Sony's Xperia line offers a unique blend of features, often prioritizing a clean Android experience and a focus on photography. The Xperia 10 III and the newer Xperia 10 III Lite both fall into this category, but with subtle differences. This comparison will help you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 10 III Lite offers a slight performance edge with faster charging, but the Xperia 10 III boasts exceptional battery life and a potentially better display experience. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether you prioritize charging speed or endurance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 12, 18, 19, 38, 41 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 20 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 27 | Available. Released 2021, June 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in) | 154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| | - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR | OLED, 1B colors, HDR |
| | - | Triluminos display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | UFS |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 12 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" | 12 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, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0" |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0" | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD, QC | 21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QC |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue, Pink | Black, White, Blue, Pink |
| Models | XQ-BT44 | SO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SO |
| Price | About 370 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 137h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.2 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 286216 (v8)
GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 10 III Lite
- Faster 30W Charging
- 5G Connectivity
- Potentially slightly better performance
- Less impressive battery life than the 10 III
- Display details less readily available
- Potentially less refined camera software
Sony Xperia 10 III
- Exceptional 137-hour battery life
- High display brightness (559 nits)
- Potentially better image processing
- Slower 21W Charging
- Older model
- May lack some of the latest software features
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.0-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The Xperia 10 III boasts a measured max brightness of 559 nits and an 'infinite' contrast ratio (likely due to the OLED technology), suggesting a potentially more vibrant and visually appealing experience. The Lite version's display details are less readily available, but it's likely comparable. The Xperia 10 III's display is likely the winner here.
Camera Comparison
Camera specifications are broadly similar, with both phones offering Photo/Video capabilities. However, the Xperia 10 III might have slightly better image processing due to potentially more mature software. Detailed camera comparisons would require extensive testing, but the Xperia 10 III likely holds a slight advantage.
Performance
Both devices share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G chipset and CPU configuration. However, the Xperia 10 III Lite benefits from potentially optimized software and slightly newer components, which *could* translate to marginally smoother performance in everyday tasks. Real-world differences are likely to be minimal for most users.
Battery Life
This is where the Xperia 10 III truly shines. It boasts an exceptional endurance rating of 137 hours, significantly outperforming most smartphones. The Xperia 10 III Lite's battery capacity is likely similar, but the software optimization and potentially slightly more power-hungry components could result in shorter battery life. The Xperia 10 III is the clear winner in this category.
Buying Guide
The Xperia 10 III Lite is ideal for users who want a 5G-capable phone with decent performance and faster charging without breaking the bank. The Xperia 10 III is a better choice for those prioritizing long battery life and a potentially superior display, even if it means slower charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia 10 III Lite worth the upgrade from the Xperia 10 III?
It depends on your priorities. If faster charging and 5G are essential, the Lite version is a good choice. Otherwise, the Xperia 10 III's superior battery life and potentially better display make it a compelling option.
❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?
While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Xperia 10 III likely benefits from more mature image processing software, potentially resulting in slightly better image quality. However, a full camera comparison would require extensive testing.
