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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Samsung Galaxy S23 is the better choice as it's less expensive than the Sony Xperia 1 III. However, the Xperia 1 III comes with a larger screen and offers a higher storage capacity right out of the box. On the camera front, while both phones have high-quality photography features, you may find subtle differences in photo and video quality. The Galaxy S23 has a newer processor, which might translate to slightly better performance. For battery life, the Galaxy S23 stands out with a longer usage time. If the headphone jack is important to you, note that the Xperia 1 III has one, while the S23 does not. Both phones offer Android operating systems, premium build quality with glass backs, and are similar in weight. 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 S23
- Very good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good battery life
- Excellent performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 1 III
- Best in class display quality
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.3
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 1 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 outshines the Sony Xperia 1 III in overall camera performance, with better results in software experience, dynamic range, low light capabilities, camera versatility, and notably superior selfie quality. The Xperia 1 III trails behind, particularly in dynamic range and low light photography, which are crucial for capturing quality images in various lighting conditions.
Photo Quality
8.3
5.9
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a very good photo-taking experience across various aspects, including high selfie quality, due to its balanced combination of resolution, software, dynamic range, and low-light performance. On the other hand, while the Sony Xperia 1 III shows strengths in resolution and camera versatility, it has a fair selfie quality, indicating weaker performance in software experience, dynamic range, and low-light photography.
Video Quality
7.8
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos, while the Sony Xperia 1 III takes only fair videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 excels in video capture with top-tier video stabilization, superior dynamic range, and excellent low-light performance, which contributes to its commendable video quality. In contrast, while the Sony Xperia 1 III has good video software and stabilization, its dynamic range and low-light capabilities are notably limited, resulting in fair video quality overall.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.6 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 III has 5.6 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Sony Xperia 1 III is 6.5 inches.
Cost
$700
$899
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a price of $700 and the Sony Xperia 1 III costs $899.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the Sony Xperia 1 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $899 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 17, 2023 | August 25, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.5" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3840 x 1644 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 422 | 643 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD8G2 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.4/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 50 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5.6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3900 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 | 5.76" x 2.79" | 6.5" x 2.8" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Glass | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | (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 | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | Black | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S23
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
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 S23 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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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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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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
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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.
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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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