Sony Xperia 5 III vs Xiaomi 17
The Sony Xperia 5 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888, while the Xiaomi 17 (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $999 and $709. By overall MobileRank rating, the Xiaomi 17 leads — 87/100 vs 51/100 (a 36-point difference). Key differences: the Xiaomi 17 has the bigger battery (7000 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 12 MP vs 50 MP; the Xiaomi 17 is faster in AnTuTu (3,248,535 vs 1,135,878); the Sony Xperia 5 III is noticeably lighter (168g vs 191g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Sony Xperia 5 III
Xiaomi 17
What makes Sony Xperia 5 III better?
- Lighter: 168g vs 191g
- Better portability (76/100 vs 63/100)
What makes Xiaomi 17 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3248535 vs 1135878
- Better Geekbench Single: 3566 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10162 vs 3537
- Bigger battery: 7000 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 12MP
- Cheaper at launch: $709 vs $999
- Higher performance (95/100 vs 64/100)
- Better camera (81/100 vs 20/100)
- Longer battery life (87/100 vs 35/100)
- Better display (85/100 vs 84/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Sony Xperia 5 III vs the Xiaomi 17, the Xiaomi 17 scores 36 points higher (87/100 vs 51/100). In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 leads (95/100 vs 64/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 leads (81/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 leads (87/100 vs 35/100). Value score: Sony Xperia 5 III — 12/100, Xiaomi 17 — 88/100; 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 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (95/100 vs 64/100). In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 17 and the Sony Xperia 5 III are nearly equal (85/100 vs 84/100). In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (81/100 vs 20/100). In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (87/100 vs 35/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a bit better (76/100 vs 63/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Sony Xperia 5 III | Xiaomi 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 1135878 | 3248535 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1500 | 3566 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3537 | 10162 | |
| Display | 6.1" OLED | 6.3" LTPO AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1080x2520 | 2656x1200 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 7000 mAh | |
| Charging | 30W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 50W | |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 8 MP | 50 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 256GB / 512GB | |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 16 / HyperOS 3 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 3500 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65/IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 157.0×68.0×8.2 mm | 151.1×71.8×8.1 mm | |
| Weight | 168 g | 191 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $709 |
Camera comparison
Sony Xperia 5 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Xiaomi 17
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 50MP
Display comparison
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 6.1" OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2520
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Xiaomi 17
- 6.3" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 2656x1200
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Sony Xperia 5 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- No wireless charging
Xiaomi 17
- 7000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 15:00 hrs, total 33:58 hrs
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 50W
Overall performance score
We compared Sony Xperia 5 III and Xiaomi 17, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Xiaomi 17 leads Sony Xperia 5 III by 65.0% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $290. Xiaomi 17 was $290 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Xiaomi 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (95/100 vs 64/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Xiaomi 17 and the Sony Xperia 5 III are nearly equal (85/100 vs 84/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Xiaomi 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (81/100 vs 20/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Xiaomi 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III (87/100 vs 35/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a bit better (76/100 vs 63/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Sony Xperia 5 III or the Xiaomi 17?
The Xiaomi 17 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III by 36 points (87/100 vs 51/100).
What is the rating of the Sony Xperia 5 III and the Xiaomi 17?
The Sony Xperia 5 III has a MobileRank rating of 51/100, the Xiaomi 17 — 87/100.
Which has the better camera: the Sony Xperia 5 III or the Xiaomi 17?
The Xiaomi 17 leads on camera score (81/100 vs 20/100).
Which is more powerful: the Sony Xperia 5 III or the Xiaomi 17?
The Xiaomi 17 leads on performance (95/100 vs 64/100).
Should you choose the Sony Xperia 5 III over the Xiaomi 17?
The Sony Xperia 5 III is a better fit for active users. The Xiaomi 17 is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.