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

Sony continues to carve its niche in the smartphone market with a focus on photography and unique features. The Xperia 5 III and Xperia 10 V represent different approaches within that strategy – one a powerhouse, the other a value-driven option. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which is the better fit.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 III offers significantly superior performance and a brighter display thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chipset. However, the Xperia 10 V boasts exceptional battery life and a more affordable price point. For power users, the 5 III wins; for budget-conscious users prioritizing longevity, the 10 V is the better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 III Sony Xperia 10 V
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, 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
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia-
Launch
Announced2021, April 142023, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 08Available. Released 2023, June 21
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)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
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)159 g (5.61 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 (~449 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~82.5% 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 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB 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", 1.12µm-
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 PDAF48 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@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, 26mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 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 minWired, PD, QC
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, PinkBlack, White, Sage Green, Lavender
ModelsXQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53BXQ-DC72, XQ-DC54
Price€ 431.90 / £ 199.99€ 225.00 / $ 699.00 / £ 194.99
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 100h Endurance rating 175h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.7 LUFS (Good) -27.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 357142 (v9) GeekBench: 1897 (v5.5), 2067 (v6) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Superior Performance
  • Brighter Display
  • More Detailed Photos
  • Faster Charging (PD)

  • Higher Price
  • Shorter Battery Life Compared to 10 V
  • Can get warm under heavy load

Sony Xperia 10 V

  • Exceptional Battery Life
  • More Affordable
  • Good Camera for Casual Use
  • Compact Size

  • Lower Performance
  • Less Bright Display
  • Slower Charging
  • Less Powerful Camera

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 III's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 590 nits, offering good visibility even outdoors. The Xperia 10 V takes the lead with a significantly brighter 947 nits, making it noticeably easier to see in direct sunlight. Both feature excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), delivering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The 5 III has a slightly smaller 6.5-inch OLED display, while the 10 V has a 6.1-inch OLED display.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but with different strengths. The Xperia 5 III generally produces more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The 10 V's camera is reliable and consistent, offering good image quality for casual photography. Both offer video recording capabilities, but the 5 III's more powerful processor allows for higher quality video recording and processing.

Performance

Here, the Xperia 5 III dominates. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides a substantial performance advantage over the Xperia 10 V's Snapdragon 695. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive gaming experience on the 5 III. The 10 V is perfectly adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Xperia 10 V truly excels in battery life. While the Xperia 5 III boasts a respectable endurance rating of 100h, the Xperia 10 V achieves an impressive 175h. This translates to significantly longer usage times on the 10 V, making it a champion for those who need a phone that can last through multiple days on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 III is ideal for photography enthusiasts, mobile gamers, and users who demand top-tier performance. The Xperia 10 V is perfect for those seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with a good camera and a more accessible price tag, prioritizing battery life over raw power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 III worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance, a brighter display, and a more capable camera, then yes. The 5 III is a significant upgrade over the 10 V in those areas.
❓ Which phone is better for taking photos?
The Xperia 5 III generally produces higher-quality photos with more detail and better dynamic range, especially in challenging lighting conditions.