Samsung Galaxy S23+ vs Sony Xperia 1 V
The Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23+ and Sony Xperia 1 V represent different flagship philosophies. Samsung delivers a brighter 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display at 1750 nits with faster 45W charging, while Sony emphasizes a more compact 6.5-inch 4K OLED screen optimized for cinema with its Exmor T sensor and Cinema Pro recording. Camera systems differ meaningfully: Samsung's 50MP main with Dual Pixel PDAF excels in everyday shooting, whereas Sony's 52MP Exmor T with cinema-grade tools suits content creators. Sony includes 12GB RAM and a larger 5000mAh battery versus Samsung's 8GB and 4700mAh. Performance is comparable with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips, though Samsung's Galaxy variant edges slightly ahead. At $999 versus $1399, Samsung offers superior value with brighter display, faster charging, and more practical features for most users. Sony caters specifically to videographers and cinephiles willing to pay premium pricing for professional-grade tools and 4K resolution.
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 V if…
- →4K 120Hz OLED display — highest resolution on any phone
- →New Exmor T stacked sensor with 2-layer design
- →Pro-grade camera app with manual controls
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 V
Pros
- 4K 120Hz OLED display — highest resolution on any phone
- New Exmor T stacked sensor with 2-layer design
- Pro-grade camera app with manual controls
- 3.5mm headphone jack retained
- 5000 mAh battery with great endurance
Cons
- $1399 is extremely expensive
- 30W charging is very slow for the price
- Software updates are slow compared to rivals
- Niche market appeal limits availability
- Auto mode camera lags behind Pixel and iPhone
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Sony Xperia 1 V |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 13 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 195 g | 187 g |
| Material | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.3 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 52 MP, f/1.9, OIS (Exmor T sensor) |
| 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, 3.5x-5.2x optical 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 (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
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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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