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

The Sony Xperia 10 series consistently delivers reliable mid-range smartphones with a focus on photography and a clean Android experience. The Xperia 10 III and 10 V are the latest iterations, but which one offers the best value? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 10 V is the clear winner, boasting a significantly brighter display, a more efficient chipset, and improved battery life. While the 10 III remains a capable device, the 10 V’s upgrades make it a worthwhile investment for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Sony Xperia 10 V
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, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, April 142023, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 11Available. Released 2023, June 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions154 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)155 x 68 x 8.3 mm (6.10 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)159 g (5.61 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
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 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED, 1B colors, HDR
 Triluminos displayTriluminos display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS
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"48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0"8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
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 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, QCWired, PD, QC
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkBlack, White, Sage Green, Lavender
ModelsSO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SOXQ-DC72, XQ-DC54
PriceAbout 300 EUR€ 225.00 / $ 699.00 / £ 194.99
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 137h Endurance rating 175h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.2 LUFS (Average) -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 286216 (v8) GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 357142 (v9) GeekBench: 1897 (v5.5), 2067 (v6) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III

  • Excellent battery life (137h endurance)
  • Clean Android experience
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Good value for the price

  • Dim display (559 nits)
  • Older chipset (Snapdragon 690 5G)
  • Slower charging speeds

Sony Xperia 10 V

  • Significantly brighter display (947 nits)
  • Improved performance (Snapdragon 695 5G)
  • Better battery efficiency (175h endurance)
  • More modern design

  • Slightly higher price
  • Still a mid-range chipset

Display Comparison

The Xperia 10 V’s display is a major upgrade. It hits a peak brightness of 947 nits, a substantial jump from the 10 III’s 559 nits. Both feature OLED panels with excellent contrast (infinite nominal), but the 10 V’s increased brightness makes it far more usable outdoors and in bright environments. The resolution remains consistent at FHD+.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature similar camera setups, typically including a main lens, ultrawide lens, and telephoto lens. However, the 10 V benefits from Sony's image processing improvements and potentially a slightly updated sensor, leading to better image quality, especially in low light. Video recording capabilities are comparable.

Performance

The Snapdragon 695 5G in the Xperia 10 V offers a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 690 5G in the 10 III. The Kryo 660 cores are more efficient, resulting in smoother multitasking and app loading. While neither phone is a powerhouse, the 10 V handles everyday tasks with greater ease.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 V demonstrates improved battery efficiency. While the 10 III boasts an impressive endurance rating of 137h, the 10 V achieves 175h. Active use scores also favor the 10 V, providing longer usage times between charges.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Xperia 10 III? Those on a tight budget who prioritize long battery life and don't need the latest features. Who should buy the Sony Xperia 10 V? Anyone seeking a brighter screen, smoother performance, and a more modern smartphone experience, especially those interested in photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 V worth the upgrade from the Xperia 10 III?
Yes, the Xperia 10 V offers significant improvements in display brightness, performance, and battery life, making it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.
❓ What is the camera like on both phones?
Both phones offer a versatile camera system with multiple lenses. The Xperia 10 V benefits from Sony's latest image processing, resulting in slightly better image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.