Choosing between the Apple iPhone 11 and the Sony Xperia 5 III will depend on what you value most. The iPhone 11, while less expensive and older, offers a familiar iOS experience and sufficient performance for everyday use with a decent camera system. The Xperia 5 III, despite its higher price, provides a more recent and robust Android performance, a high-quality camera setup capable of RAW output and HDR video, and better screen quality with its OLED display. If you prioritize a high refresh rate screen and more advanced camera features, and you're willing to invest more, the Xperia 5 III could be your choice. Meanwhile, for a more budget-conscious option with reliable performance and a strong ecosystem, the iPhone 11 remains a solid contender. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple iPhone 11
The Apple iPhone 11 has no clear advantages over the Sony Xperia 5 III.
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
6.6/10
6.0/10
The Apple iPhone 11 and Sony Xperia 5 III both have only fair overall camera quality, though the Apple iPhone 11 has somewhat better overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 11 has a good selfie camera but is surpassed by the Sony Xperia 5 III which has a very good selfie camera, making the latter a better choice for selfie enthusiasts. Both phones have their own strengths in photo and video capabilities, but if the selfie camera is a top priority, the Xperia 5 III holds an edge while also offering additional features like a higher refresh rate screen and more RAM for overall performance.
Video Quality
6.8/10
6.0/10
The Apple iPhone 11 and Sony Xperia 5 III both have only fair videos, though the Apple iPhone 11 takes somewhat better videos.
The Apple iPhone 11 takes fair videos as it offers solid video stabilization and microphone quality but has limitations in dynamic range and low light performance. The Sony Xperia 5 III, while also offering fair video capabilities, has comparable stabilization and microphone quality, but differs with its video software experience and performance under low light conditions.
Cost
$271
$450
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Apple iPhone 11 has a price of $271 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple iPhone 11 to have only fair photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 11 takes fair photos as its camera has a good software experience, but it falls short in dynamic range, low light performance, and versatility. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia 5 III also delivers fair photos with very good software experience, which compensates for similar shortcomings in dynamic range and low light performance as well as moderate camera versatility.
Battery
7.1 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 11 has 7.1 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 11 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 11 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
"The iPhone 11 delivers superb cameras, fast performance and excellent battery life, making it the iPhone to buy for many people. The cameras are very good, thanks to an ultra-wide lens and a Night mode for better low-light performance. This device also has IP68-rated water resistance, which means that it can withstand 2 meters of water for 30 minutes, and is one of the best waterproof phones out there."
"The Sony Xperia 5 III excels when it comes to rear camera photography, its display and multi-media features, and all-day battery life. Buy the Xperia 5 III if you’re looking for a fun but imperfect camera setup, customizable gaming features, all-day battery life, and all the best multimedia capabilities that Sony has to offer"
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 11 or the Sony Xperia 5 III
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
About Sony
Sony has had a long history in the mobile market, entering the scene all the way back in 1993 with its first commercially available phone, the CM-H333. Nowadays, their Xperia line of phones provide well-rounded and sometimes expensive devices with a focus on camera software that includes extensive support for manual tweaking of settings. Sony's dedication to audio quality is also evident in its smartphones, which often feature high-resolution audio support while also being one of the few remaining manufacturers that consistently provide headphone jacks in their phones. The company's version of Android is also considered to be close to stock, enabling a bloatware-free experience for its users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
68
Phones evaluated
7,820
Phones stats compiled
8
Proprietary Phones ratings developed
151,800
Recommendations made
86,020
Consumer hours saved
About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Phones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Seth Peoples
Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.
Efthimis Kotanidis
Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.