Sony Xperia 5 III vs Xperia 1 II: A Clash of Flagship Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 5 III offers a more modern chipset (Snapdragon 888) and slightly better battery life, making it the more compelling choice for most users. However, the Xperia 1 II boasts a larger, arguably superior display and a more refined camera experience for photography enthusiasts willing to pay a premium.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 5 III | Sony Xperia 1 II |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA | 1, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 14 | 2020, February 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 08 | Available. Released 2020, May 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) | 165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm (6.5 x 2.80 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 181.4 g (6.38 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.X | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | 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 | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Native Sony Alpha camera support | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD, 50% in 30 min | 21W wired, PD 11W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Green, Pink | Black, Purple, Mirror Lake Green |
| Models | XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B | XQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42 |
| Price | € 431.90 / £ 199.99 | About 700 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | Endurance rating 83h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.7 LUFS (Good) | -27.3 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 5 III
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Better battery life (100h)
- More compact size
- Faster charging (PD 50% in 30 min)
- Smaller display
- Less versatile camera system compared to 1 II
- No wireless charging
Sony Xperia 1 II
- Stunning 4K OLED display
- More versatile camera with dedicated telephoto lens
- Refined camera controls for photography enthusiasts
- Wireless charging
- Older Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Shorter battery life (83h)
- Larger and heavier design
- Slower charging (21W wired, 11W wireless)
Display Comparison
The Xperia 1 II features a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering stunning visuals and smooth scrolling. The Xperia 5 III has a 6.0-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. While the 5 III's brightness is slightly higher (590 nits vs 611 nits), the 1 II's 4K resolution provides a sharper image. Both have excellent contrast ratios.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer excellent camera systems, but with different strengths. The Xperia 1 II has a more versatile triple-lens setup with a dedicated telephoto lens offering greater zoom capabilities. The Xperia 5 III's camera is also very capable, but the 1 II's image processing and manual controls are generally considered more advanced for serious photographers. Both record excellent video.
Performance
The Xperia 5 III holds a significant advantage here, thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chipset. This newer processor offers noticeably faster performance and improved efficiency compared to the Xperia 1 II's Snapdragon 865. Expect smoother multitasking and better gaming performance on the 5 III.
Battery Life
The Xperia 5 III demonstrates superior battery endurance, boasting an impressive 100h rating compared to the Xperia 1 II's 83h. This translates to noticeably longer battery life in real-world usage, a significant advantage for users who prioritize longevity.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia 5 III is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a compact form factor, and a good all-around experience. The Xperia 1 II is best suited for photography enthusiasts, videographers, and those who value a larger, high-quality display for media consumption.