OnePlus 13T vs Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon 8 Elite Flagships

Both the OnePlus 13T and Sony Xperia 1 VII represent the pinnacle of Android performance, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. However, they diverge significantly in their approach to battery life, charging speed, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to help you choose the flagship that best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing rapid charging and a potentially lower price point, the OnePlus 13T emerges as the winner. However, the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s exceptional battery endurance – boasting a 43:30h rating – and brighter display make it ideal for power users and media consumers.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 13T Sony Xperia 1 VII
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSA/Sub61, 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
Announced2025, April 242025, May 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, April 30Available. Released 2025, June 04
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions150.8 x 71.7 x 8.2 mm (5.94 x 2.82 x 0.32 in)162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
Display
ProtectionCrystal Shield GlassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution1216 x 2640 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)
Size6.32 inches, 97.9 cm2 (~90.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits (HBM)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Adreno 830
OSAndroid 15, OxygenOS 15 (International), ColorOS 15 (China)Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, 2x optical zoom, PDAF-
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss 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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, Dolby Vision HDR4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (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
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 56.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual or 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
Charging80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 18W QC 5W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 6260 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gray, PinkMoss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
ModelsPKX110XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256
PriceAbout 410 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

OnePlus 13T

  • Significantly faster 80W wired charging
  • More versatile charging protocols (PPS, PD, QC)
  • Potentially more aggressive pricing
  • 5W reverse wired charging

  • Battery endurance likely lower than Xperia 1 VII
  • Camera specs currently unknown
  • Potential for more thermal throttling

Sony Xperia 1 VII

  • Exceptional battery endurance (43:30h)
  • Brighter display (1475 nits)
  • Longer battery lifespan (1400 cycles)
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Slower 30W wired charging
  • Potentially higher price point
  • Less versatile charging protocols

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1475 nits peak brightness, crucial for comfortable viewing in direct sunlight. While the OnePlus 13T’s display specs aren’t provided, Sony’s panel offers superior visibility outdoors. The Xperia 1 VII’s longevity is also enhanced by its projected 1400 battery cycles, suggesting a more durable display and battery combination. We lack PWM frequency data for both, but the Xperia’s focus on visual fidelity suggests a potentially higher-quality panel overall.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are absent for the OnePlus 13T, making a direct comparison difficult. The Xperia 1 VII’s camera system is known for its emphasis on natural color reproduction and advanced features. While sensor sizes and apertures are unknown for the OnePlus, Sony’s focus on optical image stabilization (OIS) and computational photography suggests a more refined imaging experience. Without further details on the OnePlus 13T’s camera, it’s difficult to assess its capabilities beyond speculation.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) with the same Octa-core CPU configuration (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M). This means raw processing power will be virtually identical. The key differentiator will likely be thermal management. OnePlus historically prioritizes peak performance, potentially leading to more aggressive throttling under sustained load, while Sony often opts for a more conservative approach to maintain consistent performance over longer periods. RAM specifications are missing for the OnePlus 13T, but both will likely utilize LPDDR5x for fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s battery endurance is a standout feature, achieving a remarkable 43:30h rating and a 15:32h active use score. This significantly surpasses typical flagship endurance. The OnePlus 13T compensates with significantly faster charging – 80W wired, compared to the Xperia’s 30W. While the Xperia 1 VII offers 50% charge in 30 minutes, the OnePlus 13T will likely achieve a full charge much faster. The OnePlus also offers 33W PPS, 18W PD, 18W QC, and 5W reverse wired charging, providing greater charging flexibility, while the Xperia 1 VII includes 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus 13T if you need blazing-fast 80W wired charging, prioritize quick top-ups throughout the day, and value a potentially more aggressive price. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prefer exceptional battery longevity, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a more refined, long-term ownership experience with a projected 1400 battery cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the OnePlus 13T’s 80W charging degrade the battery faster than the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging?
While faster charging generates more heat, modern charging controllers mitigate battery degradation. The Xperia 1 VII’s longer projected battery lifespan (1400 cycles) suggests a more conservative charging approach, but the OnePlus 13T’s charging technology is designed to minimize long-term impact. The difference in degradation will likely be minimal for typical usage.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s thermal performance differ between the OnePlus 13T and Sony Xperia 1 VII?
Both phones utilize the same chipset, but Sony typically prioritizes sustained performance over peak performance, potentially leading to more conservative thermal throttling. OnePlus often pushes the chipset harder, which could result in higher initial performance but more noticeable throttling during extended gaming sessions or demanding tasks.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the OnePlus 13T a significant drawback?
For users heavily invested in wireless charging ecosystems, the absence of wireless charging on the OnePlus 13T is a notable omission. However, the significantly faster 80W wired charging provides a compelling alternative, allowing for quick top-ups when needed. The inclusion of 5W reverse wired charging also adds some utility.