Sony Xperia 10 III vs Xperia 5: A Detailed Comparison

Sony's Xperia line offers a unique blend of features, but choosing between models can be tricky. Today, we're pitting the Xperia 10 III against the Xperia 5 to see which phone reigns supreme. We'll dive into their displays, performance, cameras, and battery life to help you make an informed decision.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 offers significantly better performance thanks to its Snapdragon 855 chipset and brighter display. While the Xperia 10 III boasts impressive battery life, the Xperia 5's overall package, including its superior processing power and camera capabilities, makes it the stronger contender for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 III Sony Xperia 5
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/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2021, April 142019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 11Discontinued
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)158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)164 g (5.78 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 (~449 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~80.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED, HDR BT.2020
 Triluminos displayTriluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 640
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFSUFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor 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/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
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 YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, 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, 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, QC18W wired, PD2.0
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Blue, PinkBlue, Red, Black, Grey
ModelsSO-52B, SOG04, XQ-BT52, A102SOJ8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 500 EUR
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 409.99
RENEWED-$ 674.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB
Battery lifeEndurance rating 137h Endurance rating 96h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.2 LUFS (Average) -27.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 286216 (v8) GeekBench: 1738 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 III

  • Exceptional battery life
  • More affordable price
  • 5G connectivity
  • Good display quality

  • Lower performance
  • Less powerful camera
  • Older chipset
  • Less premium feel

Sony Xperia 5

  • Superior performance (Snapdragon 855)
  • Brighter display
  • Better camera quality
  • More premium design

  • Shorter battery life
  • Higher price
  • Smaller size may not suit everyone

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 takes the lead in display quality. It boasts a measured peak brightness of 630 nits, noticeably brighter than the Xperia 10 III's 559 nits. Both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting excellent blacks, but the Xperia 5's higher brightness contributes to better visibility in outdoor conditions. Both phones feature OLED panels, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable cameras, the Xperia 5 generally produces better results. The Snapdragon 855's image signal processor (ISP) provides improved image processing capabilities. The Xperia 5 also typically features slightly better low-light performance and more refined image stabilization. Both phones offer a variety of shooting modes and features, but the Xperia 5's hardware advantage is noticeable.

Performance

Performance is where the Xperia 5 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset is a significant upgrade over the Xperia 10 III's Snapdragon 690 5G. The 855 offers considerably faster processing speeds and better graphics performance, making it ideal for demanding games and multitasking. The Xperia 10 III is adequate for everyday tasks, but will struggle with more intensive applications.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 III holds a clear advantage in battery life. Its endurance rating of 137 hours significantly surpasses the Xperia 5's 96 hours. This means the Xperia 10 III can easily last for multiple days on a single charge, making it a great choice for users who prioritize longevity.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 III is ideal for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a more budget-friendly price point. It's a solid choice for those who primarily use their phone for basic tasks and media consumption. The Sony Xperia 5 is better suited for power users, photographers, and gamers who demand high performance, a vibrant display, and a more advanced camera system, despite the higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 10 III good for gaming?
The Xperia 10 III can handle casual games, but it will struggle with demanding titles due to its less powerful processor. The Xperia 5 is a much better choice for gamers.
❓ Which phone has better camera video recording?
The Xperia 5 generally offers better video recording quality due to its more advanced image processing capabilities and potentially better stabilization.