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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Apple iPhone 13 and the Sony Xperia 5 III, consider if you prefer iOS or Android as they operate on different systems. The iPhone 13 offers a slightly higher-quality camera system and leverages Dolby Vision for HDR video, making it a strong choice for photography enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Xperia 5 III includes a headphone jack and expandable storage via an SD card, which could be crucial for music lovers and those needing extra space. It also has a higher refresh rate display, which provides smoother scrolling and better gaming performance. If battery life is a priority, both phones offer similar longevity, but the Xperia edges out slightly. For durability and potential water exposure, both phones are well-built with robust protection against dust and water. 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 Apple iPhone 13
- Good for taking photos
- Very good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
- Very good performance
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
6.0
The Apple iPhone 13 has good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Apple iPhone 13 is equipped with superior camera capabilities partly due to its exceptional video software experience, video stabilization, and dynamic range, as well as better performance in low light conditions, both for photos and videos.
Photo Quality
7.5
5.9
The Apple iPhone 13 takes good photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Apple iPhone 13 takes very good photos partly because it has a very good selfie camera and excels in software experience, dynamic range, and low light performance. In comparison, the Sony Xperia 5 III, while offering a fair software experience and camera versatility, falls behind in selfie quality, dynamic range, and especially low light performance, which are crucial for capturing high-quality images.
Video Quality
8.0
6.0
The Apple iPhone 13 takes very good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Apple iPhone 13 outperforms the Sony Xperia 5 III when it comes to video capabilities primarily because it offers superior stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, all of which contribute to the overall video quality, especially in varying conditions. Additionally, while both phones have very good microphone quality, the iPhone 13's is rated higher, which can result in clearer audio to accompany the video.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.1 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Apple iPhone 13 has 7.1 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Screen Size
The Apple iPhone 13 has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
Cost
$629
$600
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
The Apple iPhone 13 has a price of $629 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $600.
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How the Apple iPhone 13 and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple iPhone 13 | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$629 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | iOS | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 24, 2021 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 460 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | A15 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.7/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.5/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 8.1/10 | 6/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 12 megapixels + OIS | 12 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.1 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 3240 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 | No | No | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.78" x 2.81" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.14 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 | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6 | 6 | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 | (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 | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Side | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | No | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Blue, Pink, Midnight, Starlight, Green, Red | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | N/A | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Apple iPhone 13
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
James Peckham | September 2022
"The iPhone 13 isn’t a game changer for Apple’s series of smartphones, but it’s an important iteration that offers better battery life, a better processor and an upgraded camera setup than iPhones that have gone before it. If you’re looking for a fast and capable smartphone, and don’t need the extra features of the pricier Pro model, this is a top choice."
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 Apple iPhone 13 or the Sony Xperia 5 III
About Apple
The tech giant called Apple is synonymous with the most popular smartphone in the world: the iPhone. Known for their build quality and aesthetics, as well as for their excellent integration between hardware and software, iPhones have defined the smartphone industry ever since their conception and they continue to do so by setting new industry standards. Apple's own operating system, called iOS, is known for its simplicity and ease of use, and the company tends to complement it well by creating devices with some of the most powerful processing hardware available in the mobile world. The iPhone is also known for its robust ecosystem of accessories, as it facilitates a very seamless experience when interacting with other Apple products, more so than most of its competitors.
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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