Sony Xperia 1 VII vs. HMD Hyper: A Detailed Performance and Battery Life Showdown

The Sony Xperia 1 VII represents a continuation of Sony’s premium smartphone approach, focusing on a complete multimedia experience. Conversely, the HMD Hyper aims to deliver a solid smartphone experience at a more accessible price point. This comparison dissects the core differences between these two devices, focusing on performance, battery endurance, and overall value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a premium feature set, the Sony Xperia 1 VII is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and exceptional battery endurance outweigh the HMD Hyper’s efficiency. However, budget-conscious users will find the HMD Hyper a capable daily driver.

PHONES
Phone Names HMD Hyper Sony Xperia 1 VII
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
AnnouncedNot announced yet2025, May 13
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2025, June 04
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions-162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight-197 g (6.95 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)
Size6.55 inches, 103.6 cm26.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 120HzLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 710Adreno 830
OSAndroid 14, up to 2 major Android upgradesAndroid 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDRZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple50 MP, (wide), PDAF, OIS 13 MP, (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, (ultrawide)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
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single50 MP, (wide), AF12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackUnspecifiedYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioUnspecifiedNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type4700 mAh, user replaceable5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsYellowMoss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
Models-XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256
Price-€ 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

HMD Hyper

  • Excellent value for money
  • Efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset
  • Clean software experience

  • Lower performance compared to flagship devices
  • Limited camera capabilities

Sony Xperia 1 VII

  • Top-tier performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Exceptional battery life and fast charging
  • High-quality display with excellent brightness

  • Higher price point
  • Potentially larger and heavier design

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 HMD Hyper’s display specifications are not provided, it’s reasonable to assume a lower peak brightness. The Xperia 1 VII’s display technology likely incorporates LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, contributing to power efficiency, a feature not confirmed on the HMD Hyper. Sony’s focus on color accuracy, a hallmark of their displays, further differentiates it, targeting content creators and media consumers.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for the HMD Hyper, a direct comparison is limited. However, Sony’s Xperia line is known for its advanced camera systems. The Xperia 1 VII likely features a larger sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms, resulting in superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Xperia 1 VII’s focus on manual controls and professional features caters to photography enthusiasts. While the HMD Hyper may offer a functional camera, it’s unlikely to match the Xperia 1 VII’s capabilities in terms of detail, dynamic range, and overall image quality.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Sony Xperia 1 VII utilizes the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring a custom Oryon CPU architecture with peak clock speeds of 4.32 GHz. This translates to significantly faster processing speeds and improved efficiency compared to the HMD Hyper’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4nm). The Oryon cores, designed by Qualcomm, offer a substantial performance uplift over the Cortex-A78 cores found in the HMD Hyper. This difference will be most noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and multitasking. The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite also contributes to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 VII excels in battery endurance, offering a remarkable 43:30 hours of total usage and a 15:32-hour active use score. This is likely due to the efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and optimized software. While the HMD Hyper’s battery capacity is not specified, its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, while efficient, cannot compete with the Xperia 1 VII’s endurance. The Xperia 1 VII also supports 30W wired charging with PD3.0 and PPS, achieving a 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. The HMD Hyper’s 33W wired charging is competitive, but lacks the versatility of the Xperia 1 VII’s wireless options.

Buying Guide

Buy the HMD Hyper if you need a reliable smartphone for everyday tasks, prioritize efficiency and longer software support from HMD, and are comfortable with a mid-range processor. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you demand top-tier performance for demanding applications like gaming and video editing, value exceptional display quality, and require extended battery life with fast charging capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 in the HMD Hyper struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is a capable mid-range chipset, but it will likely require reduced graphics settings and frame rates to achieve a smooth experience in demanding games like Genshin Impact. Expect some frame drops and potential thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How does the Xperia 1 VII's charging compare to other flagships in terms of speed and heat generation?
The Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging is competitive, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. While not the fastest charging available, Sony prioritizes battery health and thermal management. The phone is less likely to overheat during charging compared to some competitors utilizing extremely high wattage charging solutions.
❓ Does the Xperia 1 VII support all the latest 5G bands for international travel?
The Sony Xperia 1 VII is designed as a global flagship and supports a comprehensive range of 5G bands, ensuring compatibility with most 5G networks worldwide. However, it's always recommended to verify specific band support with your carrier before traveling.
❓ What kind of software support can HMD Hyper users expect in terms of Android updates and security patches?
HMD Global is known for providing excellent software support, including timely Android updates and security patches. The HMD Hyper is likely to receive at least three major Android updates and four years of security patches, ensuring a long-lasting and secure user experience.