Sony Xperia 10 IV vs Xperia 5 III: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Choosing between Sony's Xperia lineup can be tricky. Both the Xperia 10 IV and Xperia 5 III offer unique features and cater to different user needs. This comprehensive comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses, helping you make an informed decision.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 III delivers significantly better performance thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chipset. While the 10 IV boasts impressive battery life, the 5 III's superior processing power and camera capabilities make it the overall winner for users prioritizing speed and image quality.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 IV Sony Xperia 5 III
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, 48, 66, 71 - USA
5G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2022, May 112021, April 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, June 30Available. Released 2021, October 08
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions153 x 67 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.64 x 0.33 in)157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight161 g (5.68 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning 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 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDROLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 Triluminos display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 660
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0"8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm
Triple12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 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/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@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 HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QCWired, PD, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Mint, LavenderBlack, Green, Pink
ModelsXQ-CC54, XQ-CC72, SOG07XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B
Price£ 99.99 / € 112.89€ 431.90 / £ 199.99
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 163h Endurance rating 100h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -30.6 LUFS (Below average) -26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 396008 (v9) GeekBench: 1908 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10 IV

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Larger display
  • More affordable
  • 5G Connectivity

  • Lower performance
  • Less premium build
  • 60Hz refresh rate

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Superior performance (Snapdragon 888)
  • Better camera quality
  • More compact design
  • Faster charging (50% in 30 min)

  • Shorter battery life
  • Higher price
  • 60Hz refresh rate

Display Comparison

The Xperia 10 IV features a larger 6.5-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, achieving a peak brightness of 683 nits. The Xperia 5 III has a slightly smaller 6.0-inch OLED display, also with a 60Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 590 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal). The 10 IV's larger size might be preferable for media consumption, while the 5 III's smaller size offers better one-handed usability.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Xperia 5 III generally produces better results. While both have Photo/Video capabilities, the 5 III's superior image processing and hardware contribute to sharper images, better dynamic range, and improved low-light performance. The 5 III also often features more advanced video recording options.

Performance

Here's where the Xperia 5 III truly shines. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a substantial performance boost over the 10 IV's Snapdragon 695. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the 5 III. The 888's Cortex-X1 core provides a significant single-core performance advantage.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 IV takes the crown in battery endurance, boasting an impressive 163-hour rating compared to the 5 III's 100-hour rating. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges for the 10 IV, making it a great choice for heavy users.

Buying Guide

The Xperia 10 IV is ideal for users prioritizing long battery life, a more budget-friendly price point, and a larger display for media consumption. The Xperia 5 III is best suited for those who demand high performance, a more compact form factor, and a superior camera system for photography enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 III worth the extra cost?
If performance and camera quality are your priorities, then yes. The Snapdragon 888 and improved camera system justify the higher price tag. However, if battery life is paramount, the 10 IV is a more economical choice.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Sony has historically provided decent software updates, but specific timelines vary. Check Sony's official website for the latest update information for both devices.