Asus Zenfone 6 vs Sony Xperia 1 V: A Clash of Titans

The Asus Zenfone 6 ZS630KL, a 2019 flagship, still holds a surprising amount of appeal. Now, it faces off against the Sony Xperia 1 V, a modern powerhouse. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone deserves your money.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia 1 V is the clear winner overall, boasting a significantly faster processor, brighter display, and faster charging. However, the Zenfone 6 offers incredible value for its age, especially if you prioritize battery life and don't need the absolute latest tech.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 6 ZS630KL Sony Xperia 1 V
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - A versionHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - A version1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 39, 41, 46 - C version1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2019, May 16. Released 2019, May2023, May 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, July 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.1 x 75.4 x 9.2 mm (6.26 x 2.97 x 0.36 in)165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, ZenUIAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS
Main Camera
Dual48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm (ultrawide)-
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
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/2.8, 125mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-5.2x continuous optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS (except @240/480fps)4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
DualMotorized flip-up main camera module-
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)HDR
Single-12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS (except @240/480fps)4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging18W wired 10W reverse wired, QC430W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 624 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 33 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Twilight SilverBlack, Khaki Green, Platinum Silver
ModelsASUS_I01WD, ZS630KL, I01WDXQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54
PriceAbout 500 EUR€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99
Tests
Audio quality Noise -85.8dB / Crosstalk -76.2dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 112h Endurance rating 115h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1201:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.7 LUFS (Very good) -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 361679 (v7), 447774 (v8) GeekBench: 10721 (v4.4), 2609 (v5.1) GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus Zenfone 6 ZS630KL

  • Excellent battery life
  • Large display
  • Powerful Snapdragon 855 processor (for its age)
  • Affordable price (due to age)

  • Outdated chipset
  • Slower charging
  • No wireless charging
  • Lower display brightness

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
  • Bright and vibrant display (120Hz)
  • Excellent camera system
  • Fast charging (30W)
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Higher price
  • Sony's UI can be divisive
  • Battery life, while good, isn't as exceptional as the Zenfone 6

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 V's 936 nits peak brightness blows the Zenfone 6's 455 nits out of the water, making it far more usable outdoors. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (1201:1 for Zenfone 6, Infinite for Xperia 1 V), the Xperia 1 V's superior brightness and potentially more accurate color calibration give it the edge. The Xperia 1 V also features a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Sony's camera expertise shines in the Xperia 1 V. It offers a more versatile camera system with advanced features like Exmor T for mobile and more manual controls. While the Zenfone 6's camera is capable, it simply can't compete with the Xperia 1 V's image quality, dynamic range, and video capabilities. The Xperia 1 V also benefits from Sony's computational photography advancements.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 1 V is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 855 in the Zenfone 6. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. The Xperia 1 V's newer architecture also contributes to improved power efficiency despite the increased performance.

Battery Life

Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (112h and 115h respectively). However, the Xperia 1 V's faster charging (30W vs 18W) means you'll spend less time plugged in. The Xperia 1 V also supports wireless and reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Zenfone 6.

Buying Guide

The Asus Zenfone 6 is ideal for budget-conscious users who want a large screen, solid performance, and exceptional battery life. The Sony Xperia 1 V is for photography enthusiasts, power users, and those who appreciate a premium design and cutting-edge features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Zenfone 6 still worth buying in 2024?
If you're on a tight budget and prioritize battery life, the Zenfone 6 can still be a decent option. However, be aware of its age and limitations compared to modern smartphones.
❓ What are the main differences between the Snapdragon 855 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers significantly improved performance, power efficiency, and features compared to the Snapdragon 855. It's built on a smaller process node (4nm vs 7nm), resulting in better efficiency and higher clock speeds.