Sony Xperia M5 Dual vs. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max: A Generational Leap?

The Sony Xperia M5 Dual, released in 2015, offered a compelling mid-range experience. Now, let's pit it against the powerhouse that is the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, a flagship device from 2021. This comparison explores how these phones stack up across key categories, revealing a significant difference in technology and capabilities.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone 13 Pro Max utterly dominates this comparison. While the Xperia M5 Dual was a decent phone in its time, the iPhone's superior performance, camera, display, and battery life make it the clear winner. This is a battle of generations, and the iPhone's advanced technology shines through.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia M5 Dual Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E5633, E5643, E5663HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E56331, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2643, A2644, A2645
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2643, A2644
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E56631, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2641
Launch
Announced2015, August. Released 2015, September2021, September 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, September 24
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, stainless steel frame
Dimensions145 x 72 x 7.6 mm (5.71 x 2.83 x 0.30 in)160.8 x 78.1 x 7.7 mm (6.33 x 3.07 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight142.6 g (5.04 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCeramic Shield glass
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density)1284 x 2778 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~66.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
ChipsetMediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (28 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
GPUPowerVR G6200Apple GPU (5-core graphics)
OSAndroid 5.0 (Lollipop), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop)iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 26.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal16GB 3GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM, 1TB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.0NVMe
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)
Single21.2 MP, f/2.2, PDAF12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6" SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 77mm (telephoto), PDAF, 1/3.4", 1.0µm, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/1.8, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Video4K@30fps, HDR4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, stereo sound rec.
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.0, AF12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioFM radio, RDSNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0Lightning, USB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot
Features
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update
Music playUp to 62 h 30 min-
Stand-byUp to 495 h (2G) / Up to 504 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 11 h 49 min (2G) / Up to 12 h 11 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4352 mAh (16.75 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, GoldGraphite, Gold, Silver, Sierra Blue, Alpine Green
ModelsE56333E5643, E5663, E5633A2643, A2484, A2641, A2644, A2645, iphone14,3
PriceAbout 110 EUR€ 423.38 / $ 394.86 / £ 355.00
SAR0.32 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)1.18 W/kg (head)     1.20 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.19 W/kg (head)     0.40 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     0.98 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB-
Battery life- Endurance rating 121h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 839 (nominal), 2.69(sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB -24.0 LUFS (Very good)
Performance Basemark OS II 2.0: 860Basemark X: 7780 AnTuTu: 801691 (v9) GeekBench: 4706 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia M5 Dual

  • Compact size
  • Decent camera for its time
  • Expandable storage (microSD)
  • Affordable (used)

  • Outdated processor
  • Low screen brightness
  • Limited software updates
  • Poor performance by modern standards

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Top-tier camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Premium build quality
  • Excellent software support

  • High price
  • No expandable storage
  • Large size

Display Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max boasts a significantly brighter display (1050 nits) and an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering exceptional color accuracy and visibility even in direct sunlight. The Xperia M5 Dual's contrast ratio of 839 (nominal) and 2.69 (sunlight) is adequate but pales in comparison. The iPhone's Super Retina XDR display is a major advantage.

Camera Comparison

The iPhone 13 Pro Max's camera system is renowned for its exceptional image quality, advanced features like Cinematic mode, and impressive video recording capabilities. The Xperia M5 Dual's camera was good for its time, but it lacks the sophistication and performance of the iPhone's system. Low-light performance is dramatically better on the iPhone.

Performance

The A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 Pro Max is leaps and bounds ahead of the Mediatek Helio X10 in the Xperia M5 Dual. The iPhone delivers blazing-fast performance for demanding apps, games, and multitasking, while the Xperia M5 Dual can feel sluggish by today's standards. The A15's efficiency also contributes to better battery life.

Battery Life

The iPhone 13 Pro Max offers exceptional battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 121 hours. While the Xperia M5 Dual's battery life was decent for its era, it's nowhere near the iPhone's longevity. The iPhone's efficient chipset and optimized software contribute to its superior battery performance.

Buying Guide

The Xperia M5 Dual is suitable for someone seeking a very basic, budget-friendly phone for calls and simple tasks, primarily for nostalgic reasons or if finding a very cheap used device is a priority. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is for users who demand top-tier performance, a stunning camera, a vibrant display, and long-lasting battery life, and are willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia M5 Dual still usable in 2024?
Yes, it can still make calls and perform basic tasks, but its performance is significantly limited compared to modern smartphones. Software updates are no longer available.
❓ Why is the iPhone 13 Pro Max so much better?
The iPhone 13 Pro Max represents a significant advancement in technology over the Xperia M5 Dual, with a more powerful processor, a superior display, a better camera, and longer battery life.