If camera quality is a top priority for you, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra offers superior photos and videos with versatile camera options at a higher price. However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option and are content with moderate camera performance, the Sony Xperia 5 III could meet your needs at a lower cost. Those preferring to use wired headphones may appreciate the Xperia 5 III's 3.5mm headphone jack. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also includes a stylus for productivity tasks and a larger battery and screen, making it more suitable for extensive use and multimedia consumption. Keep in mind that the Sony Xperia has an older processor, so you might experience a difference in performance compared to the more recent Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. 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 S24 Ultra
Best in class for taking photos
Very good for recording videos
Excellent battery life
Best in class display quality
Best in class performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
The Sony Xperia 5 III has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
9.3/10
6.0/10
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has excellent overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts excellent selfie quality, dynamic range, and low light performance, along with exceptional camera versatility, conducive to a compelling photo and video capture experience. In contrast, the Sony Xperia 5 III, while offering fair selfie performance and good video stabilization, falls short in both photos and videos dynamic range and low light performance, which are pivotal aspects for capturing high-quality images in various lighting conditions.
Photo Quality
9.7/10
5.9/10
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes best in class photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes poor selfies due to a lower selfie quality, despite having a high resolution for photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III, with fair overall photo quality, contrasts with its better selfie performance despite its less versatile camera and lower photo software experience. The dynamic range and low light performance of both phones are also contributing factors, with the Samsung lagging behind Sony in these areas.
Video Quality
8.3/10
6.0/10
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes very good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra delivers poor video quality because its stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality are all rated as "very good" at best, failing to reach the top scores. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia 5 III, while having a "very good" video software experience and resolution/framerate, is assessed as merely "fair" in video dynamic range and low light performance, with stabilization and mic quality also not rated highly.
Battery
10.4 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S24 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 S24 Ultra has a screen size of 6.8 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$1,300
$450
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has a price of $1,300 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $450.
"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 S24 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
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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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