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Galaxy Note20
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Xperia 5 III
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What we think

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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you're looking for a more affordable option with a larger screen and a plastic back, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 will be the one for you, and it also includes a stylus. However, the Sony Xperia 5 III, while more expensive, offers a glass back, a higher screen refresh rate which might translate to smoother scrolling and animations, and better overall camera quality according to our assessments. Additionally, if battery life is a crucial factor, the Galaxy Note20 has a slightly longer battery life. Both have similar storage capacity, but the Sony Xperia 5 III is a newer model with a more up-to-date processor. 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 Samsung Galaxy Note20
  • Very good battery life
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
  • The Sony Xperia 5 III has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy Note20.

Key differences

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Overall Camera Quality

6.6
Galaxy Note20
Xperia 5 III
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Sony Xperia 5 III both have only fair overall camera quality, though the Samsung Galaxy Note20 has somewhat better overall camera quality.

Photo Quality

6.4
Galaxy Note20
Xperia 5 III
5.9
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 takes only fair photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.

Battery

8.2 Hours
Galaxy Note20
Xperia 5 III
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has 8.2 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.

Screen Size

The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a screen size of 6.7 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.

Cost

$286
Galaxy Note20
Xperia 5 III
$450
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The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a price of $286 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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Key similarities

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Video Quality

5.9
Galaxy Note20
Xperia 5 III
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony Xperia 5 III to have only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy Note20 takes poor videos.

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We’re constantly working to improve.

How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones

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Spec Comparison

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Samsung Galaxy Note20Sony Xperia 5 III
Samsung Galaxy Note20Sony Xperia 5 III

GENERAL

Price
$286
$450
Brand
SamsungSony
Operating System
AndroidAndroid
Release Date
August 21, 2020October 8, 2021

SCREEN

Screen Size
6.7"6.1"
Resolution
2400 x 10802520 x 1080
Variable refresh rate
NoNo
Pixels Per Inch
393449
Display Type
OLEDOLED

INTERNAL

Processor
SD865+SD888
Internal Storage
128 GB128 GB
RAM
8 GB8 GB

CAMERA

Overall Camera Quality Score
6.6/106/10
Photos Score
6.4/105.9/10
Videos Score
6/106/10
Rear Cameras
Main, Ultrawide, TelephotoMain, Ultrawide, Telephoto
Main Camera
12 megapixels + OIS12 megapixels + OIS

BATTERY

Battery Life
8.2 Hours7.3 Hours
Battery Capacity
4300 mAh4500 mAh
Wireless Charging
YesNo
Wireless charging Speed
15 W0 W
Reverse wireless charging
Yes (4.5 watts)No

PHYSICAL

Size
6.36" x 2.96"6.18" x 2.68"
Weight
6.77 oz5.93 oz
Back Material
PlasticGlass
Stereo Speakers
NoYes

CONNECTIVITY

Dual SIM
YesYes
Bluetooth Version
5.05.2
A2DP
YesYes
WiFi Version
66
NFC
YesYes
US 5G Bands
(SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40, 77, 78(SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78

OTHER FEATURES

Biometric unlock
Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under DisplayFace unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side
Unlockable Bootloader
NoNo
Color
Mystic Gray, Mystic Bronze, Mystic Red, Mystic GreenBlack, Green
Stock Android
NoYes
SD Card
NoYes

Shopping

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Samsung Galaxy Note20

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Dig into reviews and images

Pocket-lint

Mike Lowe | October 2020
"We think pretty much anyone picking up the Note 20 to take photos will be very happy with the sharpness and appearance of the shots. If you're looking for a phone with an integrated stylus then there's little better than the note-taking potential of this phone. Sure, its 'glasstic' rear and lack of higher refrsh-rate screen are little red marks against its specification, but you can buy the step-up Ultra model if you see that as a problem - although we prefer the smaller price and smaller camera lump of this 'entry' Note model."

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 Samsung Galaxy Note20 or the Sony Xperia 5 III

About Samsung

Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.

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

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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.

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

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Seth Peoples

Phones Expert
Seth is a US-based product expert focusing on smartphones and he is a moderator of one of the largest smartphone subreddits. His tailored recommendations have helped him earn over 87k comment karma, putting him in the top 1% of Redditors.

Efthimis Kotanidis

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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