Apple iPhone 12 vs Sony Xperia 1 VI
The Verdict
Sony's Xperia 1 VI substantially outperforms Apple's iPhone 12 across nearly every dimension, though at a significant price premium. Display quality favors Sony with a larger 6.5-inch LTPO OLED panel reaching 2100 nits brightness and 120Hz refresh versus iPhone 12's 60Hz screen. Processing power heavily advantages the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and 12GB RAM over the A14 Bionic with 4GB. Camera systems tell different stories: Sony's 48MP main sensor with 1/1.35" size and continuous optical zoom (85-170mm) eclipses iPhone 12's dual setup, though Apple's computational photography remains competitive. Battery capacity dramatically favors Xperia with 5000mAh versus 2815mAh. However, iPhone 12 offers superior software polish, ecosystem integration, and exceptional value at $799 compared to Sony's $1399 pricing. For professionals needing advanced zoom and extended battery life, Sony wins decisively. Casual users seeking reliability and affordability should choose iPhone 12.
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 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
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 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 | Sony Xperia 1 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 14 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 192 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | 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, f/1.6, OIS | 48 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.35" Exmor T |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@120fps HDR |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.3-3.5, 85-170mm continuous optical 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 | 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) | 1200 | 2100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | 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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