Asus ROG Phone 8 vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Clash of Titans – Gaming vs. Cinematic Mastery
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and value, the Asus ROG Phone 8 emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers excellent performance, and the 65W charging is significantly faster than the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W. However, the Xperia 1 VII excels in battery longevity and display quality, making it ideal for media consumption and content creation.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 - International | 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, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (Up to 7CA), 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, January 08 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, January 18 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 225 g (7.94 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10, 1600 nits (HBM), 2500 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 14, up to 2 major Android upgrades | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Triple | - International model - 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/3.2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm - SEA/China/India model - 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm 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 |
| Video | 8K@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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C (side), DisplayPort 1.4; USB Type-C (bottom), OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC5, 100% in 39 min - International 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS - India 15W wireless (Qi) 10W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 5500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Phantom Black, Rebel Grey | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | AI2401, AI2401_A | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | € 879.99 | € 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 8
- Faster wired charging (65W)
- Optimized for gaming with dedicated features
- Potentially higher peak refresh rate display
- Less efficient chipset (4nm vs 3nm)
- Likely shorter battery life
- Less refined camera system (potentially)
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Exceptional battery life and longevity
- Superior display quality and color accuracy
- More efficient chipset (3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite)
- Slower wired charging (30W)
- Less focused on gaming features
- Higher price point (likely)
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a peak brightness of 1475 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the ROG Phone 8’s display specs aren’t provided, Asus typically prioritizes high refresh rates for gaming. The Xperia 1 VII’s focus on color accuracy and brightness makes it superior for photo and video editing. The Xperia 1 VII’s endurance rating of 43:30h suggests a power-efficient display, potentially utilizing LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, further extending battery life. The ROG Phone 8 likely prioritizes refresh rate over absolute peak brightness.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs for the ROG Phone 8, a direct comparison is limited. However, Sony’s Xperia line is renowned for its image processing and color science. The Xperia 1 VII likely features a sophisticated camera system optimized for natural-looking photos and videos. The ROG Phone 8, while capable, likely prioritizes features like fast shutter speeds and image stabilization for gaming-related content. The Xperia 1 VII’s focus on image quality and color accuracy makes it the better choice for serious photographers and videographers.
Performance
The Xperia 1 VII’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, built on a 3nm process, represents a significant leap in efficiency and performance over the ROG Phone 8’s 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Elite’s Oryon V2 Phoenix cores (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) are architecturally different, focusing on sustained performance rather than peak clock speeds. While the ROG Phone 8’s octa-core CPU (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, etc.) is powerful, the 3nm process and Oryon architecture of the Xperia 1 VII should translate to better thermal management and sustained performance during demanding tasks. The ROG Phone 8 will likely excel in short bursts of gaming, but the Xperia 1 VII should maintain higher frame rates for longer periods.
Battery Life
The Xperia 1 VII’s battery endurance of 43:30h and active use score of 15:32h are exceptional, indicating a highly optimized power management system. While the ROG Phone 8’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its 65W wired charging (39 minutes to 100% - International) is significantly faster than the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging (50% in 30 minutes). The Xperia 1 VII’s 1400 cycle battery life also suggests superior long-term battery health. The ROG Phone 8 prioritizes quick top-ups, while the Xperia 1 VII focuses on maximizing overall battery life and longevity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Asus ROG Phone 8 if you need uncompromising gaming performance, fast charging, and a feature-rich software experience tailored for gamers. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a stunningly accurate display for content creation, and a more refined, minimalist software approach. The Xperia 1 VII is for those who value a cinematic experience above all else.