Samsung Galaxy S23+ vs Sony Xperia 1 VI
The Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy S23+ delivers flagship performance at a notably lower price point, featuring a 6.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with 1750 nits brightness and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processing. Sony's Xperia 1 VI commands a $400 premium with brighter 2100-nit LTPO OLED technology, newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, superior continuous optical zoom (85-170mm), and larger 5000 mAh battery. Camera systems differ philosophically: Samsung excels with computational photography and faster charging (45W vs 30W), while Sony prioritizes optical prowess and professional video capabilities at 4K 120fps. Galaxy S23+ offers better value and more refined One UI experience, while Xperia 1 VI appeals to photography enthusiasts valuing optical zoom range and videographers seeking high-frame-rate capture. For most users, Samsung provides exceptional performance and features justifying its lower cost.
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 VI if…
- →Continuous optical zoom telephoto (85-170mm)
- →Pro-grade camera apps for photo and video
- →3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support
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 VI
Pros
- Continuous optical zoom telephoto (85-170mm)
- Pro-grade camera apps for photo and video
- 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD card support
- Compact form factor for a flagship
- Very long battery life
Cons
- Resolution dropped from 4K to FHD+ vs predecessor
- Slow 30W charging
- Premium price
- Niche appeal outside enthusiasts
Full Specifications
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S23+ | Sony Xperia 1 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) | Android 14 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 195 g | 192 g |
| Material | Armor Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP65/IP68 |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 48 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.35" Exmor T |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 4K@120fps HDR |
| Telephoto | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.3-3.5, 85-170mm continuous optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm |
| 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 | Qi wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.6 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | Dynamic AMOLED 2X | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2340 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1750 | 2100 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 + 5x3.2 GHz A720 + 2x2.3 GHz A520) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 750 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
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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