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

The Sony Xperia 10 series offers a compelling blend of features and affordability. But with two generations to choose from, deciding between the Xperia 10 III and the Xperia 10 II can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison breaks down the key differences to help you make the right choice.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 10 III edges out the 10 II thanks to its more powerful Snapdragon 690 5G chipset, brighter display, and significantly improved battery life. While the 10 II remains a solid option, the 10 III offers a noticeable upgrade for a reasonable price.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Sony Xperia 10 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 411, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat11 600/75 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2021, April 142020, February 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 11Available. Released 2020, May 05
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame
Dimensions154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)157 x 69 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.72 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)151 g (5.33 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)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~77.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED
 Triluminos display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 610
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 RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
 UFS-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
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/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0"
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0"8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0"
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS
RadioFM radio (region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display PortUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QC18W wired, PD, QC3
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 3600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkBlack, White, Mint Green, Berry Blue
ModelsSO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SOXQ-AU51, XQ-AU52, SO-41A
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 700 EUR
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 137hEndurance rating 92h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.2 LUFS (Average) -28.8 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 286216 (v8) GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 196545 (v8) GeekBench: 5679 (v4.4), 1413 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III

  • Improved Battery Life
  • Faster Processor (Snapdragon 690 5G)
  • Brighter Display
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Slightly Improved Camera

  • Design is similar to previous models
  • Still not a flagship performer
  • Charging speed could be faster

Sony Xperia 10 II

  • More Affordable
  • Compact Design
  • Good Value for Money
  • Decent Camera

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • Older Processor (Snapdragon 665)
  • Lower Brightness Display
  • No 5G

Display Comparison

The Xperia 10 III boasts a slightly brighter display at 559 nits compared to the 10 II's 520 nits, offering a more vibrant viewing experience, especially outdoors. Both feature a tall 6-inch OLED display with an infinite contrast ratio, delivering deep blacks and rich colors. The 10 III also has a slightly improved refresh rate, though it's still standard 60Hz.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature similar camera setups, typically including a main lens, ultrawide lens, and telephoto lens. However, the 10 III benefits from software optimizations and potentially slightly improved image processing due to its newer chipset. Low-light performance is likely improved on the 10 III as well. Video recording capabilities are comparable.

Performance

The Xperia 10 III's Snapdragon 690 5G chipset is a significant upgrade over the 10 II's Snapdragon 665. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved overall responsiveness. While neither phone is a powerhouse, the 10 III handles everyday tasks with greater ease.

Battery Life

This is where the Xperia 10 III truly shines. Its endurance rating of 137 hours significantly surpasses the 10 II's 92 hours. This means the 10 III can easily last for multiple days on a single charge, making it a champion for battery life.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 III is ideal for users who prioritize battery life, 5G connectivity, and a slightly faster performance. The Xperia 10 II is a good choice for budget-conscious buyers who don't need the latest features and prefer a slightly more compact design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 III worth the upgrade from the Xperia 10 II?
If battery life and performance are important to you, then yes. The 10 III offers a noticeable improvement in both areas. However, if you're on a tight budget and don't need 5G, the 10 II remains a capable device.
❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?
While the hardware is similar, the Xperia 10 III benefits from a newer chipset and potentially improved software processing, resulting in slightly better image quality, especially in low light.