Sony Xperia 10 III Lite vs Xperia 5 II: A Detailed Comparison

Sony offers a range of smartphones catering to different budgets and needs. The Xperia 10 III Lite aims for affordability and essential features, while the Xperia 5 II targets enthusiasts with premium hardware. This comparison dives deep into both devices to help you decide which one is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 II is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a superior camera system, and a brighter display. However, the Xperia 10 III Lite provides a more budget-friendly option for users prioritizing essential features and longer battery life, albeit with compromises.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Lite Sony Xperia 5 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1900HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 12, 18, 19, 38, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66
5G bands77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, August 202020, September 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 27Available. Released 2020, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Triluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 650
OSAndroid 11Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
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"12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0"8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
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, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD, QC21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkBlack, Grey, Blue, Pink
ModelsXQ-BT44SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02
PriceAbout 370 EURAbout 650 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 695.00
RENEWED-£ 239.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 102h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III Lite

  • Affordable
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Long Battery Life
  • Compact Size

  • Lower Performance
  • Less Bright Display
  • Basic Camera
  • Plastic Build

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • High Performance Snapdragon 865
  • Excellent Camera System
  • Bright and Vibrant Display
  • Premium Design

  • Higher Price
  • Potentially Shorter Battery Life under Heavy Load
  • Less Compact than 10 III Lite

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 II boasts a brighter display (600 nits) with a near-infinite contrast ratio, providing a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The 10 III Lite's display is likely less bright and may lack the same level of color accuracy. Both offer OLED panels, but the 5 II's is noticeably superior.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 5 II's camera system is a major upgrade. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the 5 II likely features larger sensors, better image processing, and potentially more advanced features like improved low-light performance and 4K video recording at higher frame rates. The 10 III Lite's camera is adequate but not exceptional.

Performance

The Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia 5 II delivers significantly faster performance than the Snapdragon 690 in the 10 III Lite. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the 5 II. The 5 II's CPU architecture (with a Cortex-A77 prime core) is also a major advantage.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have an endurance rating of 102h, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Xperia 5 II's more powerful processor will likely consume more power under heavy load, potentially resulting in slightly shorter real-world battery life despite the similar rating. The 10 III Lite's efficiency is a plus.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 III Lite is ideal for budget-conscious users who need a reliable 5G phone for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and basic photography. The Xperia 5 II is perfect for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who demands top-tier performance and a premium experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 III Lite good for gaming?
The Xperia 10 III Lite can handle casual games, but its processor isn't powerful enough for demanding titles or high graphics settings. The Xperia 5 II is a much better choice for gamers.
❓ Which Sony phone has better camera quality?
The Xperia 5 II offers significantly better camera quality due to its more advanced hardware and image processing capabilities. Expect better detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance.