Honor X9b vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Sony Xperia 1 IV and Honor X9b target vastly different market segments. Sony's flagship delivers a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with 3840x1644 resolution, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, and professional-grade camera system featuring 12MP sensors with OIS, telephoto zoom, and 4K@120fps video capabilities. Honor X9b prioritizes value with a larger 6.78-inch 2000-nit AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, and impressive 108MP main sensor with macro lens at one-fifth the price. Sony excels in processing power, build quality (aluminum frame, IP68 rating), wireless charging, and videography for professionals. Honor compensates with superior brightness, larger battery (5800mAh vs 5000mAh), and practical features like IP53 durability and macro photography. Choose Sony Xperia 1 IV for premium performance and creative tools; select Honor X9b for excellent everyday performance and outstanding value proposition.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Honor X9b if…
- →Massive 5800 mAh battery provides outstanding multi-day endurance
- →2000-nit AMOLED display brightness is excellent for outdoor use
- →108 MP main sensor captures detailed photos in good lighting
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
Honor X9b
Pros
- Massive 5800 mAh battery provides outstanding multi-day endurance
- 2000-nit AMOLED display brightness is excellent for outdoor use
- 108 MP main sensor captures detailed photos in good lighting
- Enhanced drop resistance with 2-layer glass structure
- 5G connectivity at an affordable price point
Cons
- 35W charging is slow for the large 5800 mAh battery
- 5 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro cameras are filler
- IP53 splash resistance is basic protection
- No wireless charging
- MagicOS has some bloatware and ads
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 | Honor X9b | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.2) | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 185 g | 185 g |
| Material | Plastic frame, glass front (2-ply drop resistant), plastic back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP53 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.5 x 74.9 x 7.98 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.75, PDAF | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.5 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Macro | 2 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Ultrawide | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5800 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 35W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1116 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 710 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 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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