ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
ASUS ROG Phone 9 dominates performance and display specifications with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM, and a stunning 6.78-inch 185Hz LTPO AMOLED display hitting 2500 nits brightness. Its 50MP main camera with OIS and 8K video recording outpace Sony's more conservative 12MP quad-camera setup. Battery capacity favors ASUS at 5800mAh versus 5000mAh, though Sony includes wireless charging and Android 12 (compared to ASUS's Android 15). Sony Xperia 1 IV prioritizes display density with 3840x1644 resolution and professional Cinema Pro video tools, appealing to content creators, but this 4K display refreshes at only 120Hz and maxes out at 1000 nits. The 185g weight advantage goes to Sony, making it noticeably more portable. Pricing creates the real tension: ASUS at $999 undercuts Sony's $1599 by $600 while offering superior specs across nearly every category. Unless you specifically need Sony's Zeiss optics and professional video mode, ASUS delivers significantly better value and modern performance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the ASUS ROG Phone 9 if…
- →185Hz display refresh rate is the highest on any smartphone
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite with advanced cooling sustains peak gaming performance
- →5800 mAh battery handles extended gaming sessions
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
ASUS ROG Phone 9
Pros
- 185Hz display refresh rate is the highest on any smartphone
- Snapdragon 8 Elite with advanced cooling sustains peak gaming performance
- 5800 mAh battery handles extended gaming sessions
- AniMe Vision LED dot-matrix display on the back for notifications
- AirTrigger ultrasonic shoulder buttons enhance mobile gaming controls
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g — feels chunky as a daily driver
- 65W charging is slow compared to Chinese gaming phone rivals
- Camera is competent but not flagship-level for the price
- Gaming-focused design is too aggressive for many users
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 | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 15 | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 227 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 77.0 x 8.9 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Sony IMX906) | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 65W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | — | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 185Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2500 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 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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