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Updated January 10, 2024·
If camera quality is a priority for you, the Apple iPhone 15 offers generally higher photo and video quality, despite being the less expensive option. However, if you prefer a phone with a larger screen and higher screen resolution for crisp visuals, the Sony Xperia 1 III excels in those areas. Additionally, for those who value a high-refresh-rate display, the Sony has a 120Hz screen which makes for smoother scrolling and animations, in comparison to the iPhone's 60Hz. The iPhone boasts a longer battery life, so if you're often on the go, this could be a crucial factor. The Sony, on the other hand, offers more RAM and a richer set of features like a 3.5mm headphone jack and expandable storage via an SD card, which the iPhone lacks. Keep in mind the iPhone runs on iOS while the Xperia uses Android, which may affect your decision based on your preference for a particular ecosystem. 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 15
- Very good for taking photos
- Excellent for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 III
- Best in class display quality
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.6
6.0
The Apple iPhone 15 has very good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 1 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 delivers a superior selfie experience which is very good, reflecting its strengths in selfie camera quality, also supported by excellent photo and video software experiences and dynamic range. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 1 III provides a fair selfie performance with poorer photo dynamic range and low light capabilities compared to the iPhone, indicating a less versatile camera system despite having decent video capabilities.
Photo Quality
8.5
5.9
The Apple iPhone 15 takes very good photos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 takes better photos than the Sony Xperia 1 III mainly due to a superior selfie camera and overall better photos software experience. Specifically, the iPhone 15's selfie quality is rated as very good, while the Xperia's is fair, and the photos software experience also favors the iPhone with the best rating compared to the Xperia's very good.
Video Quality
9.1
6.0
The Apple iPhone 15 takes excellent videos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 stands out in video due to its superior video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 1 III, while offering a very good video software experience, falls behind on these aspects with merely fair video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.6 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 has 8 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 III has 5.6 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 III is 6.5 inches.
Cost
$729
$899
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 has a price of $729 and the Sony Xperia 1 III costs $899.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 and the Sony Xperia 1 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$729 | $899 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | August 25, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.5" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2556 x 1179 | 3840 x 1644 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 461 | 643 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A16 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.7/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.5/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 9.2/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5.6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3349 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.81" x 2.82" | 6.5" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.03 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 | 5.3 | 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 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 | Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Yellow, Pink, Blue, Green, Black | Black | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Lance Ulanoff | September 2023
"Apple finally waves goodbye to the notch in favor of the Dynamic Island on all phones in its new lineup, and on the iPhone 15 that versatile screen technology is paired with new materials, lovely contoured edges, a powerful A16 Bionic CPU, and, yes, the new USB-C port. Even the photography has been leveled up, with a 48MP camera and new portrait processing capabilities."
Sony Xperia 1 III
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | August 2021
"For those who enjoy Sony’s Android phones, or who want a top-tier smartphone with a versatile camera, a beautiful screen and strong battery life, this is a great choice. If your budget can stretch to it, and you're a fan of its looks, it could be a great option."
Get a great deal on the Apple iPhone 15 or the Sony Xperia 1 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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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.
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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.
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