Sony Xperia 1 III vs Sony Xperia 5 III
The Sony Xperia 1 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888, while the Sony Xperia 5 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888; launch prices were $1299 and $999. By overall MobileRank rating, the Sony Xperia 1 III leads — 60/100 vs 51/100 (a 9-point difference). Key differences: the Sony Xperia 1 III is faster in AnTuTu (1,232,200 vs 1,135,878); the Sony Xperia 5 III is noticeably lighter (168g vs 186g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Sony Xperia 1 III
Sony Xperia 5 III
What makes Sony Xperia 1 III better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 1232200 vs 1135878
- Higher performance (65/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (46/100 vs 20/100)
- Longer battery life (42/100 vs 35/100)
- Better display (90/100 vs 84/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 5 III better?
- Lighter: 168g vs 186g
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1299
- Better portability (76/100 vs 65/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Sony Xperia 1 III vs the Sony Xperia 5 III, the Sony Xperia 1 III scores 9 points higher (60/100 vs 51/100). In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III leads (46/100 vs 20/100). Value score: Sony Xperia 1 III — 30/100, 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 Sony Xperia 1 III and the Sony Xperia 5 III are nearly equal (65/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (90/100 vs 84/100). In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (46/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (42/100 vs 35/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a bit better (76/100 vs 65/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Sony Xperia 1 III | Sony Xperia 5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 888 | |
| AnTuTu | 1232200 | 1135878 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1500 | 1500 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3537 | 3537 | |
| Display | 6.5" OLED | 6.1" OLED | |
| Resolution | 1644x3840 | 1080x2520 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| Charging | 30W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 11W | 0W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 105 | — | |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 8 MP | 8 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 11 | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65/IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 165.0×71.0×8.2 mm | 157.0×68.0×8.2 mm | |
| Weight | 186 g | 168 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $999 |
Camera comparison
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Display comparison
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 1644x3840
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 6.1" OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2520
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 11W
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Sony Xperia 1 III and Sony Xperia 5 III, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Sony Xperia 1 III leads Sony Xperia 5 III by 8.5% 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 Sony Xperia 1 III and the Sony Xperia 5 III are nearly equal (65/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (90/100 vs 84/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (46/100 vs 20/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III is a bit better (42/100 vs 35/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a bit better (76/100 vs 65/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Sony Xperia 1 III edges out the Sony Xperia 5 III by just 9 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Sony Xperia 1 III has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the Sony Xperia 5 III — 51/100.
Which has the better camera: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Sony Xperia 1 III leads on camera score (46/100 vs 20/100).
Should you choose the Sony Xperia 1 III over the Sony Xperia 5 III?
The Sony Xperia 1 III is a better fit for active users. The Sony Xperia 5 III is a better fit for active users.