Sony Xperia 5 IV vs Xiaomi 14 Ultra
The Verdict
Xiaomi's 14 Ultra commands attention with its flagship specifications and exceptional camera system featuring a 1-inch 50MP main sensor, dual telephoto lenses, and 8K video recording at 30fps with Dolby Vision support. Sony's Xperia 5 IV offers a more compact design at 172g versus 224g, with a sharper display at 120Hz OLED and respectable 12MP camera setup that prioritizes consistency over raw megapixel counts. Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Xiaomi edges ahead of the Gen 1, while charging speeds favor the 14 Ultra dramatically at 90W wired and 80W wireless versus 30W and 15W respectively. Battery capacity slightly favors Xiaomi at 5300mAh. However, the Xperia 5 IV's lighter weight, IP68 rating, and cleaner near-stock Android experience appeal to those valuing portability and software simplicity. The $500 price gap represents significant value consideration. For camera enthusiasts and power users, Xiaomi's 14 Ultra justifies its premium positioning. Those seeking a premium compact flagship should consider the Xperia 5 IV.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Sony Xperia 5 IV if…
- →Compact 6.1-inch form factor at 172 g
- →5000 mAh battery in a compact body
- →3.5mm headphone jack
Buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra if…
- →Pro-grade 1-inch main sensor with variable aperture
- →Versatile quad 50MP camera system with dual telephotos
- →Extremely bright 3000-nit LTPO display
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Sony Xperia 5 IV
Pros
- Compact 6.1-inch form factor at 172 g
- 5000 mAh battery in a compact body
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Wireless charging added (absent on 5 III)
- Excellent manual camera controls
Cons
- 12 MP cameras feel dated in 2022
- Slow 30W charging
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 thermal issues
- Niche appeal limits accessories and cases
- Auto camera mode behind iPhone and Pixel
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Pros
- Pro-grade 1-inch main sensor with variable aperture
- Versatile quad 50MP camera system with dual telephotos
- Extremely bright 3000-nit LTPO display
- Fast 90W wired and 80W wireless charging
- Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance
Cons
- Heavy at 224 g
- HyperOS still ships with bloatware in some regions
- Limited official availability in the US
- Premium price tag
Full Specifications
| Spec | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Xiaomi 14 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12 | Android 14, HyperOS |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 172 g | 224 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus | Titanium alloy frame, eco-leather back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 156 x 67 x 8.2 mm | 161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS | 50 MP variable f/1.6-f/4.0, 1-inch Sony LYT-900 |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@120fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps Dolby Vision |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2.5x optical zoom | 50 MP 3.2x f/1.8 + 50 MP 5x periscope f/2.5 |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.2 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 512 GB, 1 TB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5300 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired | 90W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 80W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.73 inches |
| Type | OLED | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2520 x 1080 | 3200 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1000 | 3000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 + 5x3.2 GHz A720 + 2x2.3 GHz A520) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 750 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 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 | 5.2 | 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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