Upgrade Guide

Sony A6500→Sony Sony A9 III

Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.

You own

Sony

A6500

£649

2016

→

Upgrade to

Sony

Sony A9 III

£5999 (+£5,350)

2023

✅

Worthwhile

Clear improvements over the A6500. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.

What's new in the Sony A9 III

Unchanged or similar

Suitability by genre

Full spec comparison

Spec	A6500	Sony A9 III
Price	£649	£5,999
Released	2016	2023	↑
Sensor	24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS	24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter)
Resolution	24MP	25MP	↑
Video	4K/30p (full pixel readout), 1080p/120p	4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p
Autofocus	425 phase-detect + 169 contrast-detect AF points, face/eye detection	AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect
Stabilisation	IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops (first Sony APS-C with IBIS)	8-stop IBIS
Burst Rate	11fps	120fps blackout-free electronic	↑
Battery Life	~310 shots (CIPA)	530 shots (CIPA)	↑
Weight	453g (with battery and card)	703g body only	↓
Weather Sealed	Yes	Yes
Viewfinder	EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification	0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots
Screen	3.0" fully articulating touchscreen	3.2" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount	Sony E-mount	Sony FE (E-mount)
Memory Cards	Single SD UHS-I slot	Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II

Compare side-by-side

See A6500 and Sony A9 III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.

Get a personalised upgrade score

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Other upgrades from the A6500

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