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Sony Xperia 1 VIII vs Sony Xperia 5 III

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyXperia 1 VIIISonyXperia 5 III
Overview
ReleasedJune 2026September 2021
Display
Screen size6.5″6.1″
Resolution2340 × 10802520 × 1080
Sharpness396 pixels per inch449 pixels per inch
PanelLTPO OLEDOLED
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Display typeOLED, Full HD+, HDR6.1-inch 21:9 Full HD+ HDR OLED; 120 Hz refresh and 240 Hz touch scanning
Always-on displayAlways show time and info (lock screen setting; includes battery level)–
Screen protectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass 6 front and back
Display features1–120 Hz variable refresh rate; Creator mode and Auto creator mode; Real-time HDR drive; Sunlight Vision with adaptive brightness; light sensors on the front and back adjust brightness and colour; BRAVIA-style picture processing (Xperia Intelligence)–
Performance
ChipSnapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5Snapdragon 888 5G
Memory12 GB – 16 GB8 GB
Storage256 GB, 1 TB128 GB
CPU–Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform
Storage typemicroSDXC card slot for cards up to 2 TB, in the SIM tray128 GB UFS; microSDXC up to 1 TB
CoolingVapour chamber and heat-spreading sheet–
Cameras
Main camera48 MP12 MP
Ultra wide camera48 MP12 MP
Telephoto camera48 MP12 MP
Optical zoom2.9×None
Front camera12 MP8 MP
Main camera48 MP, 24 mm, ƒ/1.9, 1/1.35-inch Exmor T for mobile sensor (two-layer transistor pixel stacked CMOS); 12 MP photos by default, 48 MP in 48 MP mode; hybrid stabilisation12 MP, 24 mm equivalent, ƒ/1.7, 1/1.7-inch sensor
Ultra wide camera48 MP, 16 mm, ƒ/2.0, 1/1.56-inch Exmor RS for mobile sensor; 12 MP photos; close-up shooting12 MP, 16 mm equivalent, ƒ/2.2
Telephoto camera48 MP, 70 mm, ƒ/2.8, 1/1.56-inch Exmor RS for mobile sensor; 12 MP photos; tele-macro; hybrid stabilisation12 MP variable 70/105 mm equivalent telephoto, ƒ/2.3 and ƒ/2.8
Front camera12 MP, ƒ/2.08 MP, ƒ/2.0
Zoom16, 24, 48, 70 and 140 mm; 48 mm and 140 mm are 2× crops (12 MP) from the 24 mm and 70 mm cameras; 70 mm is 2.9× the main camera's focal length–
Video recording4K at up to 120 fps; HDR (HLG/BT.2020) or SDR (BT.709); S-Cinetone for mobile; slow motion at 120 fps in 4K or Full HD; AI Camerawork subject tracking and Auto FramingCinematography Pro 4K HDR recording up to 60 fps and 120 fps slow motion
Camera featuresAI Camera Assistant suggests looks, lenses and background blur for each scene; RAW multi-frame processing on all three cameras; Creative Look presets; Face/Eye AF for people and animals; Pro photo and Pro video modes; Bokeh mode; ZEISS T* coating on every lensPhotography Pro with Basic mode; up to 20 fps AF/AE bursts and real-time Eye AF
Battery and charging
Battery5,000 mAh4,500 mAh
Wired chargingUp to 30 W–
Wireless chargingUp to 15 WNone
Battery life detailRated 4,850 mAh; Sony says it lasts two days per charge and that Battery Care keeps the battery healthy for four years; EU energy label class A, 51 h 7 min per charge, 1,400 charge cycles4,500 mAh; USB Power Delivery charging; Sony includes a 30 W charger
Wired charging30 W, 50% in about 30 minutes (GSMArena; Sony's UK page couldn't be read); no charger in the box–
Wireless chargingQi wireless charging; 15 W (GSMArena)–
Charges other devicesBattery share wirelessly charges other Qi devices–
Connectivity
Satellite messagingNo–
SIMOne nano-SIM and eSIM, or two eSIMs (dual SIM)Hybrid dual nano-SIM
Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be) with Multi-Link Operation–
BluetoothBluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, AuracastBluetooth 5.2
NFCYesYes
USBUSB-C with DisplayPort video output and USB-LAN adapter support; 3.5 mm headphone jackUSB-C
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight200 g168 g
Thickness8.3 mm8.2 mm
Height × width162 × 74 mm157 × 68 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP68IP68
StylusNo–
MaterialsAluminium frame and glass back, both with a fine textured finish inspired by raw ore–
ColoursGraphite Black, Iolite Silver, Garnet Red; Native Gold (16 GB + 1 TB only)–
ButtonsTwo-stage shutter button (long press opens the camera); volume and zoom button; power button with fingerprint sensor–
Water resistance detailIPX5/IPX8 water resistance and IP6X dust resistance; IPX8 tested in 1.5 m of fresh water for 30 minutes; keep the SIM/microSD tray closedSony specifies IPX5/IPX8 water resistance and IP6X dust protection
BiometricsFingerprint sensor in the power buttonFingerprint sensor
SpeakersFull-stage stereo speakers with identical left and right units, full enclosureFull-stage stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and 3.5 mm headphone socket
MicrophonesMain, second and rear voice-priority microphones–
Software
Operating systemAndroidAndroid
Software at launch–Android 11
Software updatesUp to four Android version upgrades and six years of security updates (Sony Japan); EU listing promises at least 5 years of updates after the model leaves the market–
AI featuresXperia Intelligence (AI Camera Assistant, AI Camerawork, Auto Framing); DSEE Ultimate AI upscaling for music files and streaming; Google Gemini; Circle to Search–
In the boxNo charger (Sony); GSMArena's review unit came without a USB cable too–

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