If you prioritize a top-tier camera with a very capable telephoto lens and an integrated stylus for productivity, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra should be your choice, but be prepared to spend more. Alternatively, if a headphone jack is important to you and you are looking to save money while still getting a good quality device, the Sony Xperia 5 III is a solid choice. The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a larger and more advanced display, a higher battery capacity, and newer processor technology which may translate to better performance and longevity. The Xperia 5 III, although older, offers a more compact form factor and still holds well in terms of performance with its capable hardware. 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 Ultra
Best in class for taking photos
Very good for recording videos
Best in class battery life
Best in class 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 Ultra.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.2/10
6.0/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has excellent overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts better overall camera performance than the Sony Xperia 5 III, with a selfie camera that is rated very good, as opposed to the Xperia's fair rating. Particularly, the Galaxy S23 Ultra excels in camera versatility, low light photography, and video performance, offering features like a highly capable telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom and comprehensive HDR10+ support.
Photo Quality
9.5/10
5.9/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes best in class photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra captures excellent selfies due to its superior selfie quality, dynamic range, and low light performance, which are deemed "Very Good." In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers only fair selfie performance with lower scores in these areas, indicating that its selfie shots may not be as clear or vibrant, especially in varying lighting conditions.
Video Quality
8.0/10
6.0/10
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes very good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra provides superior video quality due to having the highest scores for video resolution/framerate, video software experience, video stabilization, video dynamic range, and video low light performance, as well as excellent mic quality. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers fair video performance with lower scores in these categories, indicating that while it can capture decent videos, it doesn't match the high performance of the Galaxy S23 Ultra in video recording capabilities.
Battery
10.4 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has 10.4 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a screen size of 6.8 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$1,050
$450
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a price of $1,050 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
"The Galaxy S23 Ultra doesn’t just want a place at the top right now; it expects to stay there. Samsung’s excellent update commitment and connectivity standards will keep its flagship feeling fresh for years to come, and the high-end materials will put up with more than their share of wear and tear. It might be more than most users need in terms of size, power, and cost, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a glaring weakness."
"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 Ultra 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
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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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Phones Expert
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