Samsung Galaxy S26+ vs Sony Xperia 5 III
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ (2026) runs on the Samsung Exynos 2600, while the Sony Xperia 5 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888; launch prices were $999 and $999. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads — 70/100 vs 51/100 (a 19-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 1,135,878); the Sony Xperia 5 III is noticeably lighter (168g vs 190g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26+
Sony Xperia 5 III
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26+ better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3161126 vs 1135878
- 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
- Higher performance (91/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (40/100 vs 20/100)
- Longer battery life (54/100 vs 35/100)
- Better display (89/100 vs 84/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 5 III better?
- Lighter: 168g vs 190g
- Better portability (76/100 vs 72/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26+ vs the Sony Xperia 5 III, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ scores 19 points higher (70/100 vs 51/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads (91/100 vs 64/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads (40/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads (54/100 vs 35/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S26+ — 50/100, 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 S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (91/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a bit better (89/100 vs 84/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (40/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (54/100 vs 35/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III and the Samsung Galaxy S26+ are nearly equal (76/100 vs 72/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26+ | Sony Xperia 5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 2600 | Snapdragon 888 | |
| AnTuTu | 3161126 | 1135878 | |
| Geekbench Single | 2900 | 1500 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9200 | 3537 | |
| Display | 6.7" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.1" OLED | |
| Resolution | 3120x1440 | 1080x2520 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4900 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 45W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 0W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 10 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| 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 | 157.0×68.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 190 g | 168 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $999 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26+
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 10MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 5 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 5 III
- 6.1" OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2520
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S26+
- 4900 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Sony Xperia 5 III, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads Sony Xperia 5 III by 178.3% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $0. Same launch price.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (91/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a bit better (89/100 vs 84/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (40/100 vs 20/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (54/100 vs 35/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III and the Samsung Galaxy S26+ are nearly equal (76/100 vs 72/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is noticeably better than the Sony Xperia 5 III — the overall rating gap is 19 points.
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26+ and the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ has a MobileRank rating of 70/100, the Sony Xperia 5 III — 51/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads on camera score (40/100 vs 20/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S26+ or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ leads on performance (91/100 vs 64/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26+ over the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Sony Xperia 5 III is a better fit for active users.