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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value a larger and brighter screen, the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max is superior, whereas the Sony Xperia 5 III offers a high refresh rate display which makes for smoother scrolling and animation. The camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is among the best available, offering higher-end features for photography and video, but the Xperia's camera is competent if less impressive. For battery life, the Xperia edges out the iPhone. However, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has better water resistance. The phones run on different operating systems, with iPhone on iOS and Xperia on Android, so consider which ecosystem you prefer. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is typically pricier, so if budget is a concern, the Xperia 5 III is more wallet-friendly while still offering quality features. 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 13 Pro Max
- Good for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- The Sony Xperia 5 III has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
6.0
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has very good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max offers a superior camera experience in both photos and videos compared to the Sony Xperia 5 III, especially in terms of software enhancement, dynamic range, low-light performance, stabilization, and microphone quality. Importantly, the selfie camera on the iPhone 13 Pro Max is rated as very good, whereas the Xperia 5 III's selfie camera is considered fair, making the iPhone a better option for selfie enthusiasts despite its higher cost.
Photo Quality
7.8
5.9
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes good photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max captures very good photos due to its excellent selfie capabilities and strong performance in dynamic range and low light situations. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III takes fair photos because of its poor dynamic range, low light performance, and less versatile camera setup.
Video Quality
8.6
6.0
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max takes very good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max delivers excellent video performance due to its high video resolution/framerate capacity, superior video software experience, and top-notch video stabilization, ensuring very good dynamic range and excellent low light performance. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers fair video capabilities, with solid video stabilization and resolution/framerate, but it falls short on dynamic range and low light performance, resulting in a less robust video experience.
Battery
9.6 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has 9.6 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$639
$450
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max has a price of $639 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$639 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2778 x 1284 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 458 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.9/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.6/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.6 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4352 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 | 6.33" x 3.07" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 8.47 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, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 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 | Alpine Green, Graphite, Sierra Blue, Gold, Silver | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
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Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | March 2023
"The iPhone 13 Pro Max is that rare phone that gets a 5-star rating from us. You get blistering performance and a very responsive 120Hz display. Plus, the battery life is among the best we’ve seen from a 5G flagship. Some may simply prefer the iPhone 13 Pro because it’s smaller and lighter, as there are no other functional differences between the two handsets. But if you prefer a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the closest thing to perfect you can get in a phone."
Sony Xperia 5 III
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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 13 Pro Max 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
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
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