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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize camera performance for still photography and video, the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a slight edge over the Sony Xperia 5 III. However, if battery life is more important to you, you’ll find that the S23 also offers a slightly longer battery life. Both have a similar screen size and quality, but Sony's option comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and better front-facing stereo speakers, which could be significant if you often use wired headphones or rely on built-in speakers for media consumption. Both phones run Android, have similar processors and RAM, making them comparable in general performance, but Samsung's model is newer if having the latest device matters to you. 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
- Very good display quality
- Excellent performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- The Sony Xperia 5 III has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
8.3
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has very good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 boasts very good scores across photos and video aspects such as resolution, software experience, dynamic range, low light performance, and versatility, with its selfie camera being rated very good. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III shows fair performance in its selfie camera quality as well as lower scores in key areas like photos dynamic range, low light performance, and video stabilization, which contribute to its overall fair camera rating.
Photo Quality
8.3
5.9
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes very good photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 produces excellent photos due in part to its strong performance across various factors like a versatile camera system, good low light capability, and a robust photo software experience, which result in a high selfie quality. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 5 III delivers fair photos, as it falls short in areas like low light performance and dynamic range, leading to lower selfie quality despite a competent photo software experience.
Video Quality
7.8
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent videos because it offers the highest quality in video resolution/framerate, software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, as well as excellent microphone quality. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III's video capabilities are fair, hindered by poorer software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, although it still delivers very good video resolution/framerate and good microphone quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$700
$450
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a price of $700 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S23 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 S23 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $450 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 17, 2023 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 422 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD8G2 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 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 | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3900 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 | 5.76" x 2.79" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
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 | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | Black, Green | |
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 5 III
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Dig into reviews and images
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 S23 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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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
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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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