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What we think
The PerfectRec phone team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If top-notch screen quality is a priority, the Sony Xperia 1 III stands out with a higher resolution display, but it comes at a premium price. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy S21 offers a high refresh rate screen which provides a smooth visual experience, and it is available at a budget-friendly price. In terms of camera capabilities, the Xperia 1 III provides a more versatile setup with more megapixels and RAW output, suitable for photography enthusiasts, but the Galaxy S21 still delivers good overall camera quality. The Galaxy S21 also comes ahead with a slightly longer battery life. However, this is balanced by the Xperia 1 III's larger storage capacity and additional features such as a headphone jack and expandable storage. If cost is a major factor, the Galaxy S21 provides good value, but if you're looking to invest more in higher-end features, the Xperia 1 III could be worth the extra expense. 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 S21
- Good for taking photos
- Fair for recording videos
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 III
- Best in class display quality
- Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.2
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 1 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a better camera setup, offering a very good photo software experience, good performance in low light, and good selfie quality, which makes for an overall balanced camera experience across various conditions and types of use.
Photo Quality
7.0
5.9
The Samsung Galaxy S21 takes good photos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 offers a better selfie camera experience compared to the Sony Xperia 1 III as it is rated good, against the fair rating for the Xperia. This is reflective of how each device handles aspects like resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and camera versatility that collectively contribute to a satisfactory selfie-taking experience.
Video Quality
6.6
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S21 and Sony Xperia 1 III both have only fair videos, though the Samsung Galaxy S21 takes somewhat better videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 provides a better video experience primarily due to its superior video stabilization and dynamic range, which contribute to smoother and more visually appealing videos. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 1 III, while offering a fair video experience, falls short particularly in video stabilization and dynamic range, which are critical for capturing high-quality videos.
Battery
6.7 Hours
5.6 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 III has 5.6 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a screen size of 6.2 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 III is 6.5 inches.
Cost
$145
$899
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a price of $145 and the Sony Xperia 1 III costs $899.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S21 and the Sony Xperia 1 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$145 | $899 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 29, 2021 | August 25, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.2" | 6.5" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3840 x 1644 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 421 | 643 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD888 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 6.6/10 | 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 | 6.7 Hours | 5.6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4000 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 15 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | Yes (4.5 watts) | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.97" x 2.8" | 6.5" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.96 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | 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 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6)1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 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 | Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink | Black | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S21
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Android Central
Huseman Joe | February 2022
"The Galaxy S21 delivers the flagship Samsung experience in a phone that's much more pocketable (and affordable) than the top-end S21 Ultra.The triple-camera system is incredibly capable, Samsung's One UI 3.1 software is chock-full of features and settings to mess with, and I've not once missed having expandable storage."
Sony Xperia 1 III
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | August 2021
"For those who enjoy Sony’s Android phones, or who want a top-tier smartphone with a versatile camera, a beautiful screen and strong battery life, this is a great choice. If your budget can stretch to it, and you're a fan of its looks, it could be a great option."
Get a great deal on the Samsung Galaxy S21 or the Sony Xperia 1 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
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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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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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