Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Xiaomi 15 Pro
The Verdict
These phones target different market segments effectively. Sony's Xperia 1 IV delivers a premium cinematic experience with its 4K 120Hz OLED display (3840 x 1644 resolution) and Cinema Pro video capabilities, ideal for content creators who value that narrow 21:9 aspect ratio. Its camera system emphasizes versatility with continuous 85-125mm telephoto zoom and professional-grade video tools. However, at $1599, you're paying significantly more for a smaller 6.5-inch screen and older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. Xiaomi 15 Pro ($699) offers substantially better value with a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite, superior display brightness (3200 nits vs 1000), faster charging (90W wired, 50W wireless), and larger 6100 mAh battery. Its camera system boasts a larger 1-inch main sensor at 50 MP and genuine 8K video recording. The 6.73-inch display provides more screen real estate despite lower resolution. Build quality matches with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 rating. Unless you specifically need Cinema Pro's workflow or prefer the ultrawide aspect ratio, Xiaomi 15 Pro delivers superior specs and performance for less than half the price.
Who Should Buy
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
Buy the Xiaomi 15 Pro if…
- →Snapdragon 8 Elite with 2K LTPO display
- →50MP triple camera with 5x periscope telephoto
- →Massive 6100 mAh battery with 90W charging
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Xiaomi 15 Pro
Pros
- Snapdragon 8 Elite with 2K LTPO display
- 50MP triple camera with 5x periscope telephoto
- Massive 6100 mAh battery with 90W charging
- 8K video recording capability
- IP68 water and dust resistance
Cons
- Limited global availability
- HyperOS has more bloatware than stock Android
- No headphone jack
Full Specifications
| Spec | Sony Xperia 1 IV | Xiaomi 15 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12 | Android 15, HyperOS 2 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 185 g | 213 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Metal frame, glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm | 161.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.4, 23mm, 1/1.3", OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm |
| Video | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom | 50 MP, f/2.5, 120mm, 5x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 6100 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 50W wireless, 10W reverse |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.5 inches | 6.73 inches |
| Type | OLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 3840 x 1644 | 1440 x 3200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 3200 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 830 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.2 | USB-C 3.2 Gen2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 |
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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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