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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a higher refresh rate screen for smoother viewing and scrolling, the Sony Xperia 5 III has a 120 Hz screen versus the iPhone 12's 60 Hz. The Xperia also offers more RAM, which can improve multitasking performance, and double the base storage, which is beneficial if you plan to store a lot of data. However, the iPhone 12 provides better video recording quality with support for Dolby Vision and has a slightly better camera quality overall. It also has wireless charging, which the Xperia lacks. The iPhone runs on iOS while the Xperia operates on Android, which could be a deciding factor based on your preference for operating systems. Both have comparable battery life and screen sizes, with subtle differences in weight and body dimensions. 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 12
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.3
6.0
The Apple iPhone 12 has good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 12 boasts superior selfie quality, offering a generally better camera experience with solid performance in various areas including low light conditions, dynamic range, and camera versatility compared to the fair selfie quality of the Sony Xperia 5 III.
Photo Quality
7.1
5.9
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The iPhone 12 delivers superior photo experiences thanks to its good dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, as well as offering a flattering selfie camera presentation. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III, despite having good camera versatility and fair selfie capabilities, falls short with poorer dynamic range and low light performance, impacting the overall photo quality.
Video Quality
7.2
6.0
The Apple iPhone 12 takes good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 12 is recognized for having superior video resolution and framerate, exceptional video stabilization, and a higher dynamic range, all of which contribute to clearer, more vibrant, and steadier videos. Whereas the Sony Xperia 5 III, despite having very good video resolution and framerate, falls short in video stabilization and dynamic range, leading to less consistent video quality especially in varying light conditions.
Battery
6.2 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 12 has 6.2 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$600
$450
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Apple iPhone 12 has a price of $600 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 12 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 12 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 12 | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 23, 2020 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A14 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 64 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.1/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.2 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 2815 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | No | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 0 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.78" x 2.81" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.78 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Purple, Green, White, Black, Red | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 12
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Dig into reviews and images
Pocket-lint
Stuart Miles | March 2022
"The iPhone 12 offers many of the important things that you want from the iPhone: a decent camera, 5G, great screen, fast processor. For the group of people who want a new iPhone without the price tag of the iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 13 range, this is a great choice. There's no settling for second best with this smartphone."
Sony Xperia 5 III
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Dig into reviews and images
Android Authority
Robert Triggs | October 2022
"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 12 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.
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Why trust us
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
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About the phone team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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