Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy A32 5G vs. Sony Xperia 1 III
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 164.2 × 76.1 × 9.1 mm | 165 × 71 × 8.2 mm | The A32 is wider and thicker, making the Xperia 1 III feel more premium and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 205g | 186g | Xperia 1 III is noticeably lighter, resulting in better comfort during long periods of use. |
| Build | Unknown | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Xperia 1 III has superior protection and greater resistance against scratches and damage. |
Display
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.5" | Both phones have the same screen size. |
| Resolution | 720x1600 | 1644x3840 | Xperia 1 III has a much sharper display with more detail. |
| Pixel Density | 270 PPI | 643 PPI | Xperia 1 III offers significantly clearer text, images and videos, noticeably superior to the A32 5G. |
| Technology | TFT LCD | OLED | Xperia 1 III has richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, resulting in a much more immersive viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Xperia 1 III provides smoother animations and scrolling, making the interface feel faster and more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have identical peak brightness at 0 nits, making the display brightness comparison inconclusive. |
Performance
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 720 (7nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) | The Snapdragon 888 offers much better performance, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 249,720 | 889,100 | The Xperia 1 III offers significantly superior performance overall, ideal for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 660 | Xperia 1 III has a superior GPU which results in much better graphics performance. |
Battery
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | A32 5G is likely to have a longer battery life, especially with its less demanding display. |
| Charging | 15W Fast Charging | 30W Fast Charging | Xperia 1 III charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Bypass Charging, Non-removable | Xperia 1 III’s bypass charging is useful for charging and using the phone while minimizing heat build up and battery degradation. |
Camera
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy A32 5G | Sony Xperia 1 III | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/2", 0.8µm, Samsung S5KGM2 | 12MP, f/1.7, 1.8µm, Sony Exmor RS | The Xperia 1 III, with larger pixels captures more light, generally offering superior low-light performance despite the lower megapixel count. |
| Selfie | 13MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm, Samsung S5K4H7 | Xperia 1 III has a wider aperture selfie camera, resulting in better low-light photos. |
| Telephoto | None | 12MP, f/2.2, Sony Exmor RS | Xperia 1 III has a dedicated telephoto lens for better zoomed photos. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm pixel size | 12MP, f/2.3, Sony Exmor RS | Xperia 1 III offers higher resolution ultrawide photos. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | ToF 3D sensor | Xperia 1 III has a ToF 3D sensor for depth mapping, enhancing features like AR and portrait mode |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The A32 5G has a dedicated portrait lens. |
| Macro | 5MP, f/2.4 | None | A32 5G has a dedicated macro lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 1080p@120fps; No Stabilisation; Slow-motion: 120fps | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps with HDR, OIS, EIS, 1080p@30/60/120fps with HDR, OIS, EIS, slow motion 960fps | Xperia 1 III offers superior video quality, stabilization, and slow-motion capabilities. |
| DxOMark Score | Not Tested | Mobile: 105 (Photo: 107, Video: 92) | Sony's camera performs very well based on the DxO mark scores. The A32 5G does not have a score so we cannot compare. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Geotagging, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW | The Xperia 1 III has more advanced features, including OIS, optical zoom, RAW capture, and more advanced autofocus. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000 mAh battery offers potentially longer battery life.
- Dedicated Macro & Depth Cameras: Offers a dedicated lens for capturing close-up shots, and portrait mode.
- Lower Price: Generally more affordable, making it a budget-friendly option.
Practical Implications: The A32 5G is suitable for users who prioritize battery life and are okay with a lower-resolution display and less demanding performance for general tasks and basic photography.
Sony Xperia 1 III Advantages:
- Superior Display: High resolution OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate offers a significantly better viewing experience.
- Significantly Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset provides much faster app loading, multitasking, and gaming.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers better image quality, more versatile lenses (telephoto, ultra-wide), and advanced features like OIS, RAW support and superior low light performance.
- Faster Charging: 30W fast charging significantly reduces charging time.
- More Storage & RAM: Comes with much more internal storage and RAM.
- Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus offers superior protection against scratches and damage.
- Better Connectivity: Offers the latest WiFi and Bluetooth standards
- Better Audio: Hi-Res Audio and Stereo Speakers
- Additional Features: Bypass charging, optical zoom, more advanced autofocus, panorama mode and better sensors.
Practical Implications: The Xperia 1 III excels in performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and general user experience, making it ideal for power users, media enthusiasts, and photography aficionados.
Significant Trade-offs:
- A32 5G: The biggest trade off is its poor display quality and performance compared to the Sony.
- Xperia 1 III: The main drawback is it's higher price and smaller battery, which may not last as long on a single charge as the A32.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who need a reliable phone for everyday tasks like calls, texts, social media browsing, and basic photo taking.
- Use Cases:
- Long battery life for daily usage without frequent charging.
- Casual social media and browsing.
- Basic mobile photography with dedicated macro and depth lenses.
- Users who don't need top-tier performance or display quality.
- Price-to-value: Offers good value for its price range given its features.
Sony Xperia 1 III:
- Ideal User: Power users, mobile gamers, photographers, videographers, and media enthusiasts who demand the best possible performance and user experience.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming with its 120Hz display, fast processor and superior GPU.
- High quality video capture and photo editing.
- Streaming videos with high resolution and HDR capabilities.
- Professional photographers who want advanced control and RAW image capture.
- Users who need a premium build and advanced features.
- Price-to-value: Offers a more premium experience with advanced features but comes at a higher cost.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Primary Use: What will you use the phone for most of the time (e.g., casual browsing, gaming, photography)?
- Priorities: What features are most important to you (e.g., battery life, display quality, camera performance)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: You need a reliable phone for everyday use on a tight budget:
- Recommendation: Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, with its larger battery and lower price.
- Scenario 2: You want the best possible camera, performance, and display for mobile gaming, media consumption, and photography:
- Recommendation: Sony Xperia 1 III, with it's superior performance, display, camera and additional premium features.
- Scenario 3: You need a balance of battery life, good performance and decent price:
- Recommendation: Neither of these phones. There are better options available.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would pick the Sony Xperia 1 III. While the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G has a larger battery, the Xperia 1 III is the clear winner in nearly every other category. The significantly superior display, the vastly improved performance, the better camera system with more features, and the better build quality make it worth the additional cost. As someone who uses my phone heavily for media consumption, photography, and occasionally gaming, the Xperia 1 III would better suit my needs. While the battery might not be as long lasting as the A32 5G, the faster charging helps mitigate that issue, and for the benefits I get from all of it's other premium features, the trade-off is worth it.
