Sony Xperia T3 vs Xperia 5 III: A Clash of Generations

The Sony Xperia T3 represents a bygone era of mid-range smartphones, while the Xperia 5 III embodies modern flagship technology. This comparison dives deep into the differences between these two devices, exploring their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine which one best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 III utterly dominates the Xperia T3 across nearly every metric. Its superior performance, stunning display, advanced camera system, and longer-lasting battery make it the clear winner, though at a significantly higher price point. The T3's only advantage is its potential affordability for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia T3 Sony Xperia 5 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versionsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 900 / 2100 - D5103HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - D51031, 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 - USA
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/21.1(D5102)/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 4, 7, 17 - D51061, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2014, June. Released 2014, July2021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, October 08
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions150.7 x 77 x 7 mm (5.93 x 3.03 x 0.28 in)157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIMMicro-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight148 g (5.22 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~277 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size5.3 inches, 77.4 cm2 (~66.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 Triluminos display-
Platform
CPUQuad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8928-2 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) (D5103,D5106)/ Qualcomm MSM8228 (D5102)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 305Adreno 660
OSAndroid 4.4.2 (KitKat)Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal8GB 1GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 4.5UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single8 MP, f/2.4, AF8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm
Triple-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
Video1080p@30fps, HDR4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single1.1 MP8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video720p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioStereo FM radio, RDSNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
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, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 ANT+Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging-Wired, PD, 50% in 30 min
Music playUp to 63 h-
Stand-byUp to 639 h (2G) / Up to 688 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 12 h 46 min (2G) / Up to 14 h 47 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, PurpleBlack, Green, Pink
ModelsD5103, D5102XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B
PriceAbout 200 EUR€ 431.90 / £ 199.99
SAR0.48 W/kg (head)     0.97 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.36 W/kg (head)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -46.5dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 75h Endurance rating 100h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 963 (nominal), 2.609 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB -26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)
OUR TESTS
Audio qualityNoise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -46.5dB-
Battery (old)Endurance rating 75hEndurance rating 100h
CameraPhoto / VideoPhoto / Video
DisplayContrast ratio: 963 (nominal), 2.609 (sunlight)590 nits max brightness (measured)
LoudspeakerVoice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB-26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia T3

  • Excellent battery life
  • Potentially very affordable
  • Compact size

  • Outdated processor
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Slow charging

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Flagship performance
  • Stunning display
  • Excellent camera system
  • Fast charging
  • 5G connectivity

  • Higher price point
  • Can be bulky
  • May lack expandable storage (depending on variant)

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 III boasts a significantly brighter display (590 nits) with an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The T3's display, while respectable with a 963 contrast ratio, pales in comparison in terms of brightness and overall visual quality. Sunlight readability is also notably better on the 5 III.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 5 III's camera system is a major upgrade, offering improved image quality, better low-light performance, and advanced features like 4K video recording. While the T3's camera is functional, it lacks the sophistication and capabilities of its successor. The 5 III likely features more advanced image processing and potentially optical image stabilization.

Performance

The Snapdragon 888 5G in the Xperia 5 III provides a massive performance boost over the Snapdragon 400 in the T3. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and the ability to handle demanding games with ease. The 5 III's octa-core CPU is a world apart from the T3's quad-core processor.

Battery Life

Both phones offer a respectable endurance rating of 75-100h, but the Xperia 5 III's faster charging (PD) provides a significant advantage. Reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes is a considerable convenience compared to the T3's likely slower charging speeds.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia T3 is a viable option for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and long battery life above all else. The Sony Xperia 5 III is ideal for photography enthusiasts, power users, and anyone seeking a premium Android experience with top-tier performance and features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 III worth the price difference compared to the Xperia T3?
Absolutely, if you value performance, camera quality, and a modern smartphone experience. The Xperia 5 III offers a significant upgrade in almost every area.
❓ Can the Xperia T3 still be used as a daily driver in 2024?
Yes, but it will feel slow and outdated compared to modern smartphones. It's best suited for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light browsing.