Free up space · Sony
How to free up space on the Sony Xperia 5 III
Short answer
To free up space on the Xperia 5 III, open Settings > Storage to see what is using it, clear duplicates with Google Photos: Free up space on this device, then empty Google Photos's Trash. A default 12 MP photo is about 3.6 MB, so 5,000 photos take roughly 18 GB of the 128 GB base model.
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Where is the storage screen on the Xperia 5 III?
The Xperia 5 III launched in October 2021 with Android 11 and Android 11. On that software the storage screen is Settings > Storage.
How much space do Xperia 5 III photos take?
Xperia 5 III: 12 MP main sensor, plus 12 MP 3x/4.4x variable telephoto, 12 MP ultrawide. 1,000 default Xperia 5 III shots take about 3.6 GB.
| File | Typical size | Fits in 10 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Default photo (12 MP) | about 3.6 MB | about 2,778 |
| RAW / DNG (12 MP) | about 23 MB | about 435 |
| One minute of video at 4K 120fps | about 350 MB | about 29 minutes |
The Xperia 5 III has no high-resolution mode beyond 12 MP, so photo sizes stay predictable. RAW files from the Xperia 5 III run to about 23 MB each, which is why RAW folders fill a phone faster than anything except video. Recording at 4K 120fps, the Xperia 5 III writes about 350 MB a minute, so a ten-minute clip takes 3.5 GB, the same as 972 default photos. Selfies from the 8 MP front camera are about 2.4 MB each.
What is specific to the Xperia 5 III?
Compact flagship with 128 GB of storage. Sony Japan lists 12.2 MP effective on all three rear cameras and an 8 MP selfie camera.
Where do deleted photos go on the Xperia 5 III?
On the Xperia 5 III, Google Photos's Trash holds them for 30 days (Google Photos > Collections > Trash). It launched on Android 11, so it also has Android's system trash.
How much of each Xperia 5 III storage option does a big gallery use?
| Storage option | 5,000 default photos | 30 minutes of top-quality video |
|---|---|---|
| 128 GB | 18 GB (14%) | 11 GB (8%) |
On the 128 GB Xperia 5 III, every 10 GB you free holds about 2,778 more default photos, and a gallery of 20,000 photos would fill 56% of it.
Which built-in cleaners did the Xperia 5 III ship with?
Out of the box on Android 11, the Xperia 5 III has Google Photos: Free up space on this device (Google Photos > profile picture > Free up space on this device) and Files by Google cleaning suggestions (Files by Google > Clean). How each works is in the Sony guide.
Can you move Xperia 5 III photos to a memory card?
Yes, the Xperia 5 III takes microSD. A 128 GB card would hold about 35,556 of its default photos.
How does the Xperia 5 III compare with other Xperia 5 phones?
Against the Xperia 5 II (October 2020), the Xperia 5 III has the same 128 GB starting storage. Against the Xperia 5 IV (September 2022), the Xperia 5 III has the same 128 GB starting storage.
| Model | Launched | Storage options | Default photo | microSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xperia 5 III | October 2021 | 128 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
| Xperia 5 II | October 2020 | 128 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
| Xperia 5 IV | September 2022 | 128 GB | 12 MP (~3.6 MB) | Yes |
What will GalleryJury do on the Xperia 5 III?
GalleryJury, coming soon for Android 11 and later, will pick the best shot of each burst. At about 3.6 MB a Xperia 5 III photo, its $5 pack of 5,000 photos covers roughly 18 GB, after 50 free.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos fit on a 128 GB Xperia 5 III?
In theory about 35,556 default photos if nothing else were stored; in practice apps and Android take a large share.
How much storage does the Xperia 5 III have?
It was sold with 128 GB, plus a microSD slot.
Sources
- Sony Japan: Xperia 5 III specifications (checked 31 October 2026)
- Sony Japan: Xperia spec comparison data (checked 31 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Sony Xperia 5 III (checked 31 October 2026)
- Android Help: Free up storage on your Android device (checked 31 October 2026)
- Google Photos Help: Delete & restore photos and videos (checked 31 October 2026)
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GalleryJury is coming soon to Android
It keeps the best shot from every burst and clears the clutter around it. 50 free photos to try, then $5 for 5,000 photos or $15 for 20,000. Pay once, nothing renews. No subscription.