Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 16 Plus offers a more refined and practical smartphone experience at $899, featuring the blazingly fast A18 chip, a brighter 2000-nit OLED display, and exceptional everyday performance with iOS 18. Its camera system, while lower in megapixels, delivers exceptional results with advanced computational photography and 4K@60fps Dolby Vision video. Battery life easily clears a full day with the 4674 mAh capacity and fast 25W MagSafe charging. Sony's Xperia 1 IV is a professional-grade device built for creative workflows, priced at $1599. It excels with a 4K resolution display (3840 x 1644), 120Hz refresh rate, superior cooling, and outstanding camera versatility via its dual 12 MP telephoto and ultrawide setup with continuous zoom. The Cinema Pro video mode is industry-specific. However, it runs older Android 12 software, has weaker peak brightness at 1000 nits, and slower charging despite a larger 5000 mAh battery. For most users seeking premium performance and reliability, the iPhone 16 Plus delivers exceptional value. The Xperia 1 IV justifies its premium only for content creators and photography professionals who need its specialized tools and mechanical precision.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 16 Plus if…
- →Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- →A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- →New Camera Control button
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 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
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 16 Plus | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 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 | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W 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 A18 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | 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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