Sony Xperia 10 III vs. Xperia 10 III Lite: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Xperia 10 series is known for its balanced approach to features and affordability. The Xperia 10 III and its 'Lite' variant offer similar core experiences, but with key differences. This comparison dives deep into their specs and performance to help you decide which one is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 10 III Lite edges out the standard model thanks to its significantly faster charging. While both offer a solid Snapdragon 690 5G chipset, the Lite's improved charging speed and potentially slightly more streamlined software make it the better value for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Sony Xperia 10 III Lite
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 1900
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 411, 3, 4, 12, 18, 19, 38, 41
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, April 142021, August 20
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 11Available. Released 2021, August 27
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)154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)169 g (5.96 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 (~457 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED, 1B colors, HDR
 Triluminos display-
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM64GB 6GB 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/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"
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 -
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radio (region dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display PortUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
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, QC30W wired, PD, QC
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkBlack, White, Blue, Pink
ModelsSO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SOXQ-BT44
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 370 EUR
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance 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

  • Excellent battery life
  • Brighter display (559 nits)
  • Triple-lens camera system

  • Slower 21W charging
  • Potentially less optimized software

Sony Xperia 10 III Lite

  • Faster 30W charging
  • Potentially more streamlined software
  • Similar performance to the 10 III

  • Unknown camera specifications
  • Potentially slightly dimmer display
  • May have reduced camera features

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.0-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a 21:9 aspect ratio. The Xperia 10 III boasts a measured peak brightness of 559 nits, offering a slightly better viewing experience in bright sunlight. The contrast ratio is technically 'infinite' on both, characteristic of OLED panels. However, the Lite may have slightly improved color calibration.

Camera Comparison

Camera specifications are largely unknown for the Lite version. The Xperia 10 III features a triple-lens rear camera system (12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto) and a 8MP front camera. Image quality on the 10 III is generally considered decent for its price range, with good color reproduction. The Lite may have a slightly simplified camera setup, potentially sacrificing some versatility.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G chipset and an Octa-core CPU. Performance will be largely similar in everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The Lite version *might* benefit from slightly more efficient software optimization, leading to marginally better sustained performance, but this is difficult to confirm without extensive testing.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 III boasts an impressive endurance rating of 137 hours. However, the Xperia 10 III Lite supports 30W wired charging, a significant upgrade over the 21W charging on the standard 10 III. This means the Lite can charge much faster, offsetting the potential difference in battery capacity.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 III is ideal for users prioritizing maximum battery life and a slightly brighter display. The Xperia 10 III Lite is a better choice for those who value faster charging and a potentially more optimized software experience, without sacrificing core performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 III Lite worth the upgrade from the Xperia 10 III?
If fast charging is a priority, then yes. Otherwise, the differences are relatively minor, and the standard 10 III's longer battery life might be preferable.
❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?
The Xperia 10 III has a known triple-lens camera system. Camera specs for the Lite are currently unknown, but it's likely a simplified setup.