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
Overall Camera Quality
6.6/10
6.0/10
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.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 offers enjoyable photos and versatility in camera functions, although obtaining good dynamic range and low light performance can be challenging; its selfie camera provides acceptable results. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia 5 III provides a very good software photography experience and microphone quality, despite some limitations with photo dynamic range and selfie quality, which are just fair like the Samsung's.
Photo Quality
6.4/10
5.9/10
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 takes only fair photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and Sony Xperia 5 III take fair photos predominantly due to their average performance in dynamic range, low light situations, and camera versatility, which influences the overall image quality. However, while the Note20 offers a good selfie experience, the Xperia 5 III is rated fair, indicating that the front-facing camera of the Note20 might take better selfies.
Battery
8.2 Hours
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
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The Samsung Galaxy Note20 has a price of $286 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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.
The Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the Sony Xperia 5 III both take fair videos due to a combination of factors. The Note20's video capabilities are limited by fair video software experience, video stabilization, and low light performance, along with good microphone quality.
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How the Samsung Galaxy Note20 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
"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."
"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.
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.