Sony Xperia 10 IIIvsXiaomi Redmi 9T

Sony Xperia 10 III

Xiaomi Redmi 9T

Sony Xperia 10 III

The Sony Xperia 10 III is a mid-range smartphone that looks almost identical to its predecessor, the X10 Mark II. The device features a 6-inch OLED screen with a tall 21:9 aspect ratio and a 1080p resolution, protected by Gorilla Glass 6. However, the display's brightness is on the lower side, making it less ideal for use in sunny conditions. The phone has a single front-facing speaker, which, although decent, lacks presence and is best paired with a second speaker for a stereo setup. The audio quality is average, with some noticeable low-end and mids that lack definition. One of the notable upgrades of the Xperia 10 III is its larger battery, which provides excellent battery life, scoring 137 hours in our tests. However, charging speed is slow, taking half an hour to reach just 20% with the provided 7.5W charger. The camera setup on the Xperia 10 III consists of a 12MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and an 8MP telephoto camera. While daytime shots from the main camera are adequate for the class, they often come out underexposed. The ultra-wide lens produces good-quality shots with excellent detail and dynamic range. However, low-light performance is lacking, with shots from the main camera being underexposed and soft. The phone's selfie camera is unremarkable, producing muted colors and limited fine detail. Video recording capabilities are decent, but 4K footage can be soft and has an average dynamic range. Overall, the Sony Xperia 10 III offers a compact and lightweight design with IP-rated water resistance, as well as a versatile camera setup. However, its display is not the brightest, charging speed is slow, and it faces competition from other mid-range smartphones that offer better features at similar prices.

Xiaomi Redmi 9T

The Xiaomi Redmi 9T is an entry-level phone that shares many similarities with its counterpart, the Poco M3. However, there are some notable differences that set it apart. The design, for instance, boasts a glossy metallic finish and a splash-proof build, making it a great option for those who want peace of mind. The device also features NFC support, which is not available on the Poco M3. Under the hood, the Redmi 9T sports a Snapdragon 662 chipset, which provides decent performance but falls short in GPU-intensive tasks. This is likely due to the phone's 1080p display, which can be demanding on the processor. Despite this, the device manages to deliver excellent battery life, with our proprietary tests yielding an impressive 150 hours of usage. The cameras on the Redmi 9T are a mixed bag. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera is a welcome addition, but its photos lack detail and sharpness. The main camera takes good photos during the day, but struggles in low light conditions. Night mode does improve the quality, but it's still not up to par with other phones in this price range. In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T offers a great balance of features for its price. While it may not excel in every department, it makes up for it with its splash-proof build, NFC support, and excellent battery life. For those looking for an entry-level phone that ticks all the right boxes, the Redmi 9T is definitely worth considering.