Apple iPhone 15 Plus vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 15 Plus offers exceptional value at $899, combining a bright 2000-nit Super Retina XDR display, the powerful A16 Bionic chip, and reliable iOS 17 with a massive 6.7-inch form factor. Its 48MP main camera delivers excellent computational photography, though it maxes out at 60Hz refresh rate. The 4383mAh battery handles typical use comfortably with solid 20W wired charging. Sony's Xperia 1 IV ($1599) justifies premium pricing through professional-grade camera hardware: triple optics with 85-125mm continuous zoom, 12MP telephoto with variable aperture, and 4K120fps video via Cinema Pro. Its 120Hz 4K OLED display is technically sharper at 3840 x 1644, paired with 12GB RAM and a 5000mAh battery supporting faster 30W charging. However, the 1000-nit brightness lags behind iPhone's peak output, and Sony's less frequent software updates create ongoing support concerns. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 remains powerful yet slightly aged compared to A16 Bionic performance optimization. Choose iPhone 15 Plus for everyday reliability, cleaner interface, and outstanding value; pick Xperia 1 IV only if professional video work and advanced zoom capabilities justify the $700 premium.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Plus if…
- →Outstanding battery life from large 4383 mAh cell
- →Dynamic Island replaces notch on a non-Pro model
- →48 MP main camera is a major upgrade over iPhone 14 Plus
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 15 Plus
Pros
- Outstanding battery life from large 4383 mAh cell
- Dynamic Island replaces notch on a non-Pro model
- 48 MP main camera is a major upgrade over iPhone 14 Plus
- First USB-C port on a standard Plus model
- Large display great for media consumption
Cons
- Capped at 60Hz with no ProMotion upgrade
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 transfer speeds
- No telephoto camera
- No always-on display
- Bulky and heavy for everyday use
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 15 Plus | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 17 | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 201 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 6 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4383 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
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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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