Apple iPhone 12 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 VI
The Verdict
Sony's Xperia 1 VI commands a $400 premium over Apple's iPhone 12 Pro, and it largely justifies the cost through meaningful upgrades. Display technology heavily favors Sony,its 6.5-inch LTPO OLED with 120Hz refresh rate and 2100 nits brightness dramatically surpasses the iPhone 12 Pro's 60Hz Super Retina XDR at 800 nits. Camera capabilities show Sony's computational photography strength: 48MP main sensor with f/1.9 aperture, 85-170mm continuous optical zoom, and 4K@120fps video recording outclass the iPhone's fixed focal lengths. Battery capacity nearly doubles (5000mAh vs. 2815mAh), addressing the iPhone 12 Pro's notorious weakness. Performance-wise, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 edges the A14 Bionic in raw power, though Apple's ecosystem optimization remains superior. The iPhone 12 Pro excels in value proposition and software cohesion; Sony targets professionals prioritizing imaging and display quality. For general consumers, iPhone 12 Pro remains compelling; for creative professionals, Sony's Xperia 1 VI is the stronger choice.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 Pro if…
- →First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- →Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- →First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VI if…
- →Continuous optical zoom telephoto (85-170mm)
- →Pro-grade camera apps for photo and video
- →3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12 Pro
Pros
- First iPhone with LiDAR scanner for AR and Night mode portraits
- Introduced MagSafe magnetic accessory ecosystem
- First 5nm chip (A14 Bionic) on any smartphone
- ProRAW format for professional photo editing
- Flat-edge design revival praised for aesthetics
Cons
- No 120Hz ProMotion display at Pro pricing
- Small 2815 mAh battery requires charging daily
- Charger removed from box controversially
- 2.5x telephoto falls short of Android competition
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Pros
- Continuous optical zoom telephoto (85-170mm)
- Pro-grade camera apps for photo and video
- 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support
- Compact form factor for a flagship
- Very long battery life
Cons
- Resolution dropped from 4K to FHD+ vs predecessor
- Slow 30W charging
- Premium price
- Niche appeal outside enthusiasts
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 Pro | Sony Xperia 1 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 14 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 189 g | 192 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP65/IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 48 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.35" Exmor T |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@120fps HDR |
| Telephoto | 12 MP 2.5x | 12 MP, f/2.3-3.5, 85-170mm continuous optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | Qi wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 800 | 2100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 + 5x3.2 GHz A720 + 2x2.3 GHz A520) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 750 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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