Sony Xperia 10 III Lite vs. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: A Detailed Showdown

The smartphone landscape is vast, offering choices for every budget and need. Today, we pit two very different contenders against each other: the budget-friendly Sony Xperia 10 III Lite and the premium Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Can the Xperia compete with Apple's flagship powerhouse?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 14 Pro Max unequivocally wins in almost every category – performance, camera quality, and display brightness. However, the Xperia 10 III Lite offers a compelling value proposition for budget-conscious buyers seeking a reliable Android experience with a decent screen and 5G connectivity.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Lite Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1900HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 12, 18, 19, 38, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2894, A2896
5G bands77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2894, A2896
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2895
Launch
Announced2021, August 202022, September 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 27Available. Released 2022, September 16
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frameGlass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)160.7 x 77.6 x 7.9 mm (6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Ceramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~88.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDRLTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM)
 -Always-On display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal64GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 -NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single-12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS (unconfirmed) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 54mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0"48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0"12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video outputLightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving)
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD, QCWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4323 mAh (16.68 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkSpace Black, Silver, Gold, Deep Purple
ModelsXQ-BT44A2894, A2651, A2893, A2895, A2896, iphone15,3
PriceAbout 370 EUR€ 530.79 / $ 489.81 / £ 446.75
SAR-1.15 W/kg (head)     1.07 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 955884 (v9) GeekBench: 5423 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III Lite

  • Affordable price
  • Compact design
  • 5G connectivity
  • Clean Android experience
  • Decent screen

  • Lower performance
  • Less impressive camera
  • Slower charging
  • Less premium build quality

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance
  • Outstanding camera system
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Premium build quality
  • Long battery life
  • MagSafe wireless charging

  • High price
  • Limited customization
  • Lightning port (older standard)
  • iOS ecosystem lock-in

Display Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display (1760 nits peak) with an infinite contrast ratio, offering stunning visuals. The Xperia 10 III Lite's display is respectable but lacks the same vibrancy and brightness. Color accuracy is generally good on both, but the iPhone's ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) provides a smoother scrolling experience.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 14 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced computational photography, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Xperia 10 III Lite's camera is capable but lacks the same level of detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. Cinematic mode and ProRes video recording are iPhone exclusives.

Performance

The A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro Max utterly dominates the Snapdragon 690 5G in the Xperia 10 III Lite. Expect lightning-fast app loading, seamless multitasking, and effortless handling of demanding games on the iPhone. The Xperia is adequate for everyday tasks but will struggle with intensive applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings around 121 hours. The iPhone 14 Pro Max's larger battery capacity contributes to its longevity. While the Xperia 10 III Lite supports 30W charging, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers faster charging with PD 2.0 and MagSafe wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 III Lite is ideal for users on a tight budget who prioritize a compact design, 5G connectivity, and a clean Android experience. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is for those who demand the absolute best in performance, camera capabilities, and a premium ecosystem, regardless of price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 III Lite good for gaming?
The Xperia 10 III Lite can handle casual games, but it will struggle with graphically demanding titles. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is significantly better suited for gaming.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Apple iPhones generally receive longer software support and updates than Android phones. Expect several years of iOS updates for the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
❓ Can the Xperia 10 III Lite be used with 5G networks?
Yes, the Xperia 10 III Lite supports 5G connectivity.
❓ Does the iPhone 14 Pro Max support wireless charging?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports both MagSafe (15W) and Qi2 (requires iOS 17.2) wireless charging.