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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a phone with a smaller screen and lighter weight, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a good option; however, it's generally pricier than the OnePlus 9. The Xperia 5 III also has better overall camera performance with more cameras, offering versatility in photography including a telephoto lens with a focal length equivalent. In contrast, the OnePlus 9 has a larger screen, a slightly better battery life, and higher camera quality ratings for still photos and videos, but it doesn't have a telephoto lens. Both phones are similar in storage capacity, processing power, and refresh rate, but the OnePlus 9 has a higher peak screen brightness. They both run Android, and neither has a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the Xperia supports wireless charging and an SD card for expanded storage, whereas the OnePlus does not. 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 OnePlus 9
- The OnePlus 9 has no clear advantages over the Sony Xperia 5 III.
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.0
6.0
The OnePlus 9 has good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The OnePlus 9 and Sony Xperia 5 III both have fair cameras, with the OnePlus 9 being better for selfies and the Xperia 5 III offering a very good video experience. However, the photo software on the Xperia 5 III is superior to that of the OnePlus 9, making the Sony better for photo enthusiasts, while the OnePlus 9 may appeal more to those who prioritize taking selfies.
Photo Quality
6.7
5.9
The OnePlus 9 takes only fair photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The OnePlus 9 provides a good selfie experience based on the combined factors of photo quality and capabilities such as resolution, software, dynamic range, and low-light performance; it stands above fair due to a favorable evaluation in multiple aspects. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 5 III is rated fair in the selfie department, indicating that while it may perform adequately, it lacks the stronger performance or additional selfie features that would elevate it to the level of the OnePlus 9 in this regard.
Screen Size
The OnePlus 9 has a screen size of 6.55 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$399
$450
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The OnePlus 9 has a price of $399 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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Key similarities
Video Quality
5.9
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony Xperia 5 III to have only fair videos, while the OnePlus 9 takes poor videos.
The OnePlus 9 delivers fair videos due to good stabilization and dynamic range, but it falls short in low light performance and only has fair microphone quality. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 5 III provides a better video software experience and microphone quality, yet exhibits fair stabilization and struggles with dynamic range in videos.
Battery
6.9 Hours
7.3 Hours
The OnePlus 9 has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
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How the OnePlus 9 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| OnePlus 9 | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | OnePlus | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 26, 2021 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.55" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 402 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 6.8/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 48 megapixels | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 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 | 6.29" x 2.92" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.77 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | No | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 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)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (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: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Astral Black, Arctic Sky, Winter Mist | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
OnePlus 9
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
David Lumb | April 2021
"If you’re hunting for the best Android camera phone at this price, and one that doesn’t skimp on specs the OnePlus 9 is worth considering. Courtesy of a partnership with Hasselblad, the cameras offer better color correction, and both regular and ultra-wide photos look great. The OnePlus 9’s battery fully charges in under 30 minutes over a cable, and in 45 minutes using wireless charging. If you hate waiting for hours to charge your phone, you'll love the OnePlus 9."
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 OnePlus 9 or the Sony Xperia 5 III
About OnePlus
OnePlus, established in 2013, is a smartphone brand that first became known for providing flagship-like devices, at a fraction of the cost compared to more expensive Android competitors. OnePlus focuses on creating smartphones with powerful hardware at reasonable prices. They also bring hardware features normally not seen in other Android phones sold in the US, such as their ultra-fast “Warp Charge” and the beloved “Alert Slider”.
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
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Proprietary Phones ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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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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