Sony Xperia 1 III vs. vivo NEX 3S 5G: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Sony Xperia 1 III emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift, and its robust feature set, including advanced camera capabilities and wireless charging, justifies the price premium. However, the NEX 3S 5G remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a unique design and rapid wired charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo NEX 3S 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 20, 25, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 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 bands | 1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 10. Released 2020, March 14 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm (6.59 x 3.00 x 0.37 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 219.5 g (7.76 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2256 pixels (~363 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.89 inches, 119.3 cm2 (~93.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, Funtouch 10.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss 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 |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 52mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), PDAF | 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) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 32-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 44W wired | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Orange | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | V1950A | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 630 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) |
vivo NEX 3S 5G
- Faster Snapdragon 888 processor
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- More versatile charging options (wireless, reverse wireless)
- Potentially higher price
- Less visually striking design compared to waterfall display
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Unique waterfall display design
- Faster 44W wired charging
- Potentially lower price point
- Older Snapdragon 865 processor
- Limited charging options (no wireless)
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III features a 6.5-inch display capable of reaching 620 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the NEX 3S 5G’s display specifications are less detailed in the provided data, its waterfall design is its defining characteristic. The Xperia 1 III’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a high-quality OLED panel, likely with excellent black levels. The brighter display of the Xperia 1 III will be more usable outdoors, while the NEX 3S 5G’s waterfall design is purely aesthetic.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are described as having Photo/Video capabilities, but the provided data lacks specifics. However, Sony’s history with camera technology suggests the Xperia 1 III will offer a more refined and feature-rich experience. The Xperia 1 III likely benefits from Sony’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. The NEX 3S 5G, while capable, likely prioritizes other features over a top-tier camera system. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a precise comparison, but Sony’s brand reputation strongly favors the Xperia 1 III.
Performance
The Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the NEX 3S 5G’s Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+). The 5nm process node allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, translating to sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling. The Xperia 1 III’s CPU utilizes a Cortex-X1 prime core, offering a substantial performance boost over the Cortex-A77 found in the NEX 3S 5G. While both phones share the same Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, the Xperia 1 III’s overall processing power is demonstrably higher, benefiting demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
Both the Xperia 1 III and NEX 3S 5G achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite potentially different capacities. However, the Xperia 1 III offers more versatile charging options: 30W wired charging with PD, 50% charge in 30 minutes, wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The NEX 3S 5G is limited to 44W wired charging. While the NEX 3S 5G charges faster via wired connection, the Xperia 1 III’s wireless charging and reverse wireless capabilities provide added convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo NEX 3S 5G if you prioritize a visually striking waterfall display and exceptionally fast 44W wired charging, and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you demand the latest processing power from the Snapdragon 888, a professional-grade camera system with extensive video features, and the convenience of wireless charging and a brighter display.