Sony Xperia 5 III vs Vivo iQOO 15
The Sony Xperia 5 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888, while the Vivo iQOO 15 (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite; launch prices were $999 and $599. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 15 leads — 86/100 vs 51/100 (a 35-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 15 has the bigger battery (7000 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 12 MP vs 50 MP; the Vivo iQOO 15 is faster in AnTuTu (3,758,268 vs 1,135,878); the Sony Xperia 5 III is noticeably lighter (168g vs 215g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Sony Xperia 5 III
Vivo iQOO 15
What makes Sony Xperia 5 III better?
- Lighter: 168g vs 215g
- Better portability (76/100 vs 48/100)
What makes Vivo iQOO 15 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3758268 vs 1135878
- Better Geekbench Single: 3013 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9287 vs 3537
- Bigger battery: 7000 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 12MP
- Higher refresh rate: 144Hz vs 120Hz
- Cheaper at launch: $599 vs $999
- Higher performance (94/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (78/100 vs 20/100)
- Longer battery life (85/100 vs 35/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 84/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Sony Xperia 5 III vs the Vivo iQOO 15, the Vivo iQOO 15 scores 35 points higher (86/100 vs 51/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 leads (94/100 vs 64/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 leads (78/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 leads (85/100 vs 35/100). Value score: Sony Xperia 5 III — 12/100, Vivo iQOO 15 — 86/100; 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 Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (94/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (99/100 vs 84/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (78/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (85/100 vs 35/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III notably outperforms the Vivo iQOO 15 (76/100 vs 48/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Sony Xperia 5 III | Vivo iQOO 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
| AnTuTu | 1135878 | 3758268 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1500 | 3013 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3537 | 9287 | |
| Display | 6.1" OLED | 6.8" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1080x2520 | 1440x3168 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 144 Hz | |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 7000 mAh | |
| Charging | 30W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 40W | |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 8 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 6000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65/IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 157.0×68.0×8.2 mm | 163.7×76.8×8.1 mm | |
| Weight | 168 g | 215 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $599 |
Camera comparison
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Vivo iQOO 15
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 6.1" OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2520
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Vivo iQOO 15
- 6.8" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 144 Hz
Battery and charging
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Vivo iQOO 15
- 7000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 18:52 hrs, total 39:26 hrs
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 40W
Overall performance score
We compared Sony Xperia 5 III and Vivo iQOO 15, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 15 leads Sony Xperia 5 III by 69.8% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $400. Vivo iQOO 15 was $400 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (94/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (99/100 vs 84/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (78/100 vs 20/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (85/100 vs 35/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III notably outperforms the Vivo iQOO 15 (76/100 vs 48/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Sony Xperia 5 III or the Vivo iQOO 15?
The Vivo iQOO 15 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III by 35 points (86/100 vs 51/100).
What is the rating of the Sony Xperia 5 III and the Vivo iQOO 15?
The Sony Xperia 5 III has a MobileRank rating of 51/100, the Vivo iQOO 15 — 86/100.
Which has the better camera: the Sony Xperia 5 III or the Vivo iQOO 15?
The Vivo iQOO 15 leads on camera score (78/100 vs 20/100).
Which is more powerful: the Sony Xperia 5 III or the Vivo iQOO 15?
The Vivo iQOO 15 leads on performance (94/100 vs 64/100).
Should you choose the Sony Xperia 5 III over the Vivo iQOO 15?
The Sony Xperia 5 III is a better fit for active users. The Vivo iQOO 15 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.