Samsung Galaxy S23+ vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23+ delivers exceptional value at $999 with its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, brighter 1750-nit display, and superior 50MP main camera with advanced computational photography. Sony Xperia 1 IV commands a $600 premium, offering a higher-resolution 4K display, better zoom capabilities with continuous 85-125mm lens, larger 5000mAh battery, and 12GB RAM. Sony's Cinema Pro video features and professional-grade camera processing appeal to enthusiasts, while its slower 30W charging and older processor diminish appeal. Samsung's 45W charging, newer chipset, and exceptional 8K video recording at half the price make it the stronger recommendation for most users. Sony justifies its price only for videographers and professionals requiring that specific lens system.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- →Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- →4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
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
Samsung Galaxy S23+
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy delivers top-tier performance
- Bright 1750-nit display is excellent in direct sunlight
- 4700 mAh battery provides strong all-day endurance
- Four years of OS updates and five years of security patches
- Versatile triple camera with 3x optical zoom
Cons
- Only 8 GB RAM at the $999 price point
- FHD+ resolution instead of QHD+ on the 6.6-inch display
- 45W charging is slower than Chinese competitors
- No expandable storage or microSD slot
- Design is very similar to S22+ with minimal visual changes
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 | Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 195 g | 185 g |
| Material | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4700 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W, Wireless PowerShare | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.6 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | OLED |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1750 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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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