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

Sony continues to offer unique smartphones catering to different needs. The Xperia 5 III targets enthusiasts with flagship power, while the Xperia 10 IV prioritizes battery life and affordability. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the perfect Sony device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 III delivers significantly faster performance thanks to its Snapdragon 888, making it ideal for demanding users. However, the Xperia 10 IV boasts exceptional battery life and a brighter display, offering better value for those prioritizing longevity and outdoor visibility. It's a trade-off between power and endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 III Sony Xperia 10 IV
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100
4G bands1, 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 - USA1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
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
Announced2021, April 142022, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 08Available. Released 2022, June 30
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)153 x 67 x 8.3 mm (6.02 x 2.64 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)161 g (5.68 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 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020OLED, 1B colors, HDR
 -Triluminos display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 12, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0"
Triple12 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 PDAF12 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"
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0"
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
 Native Sony Alpha camera support-
Battery
ChargingWired, PD, 50% in 30 min21W wired (unofficial rating), PD, QC
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, PinkBlack, White, Mint, Lavender
ModelsXQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53BXQ-CC54, XQ-CC72, SOG07
Price€ 431.90 / £ 199.99£ 99.99 / € 112.89
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 100h Endurance rating 163h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.7 LUFS (Good) -30.6 LUFS (Below average)
Performance AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 396008 (v9) GeekBench: 1908 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Superior Performance (Snapdragon 888)
  • Excellent Camera Quality
  • Compact and Ergonomic Design
  • Fast Charging (PD)

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • Higher Price
  • Less Bright Display compared to 10 IV

Sony Xperia 10 IV

  • Exceptional Battery Life
  • Brighter Display
  • More Affordable
  • Water and Dust Resistant (IP68)

  • Slower Performance (Snapdragon 695)
  • Less Capable Camera
  • Slower Charging

Display Comparison

The Xperia 10 IV takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 683 nits, significantly brighter than the Xperia 5 III's 590 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the 10 IV's higher brightness makes it more usable in direct sunlight. Both phones feature OLED panels, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but the Xperia 5 III generally produces higher-quality images and videos due to its more powerful processor and potentially better image processing algorithms. The 5 III also often features more advanced video recording capabilities. While the 10 IV's camera is competent, it doesn't match the 5 III's overall performance.

Performance

The Xperia 5 III's Snapdragon 888 chipset and octa-core CPU (including a Cortex-X1 prime core) provide a substantial performance advantage over the Xperia 10 IV's Snapdragon 695. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the 5 III. The 10 IV is still capable for everyday tasks, but struggles with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 IV shines in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 163 hours, significantly exceeding the Xperia 5 III's 100 hours. This difference translates to noticeably longer usage times on a single charge for the 10 IV.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 III is for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and power users who demand top-tier performance and don't mind a slightly shorter battery life. The Sony Xperia 10 IV is perfect for users who prioritize long battery life, a brighter screen for outdoor use, and a more budget-friendly price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 III worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance and camera quality, the Xperia 5 III is worth the investment. However, if battery life and affordability are your main concerns, the Xperia 10 IV offers excellent value.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xperia 5 III is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and GPU. It will handle demanding games with higher frame rates and better graphics settings.