If you're looking for a more affordable option with a larger screen and superior screen brightness, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ may be the way to go. However, if you're interested in a more recent model with a faster refresh rate—which makes for smoother scrolling and better gaming performance—and better performance overall, you might prefer the Sony Xperia 5 III, despite its higher price. Both phones have similar battery life and camera capabilities, so your decision may hinge on whether you value a more immersive display and cost savings with the Galaxy S10+, or improved performance and a high-refresh-rate screen on the more expensive Xperia 5 III. 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
The Sony Xperia 5 III has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S10+.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
5.4/10
6.0/10
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+ has a lower rating for selfie quality compared to the Sony Xperia 5 III, and its overall camera ratings for features like software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance are also lower. Additionally, while the Xperia 5 III isn't top-tier in camera versatility, it is rated higher than the Galaxy S10+ in that area as well as in audio recording quality.
Photo Quality
5.4/10
5.9/10
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+ has a poor selfie score and overall disappointing photo performance in areas like dynamic range and low light, which contributes to its lower-quality photos. The Sony Xperia 5 III, while not top of its class, offers fair selfie performance and a better photos software experience, giving it an edge over the Galaxy S10+ in photography.
Cost
$234
$450
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has a price of $234 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 S10+ takes poor videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has issues with video due to poor software experience, stabilization, and dynamic range; coupled with its lower performance in low light and mediocre microphone quality, you may find video recording lacking. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III provides a better video recording experience with its superior video software experience and stabilization, although its dynamic range and low light performance are still only fair, it compensates with better microphone quality.
Battery
7.3 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has 7.3 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S10+ has a screen size of 6.4 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
"This handset gives you a big and immersive full-screen experience, very capable cameras and fast performance in a slick design. Samsung also deserves credit for how seamlessly the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and Wireless PowerShare features work."
"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.
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
152,400
Recommendations made
86,360
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.