Sony Xperia 5 vs Xperia XZ3: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 5 edges out the XZ3 thanks to its more powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset, slightly better battery life, and a brighter display. While the XZ3 offers wireless charging and a similar overall experience, the 5’s performance advantage makes it the more future-proof option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 5 | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 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, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05 | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 164 g (5.78 oz) | 193 g (6.81 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR BT.2020 | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Triple | 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 | - |
| Video | 4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| 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 | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Black, Grey | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | J8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 510 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | $ 409.99 | - |
| RENEWED | $ 674.00 | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 96h | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.1 LUFS (Good) | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 5
- More powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Slightly better battery life
- Modern design
- No wireless charging
- Can be slightly more expensive
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Wireless charging support
- Compact size
- Familiar Sony software experience
- Generally more affordable
- Older Snapdragon 845 chipset
- Less bright display
- Slightly shorter battery life
Display Comparison
Both phones boast OLED displays with excellent contrast ratios (nominally infinite). However, the Xperia 5 shines with a measured peak brightness of 630 nits, making it significantly more visible in direct sunlight compared to the XZ3's 4.502 rating. The XZ3's display is still good, but the 5 offers a noticeably brighter and more vibrant viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the Xperia 5 generally produces slightly better image quality, particularly in low light. The Xperia 5's processing tends to be more refined. Both offer Photo/Video capabilities, but the 5's newer hardware gives it a slight edge in dynamic range and detail.
Performance
The Xperia 5’s Snapdragon 855 chipset is a clear winner here. It’s a generation newer and offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance compared to the XZ3’s Snapdragon 845. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The 5 also benefits from 6GB of RAM, matching the XZ3.
Battery Life
The Xperia 5 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 96 hours, slightly surpassing the XZ3's 90 hours. While both offer all-day battery life for moderate users, the 5 provides a bit more breathing room. The XZ3 does have wireless charging, a feature absent on the Xperia 5.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia 5 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a vibrant display, and a modern design. It's a great choice for mobile gamers and content creators. The Xperia XZ3 is a good option for those seeking a more compact phone with wireless charging and a slightly lower price point, especially if they value a familiar Sony experience.