iPhone Air vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Endurance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing seamless software integration and a strong ecosystem, the iPhone Air is the better choice. However, the Sony Xperia 1 VII edges ahead for those who value extended battery life, a significantly brighter display, and faster charging standards, making it ideal for content creators and power users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Apple iPhone Air | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A3517 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3517 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, September 09 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, September 19 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Ceramic Shield 2), titanium frame (grade 5), glass back (Ceramic Shield) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6 mm (6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 in) | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 165 g (5.82 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Ceramic Shield 2, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2736 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.26 GHz + 4xX.X GHz) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Apple A19 Pro (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Adreno 830 |
| OS | iOS 26, upgradable to iOS 26.1 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 48 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec. | HDR |
| Single | 18 MP multi-aspect, f/1.9, 20mm (ultrawide), PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 6.0, A2DP, LE | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 20 wireless MagSafe/Qi2, 50% in 30 min (15W - China) 4.5W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3149 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | iPhone18,4, A3517, A3260, A3518, A3516 | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | € 948.99 / $ 949.99 / £ 899.10 | € 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 40:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | 43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | Class A | Class B |
| Free fall | Class B (180 falls) | Class B (181 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class D |
Apple iPhone Air
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Optimized software and performance
- Compact and lightweight design
- Lower peak display brightness
- Shorter battery endurance
- Limited charging standards
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Exceptional battery life and cycle count
- Significantly brighter display
- Advanced charging standards (PD3.0, PPS)
- Android ecosystem fragmentation
- Potentially larger and heavier design
- Software updates may be slower
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a substantial advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 1475 nits compared to the iPhone Air's 998 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable in direct sunlight, making the Xperia 1 VII far more usable outdoors. While both utilize 3nm chipsets, the display power draw will likely be higher on the Sony device. Neither specification details panel technology (LTPO or not), but given Sony's focus on professional video, a wider color gamut and accurate color reproduction are expected on the Xperia 1 VII. The iPhone Air, while still excellent, will likely prioritize color accuracy over peak brightness.
Camera Comparison
Context data lacks camera specifics, but Sony's history suggests a focus on image quality and manual controls. The Xperia 1 VII will likely feature a larger main sensor and a more sophisticated image processing pipeline geared towards professional photographers and videographers. Apple typically excels in computational photography and video stabilization. Without sensor size or aperture information, it's difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Xperia 1 VII's brand positioning suggests a more robust camera system. The iPhone Air will likely prioritize ease of use and consistent results, while the Xperia 1 VII will offer greater creative control.
Performance
Both devices leverage cutting-edge 3nm fabrication, but employ different architectures. The iPhone Air's Apple A19 Pro features a hexa-core CPU (2x4.26 GHz + 4xX.X GHz), while the Xperia 1 VII utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite with an octa-core configuration (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M). The Snapdragon's Oryon cores, designed by Qualcomm, are expected to deliver strong multi-core performance, potentially surpassing the A19 Pro in heavily threaded tasks. However, Apple's tight software integration and optimized silicon typically result in superior single-core performance and efficiency. Both devices will likely feature LPDDR5x RAM, but the specific speed is not detailed. Thermal management will be crucial; the Xperia 1 VII's larger chassis may provide better heat dissipation.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 VII demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, offering 43:30h compared to the iPhone Air's 40:00h. This translates to a longer time between charges for typical users. The Xperia 1 VII also boasts a superior active use score of 15:32h versus the iPhone Air's 12:44h. While both offer 50% charge in 30 minutes with wired charging, the Xperia 1 VII supports PD3.0 and PPS, enabling faster and more efficient charging with compatible adapters. The iPhone Air relies on PD2.0 and MagSafe/Qi2 wireless charging (15W in China, 4.5W reverse wired), while the Xperia 1 VII offers 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. The Xperia 1 VII's 1400 battery cycles also suggest greater long-term battery health.
Buying Guide
Buy the Apple iPhone Air if you need a phone that integrates flawlessly with the Apple ecosystem, prioritizes ease of use, and offers a compact form factor with excellent performance. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prefer a longer-lasting battery, a brighter and more vibrant display for media consumption, and the flexibility of Android with advanced charging capabilities like PD3.0 and PPS.