Samsung Galaxy S26+ vs Sony Xperia 1 III
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ (2026) runs on the Samsung Exynos 2600, while the Sony Xperia 1 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888; launch prices were $999 and $1299. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads — 70/100 vs 60/100 (a 10-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ has the bigger battery (4900 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 50 MP vs 12 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is faster in AnTuTu (3,161,126 vs 1,232,200).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26+
Sony Xperia 1 III
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26+ better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3161126 vs 1232200
- Better Geekbench Single: 2900 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9200 vs 3537
- Bigger battery: 4900 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 45W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 12MP
- Faster wireless charging: 15W vs 11W
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1299
- Higher performance (91/100 vs 65/100)
- Longer battery life (54/100 vs 42/100)
- Better portability (72/100 vs 65/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 III better?
- Lighter: 186g vs 190g
- Better camera (46/100 vs 40/100)
- Better display (90/100 vs 89/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26+ vs the Sony Xperia 1 III, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ scores 10 points higher (70/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads (91/100 vs 65/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads (54/100 vs 42/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S26+ — 50/100, 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 Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (91/100 vs 65/100). In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Samsung Galaxy S26+ are nearly equal (90/100 vs 89/100). In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (46/100 vs 40/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a bit better (54/100 vs 42/100). In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a bit better (72/100 vs 65/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26+ | Sony Xperia 1 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 2600 | Snapdragon 888 | |
| AnTuTu | 3161126 | 1232200 | |
| Geekbench Single | 2900 | 1500 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9200 | 3537 | |
| Display | 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.5" OLED | |
| Resolution | 3120x1440 | 1644x3840 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4900 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 45W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 11W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | — | 105 | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 10 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB | |
| OS | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | Android 11 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2600 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 158.4×75.8×7.3 mm | 165.0×71.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 190 g | 186 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $1299 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26+
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 10MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26+
- 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 1644x3840
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S26+
- 4900 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 11W
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Sony Xperia 1 III, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads Sony Xperia 1 III by 156.5% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $300. Samsung Galaxy S26+ was $300 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (91/100 vs 65/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Samsung Galaxy S26+ are nearly equal (90/100 vs 89/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (46/100 vs 40/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a bit better (54/100 vs 42/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a bit better (72/100 vs 65/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ or the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is noticeably better than the Sony Xperia 1 III — the overall rating gap is 10 points.
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26+ and the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ has a MobileRank rating of 70/100, the Sony Xperia 1 III — 60/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ or the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Sony Xperia 1 III leads on camera score (46/100 vs 40/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ or the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads on performance (91/100 vs 65/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26+ over the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Sony Xperia 1 III is a better fit for active users.