Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 5 III
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Sony Xperia 5 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888; launch prices were $1299 and $999. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 51/100 (a 33-point difference). Key differences: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 200 MP vs 12 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 1,135,878); the Sony Xperia 5 III is noticeably lighter (168g vs 214g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Sony Xperia 5 III
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 1135878
- Better Geekbench Single: 3601 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 3537
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 60W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 12MP
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (86/100 vs 20/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 35/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 84/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 5 III better?
- Lighter: 168g vs 214g
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1299
- Better portability (76/100 vs 51/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs the Sony Xperia 5 III, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 33 points higher (84/100 vs 51/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (96/100 vs 64/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (61/100 vs 35/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100, 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 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (96/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 5 III are nearly equal (88/100 vs 84/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (86/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (61/100 vs 35/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (76/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Sony Xperia 5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 888 | |
| AnTuTu | 3463142 | 1135878 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3601 | 1500 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 10686 | 3537 | |
| Display | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.1" OLED | |
| Resolution | 3120x1440 | 1080x2520 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 60W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 0W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 157 | — | |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 12 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 8GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | Android 11 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2600 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | 157.0×68.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 214 g | 168 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $999 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" 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 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Sony Xperia 5 III, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Sony Xperia 5 III by 204.9% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $300. Sony Xperia 5 III was $300 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (96/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 5 III are nearly equal (88/100 vs 84/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (86/100 vs 20/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (61/100 vs 35/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (76/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III by 33 points (84/100 vs 51/100).
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 84/100, the Sony Xperia 5 III — 51/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 20/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on performance (96/100 vs 64/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra over the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers. The Sony Xperia 5 III is a better fit for active users.