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Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III

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Fairphone 4

Starting at

£402.27
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Sony Xperia 1 III

Starting at

£367.00
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(1 review)
(17 reviews)

What's the difference between the Fairphone 4 and Sony Xperia 1 III?

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III comes down to the chipset, RAM and battery. Refurbished, the Sony Xperia 1 III starts at £367, £35.27 less than the Fairphone 4.

Refurbished from

£402.27£367

Chipset

Snapdragon 750G SM7225Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)

RAM

6 GB12 GB

Battery

3905 mAh4500 mAh

Screen size

6,3 inch6.5 inch

Screen type

IPS LCDOLED
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 750G SM7225 on the Fairphone 4, Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) on the Sony Xperia 1 III.
  • The Sony Xperia 1 III has more RAM: 12 GB vs 6 GB.
  • The Sony Xperia 1 III has a bigger battery: 4500 mAh vs 3905 mAh.

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III specs

The Fairphone 4 and Sony Xperia 1 III were both released in 2021 but they cater to different needs. The Xperia 1 III offers a more powerful chipset, higher RAM, and a larger, higher-resolution OLED screen ideal for media consumption. Camera priorities differ: the Fairphone 4 has a sharper front camera and higher megapixels on its main camera, while the Xperia 1 III balances with a larger display and more RAM for demanding apps. Your choice depends on whether you value software updates and camera detail or a sharper screen and multitasking ability.

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III price

Colour

  • GreySold out
  • PurpleSold out
  • BlackSold out

Storage

  • 128GBSold out
  • 256GBSold out
  • 256GBSold out

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III battery life and software updates

Durability covers battery size, software updates, and basic hardware features.

Battery Capacity

The Sony Xperia 1 III has a 4500 mAh battery, providing more capacity for longer use between charges. The Fairphone 4 has a 3905 mAh battery, which suits everyday use but may require more frequent charging if you use power-hungry apps.

Battery

3905 mAh4500 mAh

Foldable

NoNo

Year of release

20212021

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III performance

Performance depends on chipset power, memory, and storage options. The Sony Xperia 1 III is designed for higher performance and multitasking, while the Fairphone 4 suits everyday use with balanced specs.

Processor Power

The Sony Xperia 1 III runs on the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G chipset, a 5 nm chip suited for intensive tasks like gaming and video editing. The Fairphone 4 uses the Snapdragon 750G SM7225, which is good for daily apps and moderate multitasking without focusing on heavy processing.

Memory Capacity

With 12 GB of RAM, the Sony Xperia 1 III can keep many apps and processes running smoothly, ideal for power users. The Fairphone 4 has 6 GB of RAM, enough for everyday tasks and average multitasking but less suited for demanding workflows.

Storage Options

Fairphone 4 is available with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage, giving some flexibility depending on your needs. The Sony Xperia 1 III comes with 256 GB of storage, offering ample room for apps, media, and files without needing immediate expansion.

Chipset

Snapdragon 750G SM7225Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)

RAM

6 GB12 GB

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III screen

Screen quality influences media viewing and daily interaction. The Sony Xperia 1 III offers a larger and sharper display with OLED technology, while the Fairphone 4 provides a slightly smaller IPS LCD screen.

Display Resolution and Size

Sony Xperia 1 III features a 6.5 inch screen with 1644 x 3840 resolution, delivering very sharp images and more room for watching videos or reading. The Fairphone 4 has a 6.3 inch display at 1080 x 2340 resolution, which suits general use and provides a good balance between size and clarity.

Screen Technology

The Xperia 1 III uses OLED technology, offering deeper blacks and vibrant colours, which enhances media consumption and visual detail. The Fairphone 4 uses an IPS LCD screen, which is bright and clear but with less contrast compared to OLED.

Refresh rate

N/A120 Hz

Resolution

1080 x 23401644 x 3840

Screen size

6,3 inch6.5 inch

Screen type

IPS LCDOLED

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III camera

Camera and audio features affect how you capture photos and use the front camera for video calls or selfies. The two phones differ significantly in camera megapixels, which influences image detail.

Front Camera Detail

The Fairphone 4 has a 25 megapixel front camera, which is well suited for high-resolution selfies and video calls with more detail. The Sony Xperia 1 III has an 8 megapixel front camera, suitable for everyday video calling and selfies where ultra-high detail is less critical.

Main Camera Resolution

Fairphone 4 offers a 48 megapixel main camera, capturing photos with fine detail, especially useful for those who prioritise sharp images. The Sony Xperia 1 III has a 12 megapixel main camera, focusing on balanced photography rather than high megapixel count.

Camera type

N/ATriple (3x)

Front camera

25 megapixels8 megapixels

Main camera

48 megapixels12 megapixels

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III size and design

Other practical differences include size, weight, SIM options, and expandable storage. These affect how the phones fit your daily routine and network needs.

Physical Dimensions and Weight

Sony Xperia 1 III is slimmer and lighter at 8.2 mm thick and 186 g, which may feel more comfortable in the hand or pocket. The Fairphone 4 is thicker and heavier at 10.5 mm and 225 g, which might suit users who prefer a more substantial device.

SIM and Storage Expansion

Fairphone 4 supports a physical SIM plus eSIM, offering flexibility for combining a physical SIM with a virtual one. Sony Xperia 1 III uses dual physical SIM slots, which can be ideal if you want two separate physical SIMs in one device. Both phones support microSDXC cards for extra storage beyond built-in capacity.

Carrier Compatibility and Network

Both phones are unlocked and support 5G networks, giving you freedom to choose your mobile carrier and access to faster mobile internet where available.

Carrier compatibility

UnlockedUnlocked

Connector

USB-CN/A

Depth

10.5 mm8.2 mm

Height

162 mm165 mm

Mobile network

5G5G

SD card slot

microSDXCmicroSDXC

SIM card

Physical SIM + eSIMDual Physical SIM

Weight

225 g186 g

Width

75.5 mm71 mm

Fairphone 4 or Sony Xperia 1 III: which should you buy?

Buy the Fairphone 4 if

  • you want a higher-resolution main camera (48 megapixels vs 12 megapixels)
  • you want a higher-resolution front camera (25 megapixels vs 8 megapixels)

Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if

  • you want to spend less: it starts at £367, £35.27 less than the Fairphone 4
  • you want more RAM (12 GB vs 6 GB)
  • you want a bigger battery (4500 mAh vs 3905 mAh)

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III FAQs

Fairphone 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 III comes down to the chipset, RAM and battery. Chipset: Snapdragon 750G SM7225 on the Fairphone 4, Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) on the Sony Xperia 1 III. The Sony Xperia 1 III has more RAM: 12 GB vs 6 GB.

The Sony Xperia 1 III is cheaper refurbished, from £367 compared with £402.27 for the Fairphone 4.

The Sony Xperia 1 III has a bigger battery: 4500 mAh vs 3905 mAh.

The Fairphone 4 has a higher-resolution main camera: 48 megapixels vs 12 megapixels.

Refurbished, the Fairphone 4 comes in 128GB and 256GB, and the Sony Xperia 1 III in 256GB.

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