Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) vs Sony Xperia 1 III: Which One Should You Buy?

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) edges ahead with a BeastScore of 82.0/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Motorola

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)
82/ 100
Launch pricePrice on request
Sony · 2021

Sony Xperia 1 III

Sony Xperia 1 III
80/ 100
Launch price$1,300
Head-to-head

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) wins 2 of 5 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)
Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)
2 wins
Sony Xperia 1 III
Sony Xperia 1 III
2 wins
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplay
Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)Sony Xperia 1 III
Category winners

Scores out of 100. "From specs" scores compare only the specs both phones list. How we score

  • Speedfrom specsSony Xperia 1 III
    45
    90
  • Camerafrom specsSony Xperia 1 III
    32
    72
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieMotorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)
    60
    40
  • Batteryfrom specsMotorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)
    73
    50
  • Displayfrom specsTie
    88
    88
  • ConnectivityNot enough data
  • SecurityNot enough data
  • ValueNot enough data
Key differences
  • Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) has the bigger battery5,200 mAh vs 4,500 mAh
  • Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) has a sharper main camera50 MP vs 12 MP
  • Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) has the bigger screen6.7" vs 6.5"
  • Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) has a sharper selfie camera16 MP vs 8 MP
  • Sony Xperia 1 III has more RAM12 GB vs 4 GB
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)
  • ✓Bigger 5,200 mAh battery (+700 mAh)
  • ✓50 MP main camera
  • ✓6.7" display at 120 Hz
Reasons to buy Sony Xperia 1 III
  • ✓12 MP main camera
  • ✓6.5" display at 120 Hz

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationMotorola Moto G Play 5G (2026)Sony Xperia 1 III
1. Display & Screen
Screen typeNot listedOLED 21:9 CinemaWide
Screen Size6.7"6.5"
Resolution & DensityN/A 3840x1644 (643 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz120 Hz
BrightnessN/A1,000 nits peak
Screen ProtectionNot listedNot listed
2. Platform & Performance🏆 Sony Xperia 1 III Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorDimensity 6300 Snapdragon 888 (5nm)
CPU CoresNot listedNot listed
GPU GraphicsNot listedAdreno 660
Operating SystemAndroid 15 Android 11
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory4 GB LPDDR12 GB LPDDR
Internal Storage64 GB256GB / 512GB
Storage SpeedNot listedNot listed
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 Sony Xperia 1 III Wins Camera
Primary Camera50 MP, 50MP Main + Depth Sensor12 MP, f/1.7, OIS, ZEISS T*
Telephoto ZoomNone (digital zoom only)12 MP (3x optical zoom), f/2.3, OIS
Ultrawide CameraN/A12 MP, f/2.2
LiDAR / DepthNoneNone
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
Not listed
Front Video
Not listed
Not listed
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens16 MP8 MP, f/2
7. Body & Dimensions
DimensionsN/A165 x 71 x 8.2 mm
WeightN/A186 g
Build MaterialsNot listedNot listed
SIM TypeNot listedNot listed
Water ResistanceNot listedIP68
8. Battery & Charging🏆 Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) Wins Battery
Battery Capacity5,200 mAh4,500 mAh
Wired Fast ChargingN/A30W wired fast charging
Wireless ChargingNot listed11W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedNot listed
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardNot listedWi-Fi 6
BluetoothNot listed5.2
USB Port & SpeedNot listedUSB-C 3.2
NFCYesYes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedNot listed
Satellite FeaturesNot listedNot listed
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedNot listed
Launch PricePrice on request$1,300
Our verdict

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) wins — BeastScore 82.0/100

The Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (5,200 mAh vs 4,500 mAh) and sharper main camera (50 MP vs 12 MP). The Sony Xperia 1 III is worth a look if you prefer its more RAM (12 GB vs 4 GB).

Buy Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) if you want

Larger battery: 5,200 mAh vs 4,500 mAh · Higher-resolution main camera: 50 MP vs 12 MP

Buy Sony Xperia 1 III if you want

Optical telephoto zoom (1 telephoto lens) · More RAM: 12 GB vs 4 GB

Common questions

Which is better: Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) or Sony Xperia 1 III?

The Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) is the better pick for most people thanks to its bigger battery (5,200 mAh vs 4,500 mAh) and sharper main camera (50 MP vs 12 MP). The Sony Xperia 1 III is worth a look if you prefer its more RAM (12 GB vs 4 GB). BeastScore: Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) 82.0/100, Sony Xperia 1 III 79.5/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) and Sony Xperia 1 III?

Motorola Moto G Play 5G (2026) has a 6.7-inch display and 5200 mAh battery. Sony Xperia 1 III has a 6.5-inch display and 4500 mAh battery.

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