Sony Xperia Pro vs Xperia 1 III: The Ultimate Showdown

Sony consistently delivers unique smartphones, and the Xperia Pro and Xperia 1 III are prime examples. Both offer premium features, but cater to different user needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 III offers a more well-rounded experience with a brighter display, faster charging, and a more modern chipset. The Xperia Pro's main draw is its HDMI input for professional video workflows, making it a niche tool for content creators, while the 1 III is a better all-around flagship.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia Pro Sony Xperia 1 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands2, 5, 66, 260, 261 Sub6, mmWave1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 - SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2020, February 24. Released 2021, January 272021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions170.2 x 76.2 x 10.2 mm (6.70 x 3.00 x 0.40 in)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight225.1 g (7.94 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~76.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use casesRuns at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single-8 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/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)12 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 PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, micro HDMIUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 Native Sony Alpha camera supportNative Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
Models-XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
PriceAbout 2000 EUR€ 505.26 / $ 903.43
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia Pro

  • HDMI Input for Professional Video
  • Compact Design
  • High-Quality Build

  • Older Snapdragon 865 Chipset
  • Slower Charging
  • Higher Price for Niche Feature

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • Brighter Display
  • Faster Snapdragon 888 Chipset
  • Variable Optical Zoom
  • Faster Charging (30W)
  • Wireless Charging

  • Larger Size
  • Can be expensive

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 III boasts a brighter display (620 nits vs unspecified for Pro) and a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, providing a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. Both feature Sony's signature 120Hz refresh rate and excellent color accuracy, but the 1 III's brightness gives it an edge for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems, but with slightly different focuses. The Xperia 1 III offers variable optical zoom, providing greater flexibility in framing shots. Both deliver excellent image quality in various conditions, but the 1 III's processing tends to be slightly more refined. The Pro's camera is more geared towards professional workflows, leveraging its HDMI input.

Performance

The Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) offers a noticeable performance boost over the Xperia Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm). While both handle everyday tasks with ease, the 1 III excels in demanding games and multitasking thanks to its newer architecture and improved efficiency. The Cortex-X1 core in the 1 III is a significant upgrade.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have an endurance rating of 82h, suggesting comparable battery life. However, the Xperia 1 III’s 30W charging is significantly faster than the Xperia Pro’s 21W, allowing for quicker top-ups. The 1 III also supports wireless and reverse wireless charging, adding to its convenience.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia Pro is ideal for professional videographers and photographers who need a dedicated HDMI input for external monitoring and recording. The Xperia 1 III is perfect for users who want a premium smartphone with a stunning display, excellent camera capabilities, and strong performance for everyday tasks and content consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the main difference between the Xperia Pro and Xperia 1 III?
The Xperia Pro's key feature is its HDMI input, allowing it to be used as an external monitor for professional video recording. The Xperia 1 III is a more traditional flagship smartphone with a focus on display quality, performance, and camera versatility.
❓ Which phone has better performance?
The Xperia 1 III has better performance thanks to its newer Snapdragon 888 chipset and Cortex-X1 core, offering a noticeable improvement in speed and efficiency.