vivo X51 5G vs Sony Xperia 5 III: A Detailed Comparison of Performance, Camera, and Value

The vivo X51 5G and Sony Xperia 5 III represent distinct approaches to the 5G smartphone market. The X51, launched with a focus on affordability and 5G connectivity, utilizes the Snapdragon 765G. The Xperia 5 III, positioned as a compact flagship, boasts the significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and a premium experience, the Sony Xperia 5 III is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset delivers a substantial performance leap over the X51’s 765G. However, the vivo X51 5G offers excellent value for those seeking 5G connectivity without breaking the bank.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X51 5G Sony Xperia 5 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, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 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 bands1, 3, 7, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - USA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2020, October 21. Released 2020, October 232021, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, October 08
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.5 x 72.8 x 8 mm (6.24 x 2.87 x 0.31 in)157 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
KeyboardQWERTY-
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight181.5 g (6.42 oz)168 g (5.93 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 620Adreno 660
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1 UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Quad48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF, gimbal OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 135mm (periscope telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm-
Single3.15 MP8 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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
BrowserHTML-
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging33W wired, 57% in 30 minWired, PD, 50% in 30 min
Music playUp to 5 h-
Stand-byUp to 312 h-
Talk timeUp to 3 h-
Type4315 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsGrayBlack, Green, Pink
ModelsXE710XQBQ62/G, XQBQ52G.UKCX, XQBQ52B.UKCX, XQ-BQ52, XQ-BQ72, XQ-BQ42, XQ-BQ62, SO-53B
PriceAbout 760 EUR€ 431.90 / £ 199.99
SAR0.35 W/kg (head)     0.95 W/kg (body)     -
SAR EU0.20 W/kg (head)     -
Pricing
256GB 8GB RAM$ 885.00-
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 100h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 708394 (v9) GeekBench: 3549 (v5.1) GFXBench: 53fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X51 5G

  • More affordable price point
  • Good 5G connectivity
  • Decent battery endurance

  • Less powerful processor
  • Limited performance for demanding tasks
  • Camera specifications are unknown

Sony Xperia 5 III

  • Flagship-level performance with Snapdragon 888
  • Brighter and potentially sharper display
  • Likely superior camera system

  • Higher price tag
  • Potential for thermal throttling (though mitigated by 5nm process)
  • Compact size may not suit all users

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 5 III features a 590 nit max brightness display, providing excellent visibility outdoors, a metric the X51’s display specifications lack. While both boast an 'infinite' contrast ratio (typical for OLED panels), the Xperia 5 III’s smaller 6.1-inch screen likely contributes to a higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper image. The absence of refresh rate data for the X51 means the Xperia 5 III likely offers a smoother visual experience if it supports a higher refresh rate, though this is not confirmed in the provided data.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing for the X51. The Xperia 5 III, being a Sony product, likely benefits from their renowned image processing expertise. While sensor size and aperture are unknown for both, the Xperia 5 III’s flagship status suggests a more advanced camera system with features like real-time tracking and improved low-light performance. The lack of detail on the X51’s camera makes a direct comparison difficult, but it’s unlikely to match the Xperia 5 III’s capabilities.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the vivo X51 5G uses the Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G (7nm), while the Sony Xperia 5 III packs the SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, significantly outperforms the X51’s 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime. The 5nm process node of the 888 also offers superior power efficiency and thermal management compared to the 7nm 765G, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. The Xperia 5 III will demonstrably outperform the X51 in gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones share a 100-hour endurance rating, a surprising similarity. However, this rating doesn't tell the whole story. The Xperia 5 III supports faster charging, reaching 50% in 30 minutes, while the X51 takes 30 minutes to reach 57%. While the difference isn't massive, the Xperia 5 III’s more efficient Snapdragon 888 chipset likely contributes to better overall battery life despite potentially having a similar capacity. The 5nm process allows for more work per watt, extending usage time.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X51 5G if you need a capable 5G phone with a good camera at a reasonable price point, and aren't demanding the absolute highest performance. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 III if you prioritize a compact form factor, flagship-level performance for gaming and demanding applications, and a more refined multimedia experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Xperia 5 III get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 888 is a powerful chip, it's known to generate heat. However, the Xperia 5 III's 5nm manufacturing process and Sony's thermal management design help mitigate throttling. Users may experience some warmth, but it's unlikely to cause significant performance drops during typical gaming sessions.
❓ Is the 256GB storage on both phones expandable via microSD card?
The provided data does not specify microSD card support for either device. However, Sony Xperia phones historically have *not* included microSD card slots, making it likely the Xperia 5 III lacks this feature. The vivo X51 5G may or may not have microSD support; further research is needed.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 765G in the vivo X51 5G handle graphically intensive games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 765G can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. Expect to play at medium settings for a balanced experience. The Xperia 5 III, with its Snapdragon 888, will easily handle PUBG Mobile at maximum settings with high frame rates.