Sony Xperia 1 III vs Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Sony Xperia 1 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite; launch prices were $1299 and $999. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads — 85/100 vs 60/100 (a 25-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the bigger battery (6000 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 12 MP vs 50 MP; the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,030,376 vs 1,232,200); per DXOMark lab testing, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the stronger camera (159 vs 105); the Sony Xperia 1 III is noticeably lighter (186g vs 225g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Sony Xperia 1 III
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
What makes Sony Xperia 1 III better?
- Lighter: 186g vs 225g
- Better portability (65/100 vs 29/100)
What makes Xiaomi 15 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3030376 vs 1232200
- Better Geekbench Single: 3050 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10200 vs 3537
- Bigger battery: 6000 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 90W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 12MP
- Faster wireless charging: 50W vs 11W
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1299
- Higher performance (92/100 vs 65/100)
- Better camera (87/100 vs 46/100)
- Longer battery life (80/100 vs 42/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Sony Xperia 1 III vs the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra scores 25 points higher (85/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads (92/100 vs 65/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads (87/100 vs 46/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads (80/100 vs 42/100). Value score: Sony Xperia 1 III — 30/100, Xiaomi 15 Ultra — 80/100; 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 Xiaomi 15 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (92/100 vs 65/100). In the "display" category, both devices are on the same level — 90/100. In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (87/100 vs 46/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (80/100 vs 42/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (65/100 vs 29/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Sony Xperia 1 III | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
| AnTuTu | 1232200 | 3030376 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1500 | 3050 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3537 | 10200 | |
| Display | 6.5" OLED | 6.7" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1644x3840 | 3200x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 6000 mAh | |
| Charging | 30W | 90W | |
| Wireless charging | 11W | 50W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 105 | 159 | |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 8 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 15 / HyperOS 2 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 3200 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65/IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 165.0×71.0×8.2 mm | 161.3×75.3×9.4 mm | |
| Weight | 186 g | 225 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $999 |
Camera comparison
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- Main: 50MP f/1.63
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 1644x3840
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- 6.7" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 3200x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 11W
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- 6000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 12:19 hrs, total 30:03 hrs
- Wired: 90W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Sony Xperia 1 III and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads Sony Xperia 1 III by 59.3% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $300. Xiaomi 15 Ultra was $300 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (92/100 vs 65/100).
display
In the "display" category, both devices are on the same level — 90/100.
camera
In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (87/100 vs 46/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (80/100 vs 42/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III significantly outperforms the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (65/100 vs 29/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III by 25 points (85/100 vs 60/100).
What is the rating of the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?
The Sony Xperia 1 III has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra — 85/100.
Which has the better camera: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on camera score (87/100 vs 46/100).
Which is more powerful: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra leads on performance (92/100 vs 65/100).
Should you choose the Sony Xperia 1 III over the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?
The Sony Xperia 1 III is a better fit for active users. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.