Apple iPhone Air vs Sony Xperia 1 III
The Apple iPhone Air (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro, while the Sony Xperia 1 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888; launch prices were $999 and $1299. By overall MobileRank rating, the Apple iPhone Air leads — 75/100 vs 60/100 (a 15-point difference). Key differences: the Sony Xperia 1 III has the bigger battery (4500 mAh vs 3149); the main camera is 48 MP vs 12 MP; the Apple iPhone Air is faster in AnTuTu (2,538,751 vs 1,232,200); per DXOMark lab testing, the Apple iPhone Air has the stronger camera (141 vs 105); the Apple iPhone Air is noticeably lighter (165g vs 186g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone Air
Sony Xperia 1 III
What makes Apple iPhone Air better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 2538751 vs 1232200
- Better Geekbench Single: 3850 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9800 vs 3537
- Faster charging: 40W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 48MP vs 12MP
- Faster wireless charging: 25W vs 11W
- Lighter: 165g vs 186g
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1299
- Higher performance (92/100 vs 65/100)
- Better camera (73/100 vs 46/100)
- Better portability (96/100 vs 65/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 III better?
- Bigger battery: 4500 vs 3149 mAh
- Longer battery life (42/100 vs 26/100)
- Better display (90/100 vs 85/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone Air vs the Sony Xperia 1 III, the Apple iPhone Air scores 15 points higher (75/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air leads (92/100 vs 65/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone Air leads (73/100 vs 46/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III leads (42/100 vs 26/100). Value score: Apple iPhone Air — 60/100, Sony Xperia 1 III — 30/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (92/100 vs 65/100). In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (90/100 vs 85/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone Air notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (73/100 vs 46/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III notably outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (42/100 vs 26/100). In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (96/100 vs 65/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Sony Xperia 1 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Snapdragon 888 | |
| AnTuTu | 2538751 | 1232200 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3850 | 1500 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9800 | 3537 | |
| Display | 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.5" OLED | |
| Resolution | 2736x1260 | 1644x3840 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3149 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 40W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 11W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 141 | 105 | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 12 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB | |
| OS | iOS 26 | Android 11 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 6.0×74.7×5.6 mm | 165.0×71.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 165 g | 186 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $1299 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2736x1260
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 1644x3840
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone Air
- 3149 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 7:48 hrs, total 22:15 hrs
- Wired: 40W
- Wireless: 25W
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 11W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone Air and Sony Xperia 1 III, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Apple iPhone Air leads Sony Xperia 1 III by 106.0% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $300. Apple iPhone Air was $300 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (92/100 vs 65/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (90/100 vs 85/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone Air notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (73/100 vs 46/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III notably outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (42/100 vs 26/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (96/100 vs 65/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone Air or the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Apple iPhone Air is noticeably better than the Sony Xperia 1 III — the overall rating gap is 15 points.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone Air and the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Apple iPhone Air has a MobileRank rating of 75/100, the Sony Xperia 1 III — 60/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone Air or the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Apple iPhone Air leads on camera score (73/100 vs 46/100).
Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone Air or the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Apple iPhone Air leads on performance (92/100 vs 65/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone Air over the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Apple iPhone Air is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Sony Xperia 1 III is a better fit for active users.