Sony Xperia 5 IV vs Xiaomi 12 Pro

The Verdict

Both phones share the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and cost $999, but they diverge significantly in design philosophy and capabilities. Sony's Xperia 5 IV prioritizes compactness at 6.1 inches with a lighter 172g frame, IP68 water resistance, and a 5000mAh battery supporting 15W wireless charging. Its 120Hz OLED display reaches 1000 nits brightness. Xiaomi's 12 Pro offers a larger 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with superior 1500 nits peak brightness and 3200x1440 resolution, alongside dramatically faster charging: 120W wired and 50W wireless versus Sony's 30W and 15W. Camera systems differ notably: Sony uses smaller 12MP sensors across the board with 2.5x zoom, while Xiaomi deploys 50MP main and telephoto units with a Sony IMX707 sensor and 2x zoom. Xiaomi captures 8K video at 24fps compared to Sony's 4K at 120fps focus. However, Sony includes IP68 certification while Xiaomi lacks official water resistance ratings. Xiaomi's 4600mAh battery is smaller than Sony's 5000mAh despite similar processor demands. For users prioritizing pocket-friendly ergonomics and durability, Sony wins. Those wanting aggressive charging speeds, brighter displays, and higher megapixel counts should choose Xiaomi.