Sony Xperia 10 III vs Xperia 1 II: A Clash of Titans

Sony's Xperia line offers a diverse range of devices, catering to different needs and budgets. The Xperia 10 III focuses on affordability and long battery life, while the Xperia 1 II aims for flagship performance and a premium camera experience. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone comes out on top.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 II is the clear winner for performance and camera quality thanks to its Snapdragon 865 and advanced features. However, the Xperia 10 III offers exceptional battery life and a more budget-friendly price point, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing longevity and value.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Sony Xperia 1 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 800 / 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, April 142020, February 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 11Available. Released 2020, May 22
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)165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm (6.5 x 2.80 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)181.4 g (6.38 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)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)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020
 Triluminos displayRuns at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
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 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 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, 120˚, 16mm (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 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (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 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
RadioFM radio (region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display PortUSB 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
Charging21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QC21W wired, PD 11W wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkBlack, Purple, Mirror Lake Green
ModelsSO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SOXQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 700 EUR
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 137hEndurance rating 83h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.2 LUFS (Average) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 286216 (v8) GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Affordable price
  • Decent display
  • 5G connectivity

  • Lower performance
  • Less advanced camera
  • Plastic build

Sony Xperia 1 II

  • Flagship performance
  • Excellent camera system with variable telephoto
  • Stunning 120Hz display
  • Wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Shorter battery life
  • Larger and heavier design

Display Comparison

Both phones boast excellent contrast ratios (Infinite, nominally). The Xperia 1 II edges out the 10 III with a slightly higher peak brightness of 611 nits versus 559 nits, resulting in a marginally more vibrant viewing experience, especially outdoors. Both feature OLED panels, offering rich colors and deep blacks. The Xperia 1 II also has a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 1 II's camera system is a major upgrade. It features a variable telephoto lens, offering greater flexibility in framing shots. While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the 1 II's larger sensor and more advanced processing algorithms result in superior image quality, especially in low light. The 1 II also supports 4K 120fps video recording, a feature absent in the 10 III.

Performance

The Xperia 1 II's Snapdragon 865 chipset with its Cortex-A77 cores provides a significant performance advantage over the Xperia 10 III's Snapdragon 690. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the 1 II. The 10 III is adequate for everyday tasks but will struggle with demanding games or applications.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 III shines in this category. Its endurance rating of 137h significantly surpasses the Xperia 1 II's 83h. This translates to considerably longer battery life for the 10 III, making it a champion for users who need a phone that can last for days on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 III is ideal for users seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with a decent display and camera, without breaking the bank. It's perfect for everyday use and those who value battery endurance. The Sony Xperia 1 II is for photography enthusiasts and power users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning display, and a professional-grade camera system, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 III good for gaming?
The Xperia 10 III can handle casual games, but its processor isn't powerful enough for demanding titles. The Xperia 1 II is a much better choice for gamers.
❓ Which phone has better video recording capabilities?
The Xperia 1 II offers superior video recording capabilities, including 4K 120fps recording and better stabilization.