Asus ROG Phone 6D vs Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Flagship Face-Off

The Asus ROG Phone 6D and Sony Xperia 1 VII represent divergent philosophies in the flagship Android space. The ROG Phone 6D prioritizes raw gaming performance and cooling, while the Xperia 1 VII aims for a holistic multimedia experience with a focus on camera quality and battery endurance. This comparison dissects their core strengths to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a well-rounded experience, the Sony Xperia 1 VII emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, coupled with exceptional battery life and a brighter display, offers a more consistent and refined experience. However, gamers will find the ROG Phone 6D’s dedicated features compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus ROG Phone 6D Sony Xperia 1 VII
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48 - A version1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A version1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/210 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - B version-
Launch
Announced2022, September 192025, May 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 11Available. Released 2025, June 04
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions173 x 77 x 10.4 mm (6.81 x 3.03 x 0.41 in)162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 IPX4 water resistant Illuminated RGB logo (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MC10Adreno 830
OSAndroid 12Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1 NTFS support for external storage-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)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
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR10+4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDRHDR
Single12 MP, 28mm (wide)12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack Yes-
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (2 amplifiers)Yes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connectorUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging65W wired, PD3.0 10W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 6000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSpace GrayMoss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
ModelsAI2203, AI2203_DXQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256
PriceAbout 690 EUR€ 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94
EU LABEL
Battery-43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles
Energy-Class B
Free fall-Class B (181 falls)
Repairability-Class D

Asus ROG Phone 6D

  • Dedicated gaming features (triggers, cooling)
  • Faster wired charging (65W)
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Less efficient chipset (4nm vs 3nm)
  • Likely inferior battery life
  • Less refined multimedia experience

Sony Xperia 1 VII

  • Superior chipset efficiency (3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite)
  • Exceptional battery life and longevity
  • Brighter, more color-accurate display

  • Slower wired charging (30W)
  • Higher price point
  • Less focused on dedicated gaming features

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1475 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the ROG Phone 6D’s display specs aren’t provided, Sony’s panel excels in outdoor usability. The Xperia 1 VII’s display technology likely incorporates LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, contributing to battery efficiency. The Xperia 1 VII’s focus on color accuracy, a Sony hallmark, will appeal to content creators, while the ROG Phone 6D likely prioritizes refresh rate for gaming.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs for the ROG Phone 6D, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, Sony’s Xperia 1 VII is expected to feature a sophisticated camera system leveraging Sony’s imaging expertise. The Xperia 1 VII’s image processing prioritizes natural colors and detail, appealing to photography enthusiasts. The ROG Phone 6D likely focuses on computational photography for gaming-related features, such as image stabilization during recording. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and OIS on the ROG Phone 6D makes it difficult to assess its low-light performance relative to the Xperia 1 VII.

Performance

The Xperia 1 VII’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) represents a significant leap in efficiency and performance over the ROG Phone 6D’s Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ (4nm). The 3nm process node allows for higher transistor density and reduced power consumption, translating to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The Xperia 1 VII’s custom Oryon CPU cores (2x4.32 GHz Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Phoenix M) are designed for peak performance, while the Dimensity 9000+’s Cortex-X2 core provides strong single-core performance. The ROG Phone 6D’s gaming-centric design likely includes a more robust cooling system to mitigate the Dimensity 9000+'s heat output, but the Xperia 1 VII’s inherent efficiency provides a substantial advantage.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s battery endurance is a standout feature, offering 43:30h of endurance and 15:32h of active use. This suggests a highly optimized power management system and efficient chipset. While the ROG Phone 6D offers 65W wired charging, the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging with PPS and 50% charge in 30 minutes is competitive. The Xperia 1 VII also includes 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, adding to its versatility. The ROG Phone 6D’s 10W reverse wired charging is less capable. The Xperia 1 VII’s 1400 battery cycle rating indicates exceptional long-term battery health.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus ROG Phone 6D if you need a dedicated gaming phone with aggressive cooling, customizable triggers, and a high refresh rate display. It’s built for extended gaming sessions and pushing performance limits. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prefer a compact flagship with a stunning display, exceptional battery life, and a versatile camera system geared towards content creation and consumption. It’s the choice for multimedia enthusiasts and those who value a premium, balanced experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 9000+ in the ROG Phone 6D suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the ROG Phone 6D features a robust cooling system, the Dimensity 9000+’s 4nm process is less efficient than the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process. This means the ROG Phone 6D is more likely to experience thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding gaming sessions, potentially leading to performance drops. The Xperia 1 VII’s chipset is designed to maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging compare to the ROG Phone 6D’s 65W charging in real-world usage?
Although the ROG Phone 6D charges faster on paper, the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging with PPS is optimized for efficiency and battery health. The difference in 0-100% charge times is likely minimal in practical use, and the Xperia 1 VII’s superior battery endurance means you’ll need to charge it less frequently. The Xperia 1 VII’s 1400 cycle rating also suggests a longer lifespan for the battery.
❓ Is the Xperia 1 VII’s camera system geared towards professional photographers or casual users?
The Xperia 1 VII’s camera system is designed to appeal to both professional and casual photographers. Sony’s emphasis on natural color reproduction, detail preservation, and manual controls caters to enthusiasts, while its intelligent auto modes and computational photography features make it user-friendly for everyday snapshots. The inclusion of features like real-time tracking and eye autofocus further enhances its versatility.