Apple iPhone 12 vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 delivers a refined flagship experience at a mid-range price point with its A14 Bionic chip, stunning Super Retina XDR display, and cohesive iOS ecosystem. Sony's Xperia 1 IV targets professionals with a 4K 120Hz display, superior camera versatility through continuous optical zoom, and significantly larger 5000 mAh battery that nearly doubles the iPhone's capacity. Performance-wise, both handle demanding tasks effortlessly, though the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 edges ahead slightly. Where they diverge most critically: Sony excels in cinematography features, video recording at 4K 120fps, and raw display specifications, while Apple wins decisively on value, everyday usability, and software optimization. Battery longevity favors Sony by a substantial margin. For content creators and videography enthusiasts willing to spend 100% more, the Xperia 1 IV justifies its premium. For general users seeking excellent performance and reliability, iPhone 12 remains the smarter investment.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Sony Xperia 1 IV if…
- →True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- →4K 120Hz OLED display
- →Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Sony Xperia 1 IV
Pros
- True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- 4K 120Hz OLED display
- Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- microSD card slot for expandable storage
Cons
- $1599 was the most expensive mainstream phone
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 overheating problems
- 12 MP sensors felt dated versus competition
- Slow 30W charging
- Point-and-shoot camera results behind rivals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 |
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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