Sony Xperia 1 III vs Sony Xperia 5 III: What’s the best Sony smartphone for you?

Sony's two latest smartphones have a lot going for them, but which one is the best choice for your needs? We put them head to head so you can find out.

Even if you're loyal to a particular phone brand, it can still be difficult to choose the right model from the range, and choosing between Sony's latest top-end devices is certainly a big challenge. Take a look at our in-depth comparison to find your favorite - and you can see both in action in our handy comparison video below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU2HcO6C2AI[/embed]

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Sony's phones aren't just a copy-paste job like the Samsung Galaxy S21 or the OnePlus 9; They have forged their own path and that is to be applauded. Unlike many other Android examples, both devices have retained the 3.5mm headphone jack and an SD card slot, while both house the selfie camera in a bezel rather than a punch-hole camera in the screen.

The main difference here is size, as the Sony Xperia 1 III measures 165 x 71mm and not the 157 x 68mm of the Xperia 5 III - but they're the same thickness, both measuring 8.2mm. Also, the Xperia 1 III has a matte back, while its smaller brother has a glossy finish that's more prone to fingerprints and even gets slippery when slightly wet.

screen

Both phones in the series feature the unusual design choice of a 21:9 aspect ratio, meaning the screen is longer and thinner than its rivals. On the one hand, these are supposed to be the perfect proportions for watching movies or TV series, but if you don't, you might find that apps like Instagram are poorly optimized for this shape. Apart from that, the two also share an IP68 water resistance and a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.

Sony Xperia 1III

The main difference between the two is the resolution. The Sony Xperia 1 III has a crisp 4K resolution that's as high as any other smartphone you'll find on the market today. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers a respectable but inferior resolution of 1080 x 2520p.

camera

Again, in this crucial area, there are more similarities than differences between the two phones. Both offer three 12-megapixel sensors (wide, ultrawide, and telephoto) that deliver a welcome variety of results. The difference is that the Xperia 1 III also comes with a depth sensor, which is supposed to provide a better bokeh effect in portrait mode and can also be useful for augmented reality.

Sony Xperia 5III

While there are plenty of options to customize the photos you take with these handsets, you might find that the default natural look appears a little flatter than results from rivals like the iPhone 13, and the low-light performance matches that not heights of other flagships. That said, the cameras on both phones are relatively reliable.

Performance & Battery

Both devices run on the top-of-the-line Qualcomm chipset, the Snapdragon 888, which offers strong performance for intense gaming or just everyday tasks and also offers 5G connectivity.

The battery stats are almost indistinguishable too, with both packing 4500mAh cells that support 30W fast charging. While the endurance isn't exceptional, the two handsets reliably lasted us through a full day and quickly re-juiced.

price

There's inevitably a price difference between a flagship phone and any other device from the same brand, but you might be surprised at how big the gap is given the relatively small difference between the two smartphones.

The Sony Xperia 1 III has a starting price of £1,199 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration, while the Sony Xperia 5 III is £899 in its base model (8GB RAM and 128GB storage). That crucial difference in affordability could have you opting for the latter over the former.

Vote: Sony Xperia 1 III vs. Sony Xperia 5 III

You've read our full review, but now it's time for you to decide which is the best smartphone for you. Let us know what you think in the poll below:

By: Sony Xperia 1 III vs Sony Xperia 5 III: What’s the best Sony smartphone for you?