Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs Sony Xperia 5 III
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (2023) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while the Sony Xperia 5 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888; launch prices were $599 and $999. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE leads — 63/100 vs 51/100 (a 12-point difference). Key differences: the main camera is 50 MP vs 12 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is faster in AnTuTu (1,436,963 vs 1,135,878); the Sony Xperia 5 III is noticeably lighter (168g vs 209g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Sony Xperia 5 III
What makes Samsung Galaxy S23 FE better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 1436963 vs 1135878
- Better Geekbench Single: 1662 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 4188 vs 3537
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 12MP
- Cheaper at launch: $599 vs $999
- Higher performance (69/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (63/100 vs 20/100)
- Longer battery life (42/100 vs 35/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 5 III better?
- Faster charging: 30W vs 25W
- Lighter: 168g vs 209g
- Better display (84/100 vs 80/100)
- Better portability (76/100 vs 51/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE vs the Sony Xperia 5 III, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE scores 12 points higher (63/100 vs 51/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE leads (63/100 vs 20/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE — 40/100, Sony Xperia 5 III — 12/100; 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 Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a bit better (69/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE are nearly equal (84/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (63/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a bit better (42/100 vs 35/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (76/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Sony Xperia 5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 | |
| AnTuTu | 1436963 | 1135878 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1662 | 1500 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 4188 | 3537 | |
| Display | 6.4" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.1" OLED | |
| Resolution | 2340x1080 | 1080x2520 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 25W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 0W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 127 | — | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 8 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 10 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 11 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 1450 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 158.0×76.5×8.2 mm | 157.0×68.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 209 g | 168 g | |
| Launch price | $599 | $999 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 8MP
- Front: 10MP
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- 6.4" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 6.1" OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2520
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 25W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and Sony Xperia 5 III, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE leads Sony Xperia 5 III by 26.5% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $400. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE was $400 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a bit better (69/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III and the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE are nearly equal (84/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (63/100 vs 20/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a bit better (42/100 vs 35/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (76/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is noticeably better than the Sony Xperia 5 III — the overall rating gap is 12 points.
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a MobileRank rating of 63/100, the Sony Xperia 5 III — 51/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE leads on camera score (63/100 vs 20/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE leads on performance (69/100 vs 64/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE over the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is a better fit for active users. The Sony Xperia 5 III is a better fit for active users.