Sony Xperia 10 III vs. Apple iPhone SE (2022): A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Xperia 10 III and the Apple iPhone SE (2022) represent distinct philosophies in the smartphone market. The Xperia 10 III prioritizes stamina and a more open Android experience, while the iPhone SE (2022) delivers flagship-level processing power in a compact form factor, deeply integrated within the Apple ecosystem. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a customizable experience, the Sony Xperia 10 III is the better choice. Its 137-hour endurance rating significantly outpaces the iPhone SE (2022)'s 62 hours. However, if raw performance and seamless iOS integration are paramount, the iPhone SE (2022) remains a compelling option.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 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 - A2783, A2784, A2785
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2783, A2784, A2785, A2782
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, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2595
Launch
Announced2021, April 142022, March 08
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 11Available. Released 2022, March 18
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)144 g (5.08 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Ion-strengthened glass
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDRRetina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ)
 Triluminos display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Apple GPU (4-core graphics)
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 UFSNVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
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, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0"-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0"7 MP, f/2.2
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radio (region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display PortLightning, 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, compassFingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QC20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkMidnight, Starlight, Red
ModelsSO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SOA2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6
PriceAbout 300 EUR$ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00
SAR-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.20 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 137h Endurance rating 62h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.2 LUFS (Average) -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 286216 (v8) GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III

  • Exceptional battery life (137h endurance)
  • Expandable storage via microSD
  • Customizable Android experience

  • Less powerful processor than iPhone SE
  • Lower display brightness

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

  • Blazing-fast performance with A15 Bionic
  • Bright and sharp display
  • Seamless iOS integration

  • Poor battery life (62h endurance)
  • No expandable storage
  • Limited customization options

Display Comparison

The iPhone SE (2022) boasts a significantly brighter display at 605 nits compared to the Xperia 10 III’s 559 nits, making it more visible outdoors in direct sunlight. However, the Xperia 10 III’s infinite (nominal) contrast ratio suggests a potentially better viewing experience in darker environments, though the iPhone SE’s 1424:1 contrast ratio is still excellent. Both displays lack high refresh rates, but the iPhone SE’s smaller size (not specified in data, but known to be 4.7 inches) contributes to a higher pixel density, potentially resulting in a sharper image. The lack of LTPO technology in either device means neither offers adaptive refresh rates for power saving.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited by the provided data. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, Apple’s computational photography prowess, driven by the A15 Bionic’s image signal processor, likely gives the iPhone SE (2022) an edge in image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Xperia 10 III, leveraging Sony’s imaging expertise, may offer a more natural color profile, appealing to photography enthusiasts. The absence of details regarding OIS or advanced features suggests neither phone is a standout in the camera department.

Performance

The Apple A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone SE (2022) is in a different league than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G powering the Xperia 10 III. The A15’s hexa-core architecture, with its 3.22 GHz Avalanche cores, delivers substantially faster CPU performance. The 5nm fabrication process of the A15 also contributes to greater power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 690’s 8nm process. While the Xperia 10 III is capable of handling everyday tasks, the iPhone SE (2022) will excel in demanding applications like gaming and video editing. The Snapdragon 690’s octa-core configuration (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) is geared towards efficiency rather than peak performance.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 III’s endurance rating of 137 hours dwarfs the iPhone SE (2022)’s 62 hours, highlighting a significant advantage in battery life. This difference is likely due to a combination of factors, including a larger battery capacity (not specified, but generally larger than the iPhone SE’s) and the more efficient Snapdragon 690 chipset. While the iPhone SE (2022) supports 20W wired charging with a 50% charge in 30 minutes and 7.5W wireless charging, the Xperia 10 III offers 21W wired charging with PD and QC support. The Xperia 10 III’s superior endurance means users will likely rely less on frequent charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia 10 III if you need exceptional battery life, value expandable storage, and prefer the flexibility of the Android operating system. It’s ideal for users who consume a lot of media on the go or frequently travel without easy access to charging. Buy the Apple iPhone SE (2022) if you prioritize speed and responsiveness for demanding apps and games, are already invested in the Apple ecosystem, and appreciate a compact, pocketable design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 690 in the Xperia 10 III struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 690 is a capable chipset, it's not designed for high-end gaming. Genshin Impact will likely be playable at lower settings and frame rates. The iPhone SE (2022)'s A15 Bionic will provide a much smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.
❓ How does the iPhone SE (2022)'s smaller screen size impact usability for tasks like web browsing or video editing?
The iPhone SE (2022)'s 4.7-inch display can feel cramped for tasks requiring significant screen real estate. Web browsing and video editing may require more scrolling and zooming compared to larger-screened devices like the Xperia 10 III. However, some users prefer the compact form factor for one-handed use.
❓ Is the lack of 5G support on older Xperia 10 III models a significant drawback?
The Xperia 10 III *does* support 5G, thanks to the Snapdragon 690. However, 5G availability varies by region and carrier. If you live in an area with limited 5G coverage, the difference in real-world performance between 5G and 4G may be negligible.