ideal for photography enthusiasts, videographers, and users who demand top-tier performance. It's a premium device with a premium price tag. The Sony Xperia 1 is a great choice for those seeking a flagship experience at a more accessible price point, still offering excellent camera quality and a stunning display.