Sony Xperia 1 III vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – Which is the Better Premium Smartphone?

When it comes to premium Android smartphones, the biggest names in the industry can’t miss Samsung and Sony. Samsung Galaxy smartphones are much loved by the public while the Sony Xperia smartphones are a true tech enthusiast’s top choice. This post will cover the similarities and differences of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 III to see which is better between the two brand’s flagship models.

Design and Display

Both the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra have an aluminium frame and glass fronts and backs. Both smartphones also offer a wide array of colours that users can choose from. The Xperia 1 III offers three options while the Galaxy S21 Ultra offers six. However, some versions are available in certain regions so you might be able to find a certain version in your local mobile store.

For the display size, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra measures about 6.8 inches, while the display of the Sony Xperia 1 III measures 6.5 inches but both smartphones use Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection. The Xperia 1 III takes the win when it comes to the display resolution and screen ratio because it features 1644 x 3840 pixels display (21:9 ratio), which is slightly higher than the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s 1440 x 3200 pixels display (20:9 ratio).

Processor and Software

The processor for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will differ depending on the region because international models will feature Samsung’s Exynos 2100 chipset while the models released in the USA and China will have a Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G chipset. Meanwhile, the Sony Xperia 1 III only uses the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G chipset so no matter where the smartphone model is purchased, all users will receive the same processor.

For a fair comparison, the US and China models of the Galaxy S21 Ultra will be used to compare with the Xperia 1 III because they share the same processor and CPU speed. Interestingly, despite operating on the same CPU, the Xperia 1 III is faster than the Galaxy S21 Ultra and has a cleaner UI, despite the two sharing the same Android 11 operating system. The Sony smartphone also opened benchmark and common apps slightly faster than the Samsung smartphone, but the difference might not be too stark for the average user, so it is negligible.

Both smartphones come with plenty of RAM and memory but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra offers more storage options than the Sony Xperia 1 III. The minimum storage option for the Samsung smartphone is 12GB RAM with 128GB storage, while the maximum is 16GB RAM with 512GB storage. The Sony smartphone only offers two options, one is 12GB RAM with 256GB storage and the other is 12GB RAM with 512GB storage. However, not every version of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is available globally so the options in your region might be limited.

Camera

Both the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 III feature a multiple-camera layout at the rear but the two smartphones have different focuses when it comes to camera and image quality. One look at the specs and you can see the cameras in the Galaxy S21 Ultra have higher megapixels than the Xperia 1 III. The cameras on the Samsung smartphone are one 108 MP main camera, two 10 MP telephoto cameras, and one 12 MP ultra-wide. Meanwhile, all three of the Sony smartphone rear cameras are 12MP.

Sony’s approach to mobile photography is geared towards speed and control because the Xperia 1 III has one of the fastest and most advanced autofocus systems that you can find on a smartphone. Control-wise, you are encouraged to be more hands-on with the image’s settings like the focus, ISO, and shutter speed. This gives a similar feel to operating a regular Sony DSLR camera which would make professional photographers very happy but will not satisfy the average smartphone user.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra would be the better choice for most smartphone users because it is easier to operate, and you can get great photos without much effort. For front cameras, the 40MP camera on the Samsung smartphone easily beats the 8MP camera on the Sony smartphone and it would take better quality videos for social media sites.

Battery and Extras

Both the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 III are equipped with large-capacity batteries that can last for a long time. The battery capacity for the Samsung smartphone is 5000mAh while the battery capacity on the Sony smartphone is 4500mAh.

Both smartphones support fast charging and wireless charging, which are much sought-after smartphone features. Both smartphone models also feature fingerprint scanners for biometric authentication, an accelerometer, and USB Type-C charging ports.

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 III are considered high-end and premium smartphone models so it is no surprise that both models are pricier than your average Android smartphone. Both models are also released worldwide and are available in every region, but the stock may vary depending on local demand.

Sony Xperia 1 III vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Specs Comparison

Conclusion

Overall, the two smartphones share many similarities like the processor chipset and the memory but the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra takes the win between the two and has more advantages. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III has its specialties but would be better suited for more knowledgeable smartphone users and photographers.