If you're looking for a phone with a larger screen and much better battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra could be a great option, and it comes at a budget-friendly price. Alternatively, if you prefer a phone with more built-in storage and a higher resolution screen, the Sony Xperia 1 III offers these features but at a premium price. The camera system is slightly better on the S21 Ultra, so if photography is a priority and you want to save money, it may be the better choice. Both phones have the same processor and RAM, ensuring similar performance levels. 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 Ultra
Good for taking photos
Good for recording videos
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 III
Best in class display quality
Good performance
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.8/10
6.0/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 1 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts good selfie capabilities, excellent photo and video experiences across various conditions including low light, and high camera versatility, while the Sony Xperia 1 III falls short in these aspects with fair selfie performance and good but not as well-rounded photo and video capabilities. However, the Xperia 1 III compensates with higher storage capacity out of the box.
Photo Quality
7.8/10
5.9/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good photos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a better camera versatility and overall superior photo quality, including dynamic range and low light performance, while also offering a good selfie experience. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 1 III delivers fair selfies and struggles more in dynamic range and low light conditions, despite a good software interface for photography.
Video Quality
7.1/10
6.0/10
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes good videos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes only fair videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra provides better video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance compared to the Sony Xperia 1 III, ensuring smoother, clearer videos in various lighting conditions. Furthermore, the microphone quality of the S21 Ultra is rated higher than the Xperia 1 III, which translates to better sound recording during video capture.
Battery
6.7 Hours
5.6 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has 6.7 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 III has 5.6 hours of battery life.
Cost
$423
$1,306
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a price of $423 and the Sony Xperia 1 III costs $1,306.
"The Galaxy S21 Ultra is a killer combo of great design, blazing-fast performance, a wonderful display, long-lasting battery life, and one of the most versatile camera systems you can get in a smartphone today."
"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 Ultra 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.
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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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