Sony Xperia M5 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G: A Clash of Generations

The Sony Xperia M5, a mid-range champion from a few years back, faces off against the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, a more modern and feature-rich contender. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone best suits your needs and budget.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a brighter display, and a more modern feature set. While the Xperia M5 remains a capable device, the S21 FE's advancements in processing power, camera technology, and battery charging make it the superior choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia M5	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E5603, E5653	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E5603	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E5653	41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA

Launch
Announced	2015, August. Released 2015, September	2022, January 04
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2022, January 07

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	145 x 72 x 7.6 mm (5.71 x 2.83 x 0.30 in)	155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	142.5 g (5.04 oz)	177 g (6.24 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~66.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2
Chipset	Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (28 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2
GPU	PowerVR G6200	Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2
OS	Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)	Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	16GB 3GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	eMMC 5.0	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single	21.2 MP, f/2.2, PDAF	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Triple	-	12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm
Video	4K@30fps, HDR	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, AF	32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX	5.0, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	FM radio, RDS	Unspecified
USB	microUSB 2.0	USB Type-C, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Samsung DeX (desktop experience support)

Battery
Charging	-	25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Music play	Up to 62 h 30 min	-
Stand-by	Up to 671 h (2G) / Up to 656 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 11 h 49 min (2G) / Up to 12 h 11 min (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Gold	White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive
Models	E5603, E5606, E5653	SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3
Price	About 110 EUR	€ 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990
SAR	0.32 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body)	0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.19 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body)	0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB	-
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 839 (nominal), 2.69(sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB	-26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 860Basemark X: 7780	AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB	-
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 92h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 839 (nominal), 2.69(sunlight)	792 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB	-26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 860Basemark X: 7780	AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9) GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1) GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia M5

Reliable Android experience
Decent camera for its time
Compact size

Outdated processor
Lower display brightness
No fast charging
Older software

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Powerful processor
Bright and vibrant display
Excellent camera
5G connectivity
Fast charging (wired & wireless)

Can be expensive
Software updates may eventually cease

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G boasts a significantly brighter display (792 nits) compared to the Xperia M5 (839:1 contrast ratio, sunlight readability 2.69). While the Xperia M5's contrast ratio is respectable, the S21 FE's brightness makes it much easier to view outdoors. The S21 FE also has an 'infinite' contrast ratio, indicating superior black levels.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, but the S21 FE 5G's camera system is more advanced. It likely features better image processing, improved low-light performance, and potentially more versatile shooting modes. The Xperia M5's camera was good for its time, but it can't compete with the S21 FE's modern hardware and software.

Performance

The S21 FE 5G's Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset and octa-core CPU are vastly superior to the Xperia M5's Mediatek Helio X10. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the S21 FE. The S21 FE's newer CPU architecture also offers improved power efficiency.

Battery Life

The S21 FE 5G achieves an impressive endurance rating of 92h, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Xperia M5's battery life was decent, the S21 FE's larger battery capacity and more efficient processor contribute to its superior longevity. The S21 FE also supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, a feature absent in the M5.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia M5 is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a reliable, albeit older, Android experience and a decent camera. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is ideal for those seeking a powerful, versatile smartphone with a vibrant display, excellent camera capabilities, and 5G connectivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia M5 still worth buying?

Only if you're on a very tight budget and primarily need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light browsing. Otherwise, the S21 FE offers significantly more value.

❓ What is the biggest difference between these two phones?

The biggest difference is performance. The S21 FE 5G's modern chipset and faster processor provide a much smoother and more responsive user experience.