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The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're primarily concerned about cost, the Samsung Galaxy S10 is a clear choice over the Sony Xperia 5 III, as it is significantly less expensive. However, the Xperia 5 III boasts a newer processor, higher battery life, and the potential for better camera performance, especially for video where it offers features like 4K recording at 120fps and HDR. Both phones have a similar screen size and resolution, with the Galaxy S10 having a slightly higher pixels per inch count, but the Xperia 5 III has a higher refresh rate, offering smoother motion. The Galaxy S10 has features such as a 3.5mm headphone jack and wireless PowerShare, while the Xperia 5 III benefits from a newer Bluetooth version and a dedicated shutter button for photography. Each phone brings unique strengths to the table, so your choice will depend on which features you value more: lower cost and convenient extras with the Samsung, or higher performance and better camera capabilities at a higher price with the Sony. 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 S10
- Very good display quality
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.4
6.0
The Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 has poor overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S10's cameras have a poor overall photography experience, especially noticeable in dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility, as well as a poor selfie camera quality. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers a moderately better camera experience with fair selfie quality and good camera versatility, supported by better photo and video software experience, although it also struggles with dynamic range and low light performance.
Photo Quality
5.4
5.9
The Sony Xperia 5 III and Samsung Galaxy S10 both have poor photos, though the Sony Xperia 5 III takes somewhat better photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 delivers poor-quality selfies due to a lower performance in capturing details and overall photo experience with the front-facing camera. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers fair selfie photos, suggesting a slightly better handling of these aspects, including the intricacies of software processing and versatility of the front camera.
Battery
5.6 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has 5.6 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$145
$450
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has a price of $145 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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Key similarities
Video Quality
5.5
6.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony Xperia 5 III to have only fair videos, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has weaker video stabilization and lower video dynamic range compared to the Sony Xperia 5 III, which leads to less smooth and more exposure-varied footage. Additionally, the Xperia 5 III outperforms the Galaxy S10 in low-light video performance and provides a better overall video software experience, resulting in higher quality videos.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S10 | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$145 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 8, 2019 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3040 x 1440 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 550 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD855 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 6 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 5.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 5.4/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 5.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.6 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3400 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 | Yes (4.5 watts) | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.9" x 2.77" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.54 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 | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | N/A | (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 | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Prism Black, Prism White, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Flamingo Pink, Cardinal Red | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | Yes | Yes | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S10
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Tom's Guide
Caitlin McGarry | October 2022
"The Galaxy S10 offers superfast performance and a beautiful display, with a less distracting camera cutout than on the larger, pricier S10 Plus. If all you're looking for is a well-rounded, well-crafted Android flagship that can do it all — including work with a pair of good old-fashioned wired headphones — for a price you can sleep easy at night spending, the Galaxy S10 remains an unbeatable proposition."
Sony Xperia 5 III
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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 S10 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
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
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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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