Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Xperia 5: A Head-to-Head Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 5 edges out the XZ3 thanks to its newer Snapdragon 855 chipset, brighter display, and slightly improved battery life. While the XZ3 boasts impressive endurance, the Xperia 5’s overall package makes it the more compelling choice for most users, especially considering its price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ3 | Sony Xperia 5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) | 158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 164 g (5.78 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 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| 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@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR | 4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red | Blue, Red, Black, Grey |
| Models | H9436, H8416, H9493 | J8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M |
| Price | About 510 EUR | About 500 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 409.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 674.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 90h | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB | -27.1 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Exceptional battery life (90h)
- Compact and ergonomic design
- Excellent photo quality
- Dedicated shutter button
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 845)
- Lower display brightness
- Less future-proofed
Sony Xperia 5
- Newer chipset (Snapdragon 855)
- Brighter display (630 nits)
- Improved camera performance
- Slightly better battery life (96h)
- Higher price
- Still a relatively large phone
- Design can be polarizing
Display Comparison
The Xperia 5 features a noticeable upgrade in display brightness, reaching 630 nits (measured) compared to the XZ3's unspecified brightness. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (Infinite nominal), but the Xperia 5's increased brightness makes it significantly better for outdoor visibility. The XZ3's OLED panel is still vibrant, but the Xperia 5's display is simply more usable in various lighting conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer excellent camera capabilities, but the Xperia 5 introduces improvements in image processing and low-light performance. The Xperia 5 also benefits from a slightly wider main lens. Both phones feature excellent video recording capabilities, but the Xperia 5's newer chipset allows for slightly better stabilization. Both offer a dedicated shutter button, a hallmark of Sony's camera phones.
Performance
The Xperia 5's Snapdragon 855 chipset (7nm) provides a substantial performance boost over the XZ3's Snapdragon 845 (10nm). This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. While the XZ3 is still capable, the Xperia 5 offers a more future-proofed experience.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve impressive endurance ratings (90h vs 96h), demonstrating excellent battery optimization. The Xperia 5's slightly larger battery and more efficient chipset give it a marginal advantage in real-world usage.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XZ3 is a good option for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a compact form factor, especially if found at a significantly discounted price. The Xperia 5 is ideal for those seeking a more modern chipset, a brighter display for outdoor use, and a slightly more refined camera system, willing to spend a bit more.