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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus, being a newer model, might offer you a more current software experience and potentially better support in the future, considering it was released two years after the Sony Xperia 1 III. If you prefer a larger screen, the iPhone has a 6.7-inch display compared to the Xperia's 6.5-inch. However, the Xperia's screen has a higher resolution and a higher refresh rate which means smoother visuals, which could be better for gaming or watching high-definition videos. The iPhone 15 Plus boasts longer battery life, which can be crucial if you're often on the go and unable to charge your phone frequently. In terms of camera, the iPhone scores higher overall in photo and video quality, which implies that if capturing high-quality images and videos is important to you, the iPhone might be the better choice. For storage capacity, the Xperia comes with more space out of the box, but keep in mind the iPhone's software efficiency may allow you to use its space more effectively. If the operating system is a deciding factor, the iPhone 15 Plus runs iOS while the Xperia runs Android, each with its distinct ecosystem and user experience. 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 Plus
- 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 Plus has very good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 1 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus is known for its superior selfie capabilities and overall more consistent performance across various lighting conditions and camera functions, whereas the Sony Xperia 1 III, while offering a solid camera experience, doesn't achieve the same level of quality in dynamic range, low light performance, or selfie quality. The iPhone 15 Plus excels in these areas due to its better photos and video software experience, dynamic range, and microphone quality compared to the Xperia 1 III.
Photo Quality
8.5
5.9
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes very good photos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus delivers superior selfie photos compared to the Sony Xperia 1 III, which is very important for selfie enthusiasts. The iPhone benefits from higher selfie quality, along with better photos resolution, a more polished photos software experience, and greater photos dynamic range, enhancing the overall image quality.
Video Quality
9.1
6.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes excellent videos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus takes the best videos due to its leading video resolution and frame rate, superior software for video capturing, exceptional video stabilization, high dynamic range, impressive low light performance, and excellent microphone quality. In comparison, the Sony Xperia 1 III delivers fair video quality with lower marks in these same aspects, resulting in less optimized video capture overall.
Battery
8.9 Hours
5.6 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has 8.9 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 III has 5.6 hours of battery life.
Cost
$829
$899
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a price of $829 and the Sony Xperia 1 III costs $899.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Plus has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 III is 6.5 inches.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and the Sony Xperia 1 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Plus | Sony Xperia 1 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$829 | $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 | 6.7" | 6.5" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 3840 x 1644 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 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 | 8.9 Hours | 5.6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4383 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 | 6.33" x 3.06" | 6.5" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.09 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 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Eric Zeman | October 2023
"Apple's iPhone 15 Plus is the phone to get if battery life and budget are your top concerns. It outlasts the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, coming in second only to the top-shelf Pro Max. Otherwise, it includes a larger display than the standard iPhone 15, the same speedy processor, a fine pair of cameras, excellent wireless radios, and a waterproof build."
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 Plus 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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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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