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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If having a larger, brighter screen and longer battery life is important to you, and you don't mind the higher cost, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max might be the way to go. It also boasts higher photo and video quality in its cameras. On the other hand, if you prefer Android over iOS, require a 3.5mm headphone jack, or appreciate a dedicated camera shutter button, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers these features at a lower price point. Consider the Sony Xperia 5 III if you want to save money and don't need the highest-end camera or screen 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 15 Pro Max
- Best in class for taking photos
- Best in class for recording videos
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class display quality
- Best in class performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- The Sony Xperia 5 III has no clear advantages over the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
10.0
6.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has best in class overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has superior camera capabilities including the best software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance, with very good versatility and the best selfie quality, making it an excellent choice for photography enthusiasts. In comparison, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers a fair selfie score and good camera versatility but falls short with only very good software experience and poor performance in terms of dynamic range and low light photography.
Photo Quality
10.0
5.9
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers superior photo quality due to its excellent software experience and dynamic range, which contribute to its ability to capture vivid and well-balanced images in various lighting conditions. In comparison, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers a fair selfie experience and struggles with dynamic range and low light performance, which could result in less detailed and lower-quality photos, particularly in challenging lighting situations.
Video Quality
10.0
6.0
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max takes best in class videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max delivers better videos primarily due to its superior video software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 5 III, while offering fair video performance, falls behind, especially in areas such as video dynamic range and low light capabilities, contributing to a less robust overall video recording experience.
Battery
9.8 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has 9.8 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$1,100
$450
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a price of $1,100 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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How the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 22, 2023 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.7" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A17 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 256 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 10/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 10/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 10/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Super Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.8 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4441 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 | 6.3" x 3.02" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.80 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 | 6e | 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 | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Guide
Mark Spoonauer | September 2023
"The iPhone 15 Pro Max is a powerful flagship phone that delivers upgrade-worthy features, including a lighter and more compact titanium design, a bigger 5x zoom and a useful Action button. The A17 Pro chip is the fastest around and enables console-quality gameplay, while the battery lasts an epic 14 hours."
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 15 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
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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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