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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're seeking a phone with a larger screen and higher battery endurance, the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE comes with a 6.4-inch display and a more recent release year which could indicate newer technology, and it's available at a midrange price, making it less expensive than the Sony Xperia 5 III. The Sony Xperia 5 III, despite being older, stands out for its premium build and may offer unique features like a dedicated shutter button for photography enthusiasts, which could benefit those who prioritize camera functionality and user experience over cost savings. However, individual preferences for screen aspect ratio and handheld comfort might differ, as the Xperia 5 III has a taller 21:9 aspect ratio which can be better for certain types of content viewing but may feel different in hand compared to the wider Galaxy S23 FE. 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 FE
- Good for taking photos
- Good for recording videos
- Very good display quality
Advantages of the Sony Xperia 5 III
- Good battery life
Key differences
Overall Camera Quality
7.7
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has good overall camera quality, while the Sony Xperia 5 III has only fair overall camera quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a better camera setup than the Sony Xperia 5 III, mainly because it offers a higher selfie quality, which is a very important aspect to consider. Alongside this, the Galaxy S23 FE is noted to have better performance in software experience, dynamic range, and low light conditions which contribute significantly to the overall camera quality.
Photo Quality
7.7
5.9
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes good photos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes poor photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE delivers better selfie quality, which is highly valued, alongside a stronger general photos software experience that enhances photo-taking capabilities. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia 5 III offers a more basic selfie experience and its photos software experience, while robust, does not compensate for its limited dynamic range and poor low light performance, leading to fair overall photo quality compared to the Galaxy S23 FE's good rating.
Video Quality
7.2
6.0
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE takes good videos, while the Sony Xperia 5 III takes only fair videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is rated better in video resolution and framerate, software experience, stabilization, dynamic range, low light performance, and microphone quality compared to the Sony Xperia 5 III, which results in the former taking good videos and the latter taking fair videos.
Battery
6.4 Hours
7.3 Hours
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has 6.4 hours of battery life. The Sony Xperia 5 III has 7.3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$500
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a price of $500 and the Sony Xperia 5 III costs $600.
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Key similarities
Screen Size
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has a screen size of 6.4 inches and the Sony Xperia 5 III is 6.1 inches.
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How the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE and the Sony Xperia 5 III compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Sony Xperia 5 III |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $600 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | Sony | |
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 26, 2023 | October 8, 2021 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.4" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2520 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | No | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 403 | 449 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | SD8G1 | SD888 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 7.7/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 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 | 6.4 Hours | 7.3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4500 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 | 6.22" x 3.01" | 6.18" x 2.68" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.37 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)1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 | (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 | Mint, Purple, Tangerine, Indigo, Cream, Graphite | Black, Green | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | No | Yes | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | Yes | |
Shopping
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Iyaz Akhtar | October 2023
"The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is easily one of the best midrange Android phones on the market. The S23 FE has some appealing features you won't find on the Pixel 8 like a dedicated telephoto camera, a bigger screen, and the ability to use it like a computer via Samsung's Dex mode. So if productivity is more important to you than camera tricks, you won't find a better phone than the Galaxy S23 FE."
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 FE 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.
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