Google Pixel 9 vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Android Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing software experience and AI features, the Google Pixel 9 is the better choice. However, the Sony Xperia 1 VII edges ahead for demanding users who value raw performance, longer battery endurance, and a brighter display, despite a slightly slower charging speed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 9 | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 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, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - G2YBB | 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, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G2YBB | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, August 13 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, August 22 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in) | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2424 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~422 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 94.7 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.92 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G715 MC7 | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/1.7, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF | - |
| Features | Single-zone Laser AF, LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take | 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/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@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 27W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 55% in 30 min 15W wireless (w/ Pixel Stand) 12W wireless (w/ Qi compatible charger) Reverse wireless Bypass charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4700 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain, Wintergreen, Peony | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | G2YBB, GUR25, G1B60 | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | € 478.99 / $ 379.84 / £ 499.00 | € 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94 |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.40 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 49:12h endurance, 1000 cycles | 43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | Class A | Class B |
| Free fall | Class A (270 falls) | Class B (181 falls) |
| Repairability | Class B | Class D |
Google Pixel 9
- Brighter display (2232 nits)
- Faster wired charging (27W)
- Superior AI and machine learning capabilities
- Less powerful chipset (Tensor G4)
- Shorter battery endurance (43:30h vs 49:12h)
- Fewer battery charge cycles (1000 vs 1400)
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 8 Elite)
- Longer battery endurance (43:30h)
- Higher battery charge cycles (1400)
- Dimmer display (1475 nits)
- Slightly slower wired charging (30W)
- Less emphasis on AI-driven features
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a 1475 nits peak brightness, while the Pixel 9 reaches a significantly higher 2232 nits. This difference translates to superior visibility for the Pixel 9 in bright outdoor conditions. While both displays support advanced features like HDR, the Pixel 9’s higher peak brightness provides a more impactful HDR experience. The Xperia 1 VII’s display, while excellent, is noticeably dimmer in comparison. We lack panel technology details (LTPO, OLED type) for both, but the brightness difference is a clear win for the Pixel 9.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, Sony’s history with Xperia devices suggests a focus on image quality and manual controls, likely leveraging advanced image processing algorithms. The Pixel 9, known for its computational photography prowess, will likely excel in challenging lighting conditions and offer features like Magic Eraser. The absence of specific sensor sizes and lens apertures makes a definitive judgment difficult, but the Xperia 1 VII’s brand reputation suggests a strong emphasis on photographic fidelity, while the Pixel 9 prioritizes ease of use and AI-enhanced results.
Performance
The Xperia 1 VII’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) with its Oryon V2 Phoenix cores represents a substantial leap in performance over the Pixel 9’s Google Tensor G4 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s octa-core configuration (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) is geared towards sustained performance, while the Tensor G4 (1x3.1 GHz + 3x2.6 GHz + 4x1.92 GHz) prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks. The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite also offers superior thermal efficiency, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 excels in on-device AI processing, but the Xperia 1 VII dominates in raw CPU and GPU power.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 VII delivers a remarkable 43:30h endurance and an active use score of 15:32h, exceeding the Pixel 9’s 49:12h endurance and 13:05h active use score. Despite a smaller battery capacity (implied), the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s efficiency contributes to the Xperia 1 VII’s longer battery life. The Pixel 9 offers faster wired charging at 27W (55% in 30 minutes) compared to the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W (50% in 30 minutes), but the Xperia 1 VII boasts a significantly higher 1400 charge cycles compared to the Pixel 9’s 1000, suggesting greater long-term battery health.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 9 if you need seamless integration with Google's ecosystem, prioritize AI-powered features like Magic Eraser and Call Screen, and value a consistently updated software experience. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prefer a more neutral Android experience, demand the highest possible gaming performance, require exceptional battery life for all-day use, and appreciate a brighter, more visible display in direct sunlight.