Samsung Galaxy S24 vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: The Ultimate Android Flagship Battle

The Samsung Galaxy S24 represents the latest iteration of Samsung’s ubiquitous flagship, offering a blend of AI features and refined hardware. Conversely, the Sony Xperia 1 VII doubles down on Sony’s creator-focused philosophy, prioritizing imaging and entertainment experiences. This comparison dissects these two titans to determine which reigns supreme for different user needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a compact form factor, AI integration, and widespread availability, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the better choice. However, the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s exceptional battery life and cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset make it the clear winner for power users and content creators.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S24 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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, January 172025, May 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, January 24Available. Released 2025, June 04
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions147 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.79 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight167 g or 168 g (5.89 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)
Size6.2 inches, 94.4 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPU8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)10-core (1x3.2GHz Cortex-X4 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.6GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.95GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) - USA/Canada/ChinaExynos 2400 (4 nm) - InternationalQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUAdreno 750 (1 GHz) - USA/Canada/ChinaXclipse 940 - InternationalAdreno 830
OSAndroid 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video48 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
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, HDR10+HDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsOnyx Black, Marble Grey, Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Jade Green, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire BlueMoss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
ModelsSM-S921B, SM-S921B/DS, SM-S921U, SM-S921U1, SM-S921W, SM-S921N, SM-S9210, SM-S921E, SM-S921E/DSXQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256
Price€ 454.76 / $ 299.99 / £ 340.99 / ₹ 39,999€ 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94
SAR1.23 W/kg (head)     1.10 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.87 W/kg (head)     1.35 W/kg (body)-
EU LABEL
Battery-43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles
Energy-Class B
Free fall-Class B (181 falls)
Repairability-Class D

Samsung Galaxy S24

  • Compact and pocketable design
  • AI-powered features and software
  • Wider availability and support network

  • Inferior battery life compared to Xperia 1 VII
  • Potential for thermal throttling with Exynos variant
  • Less focus on professional-grade camera features

Sony Xperia 1 VII

  • Exceptional battery life and longevity
  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
  • Focus on professional photography and videography

  • Higher price point
  • Less mainstream appeal
  • Potentially less refined software experience

Display Comparison

Both devices boast impressive displays, with the Sony Xperia 1 VII edging out the Samsung Galaxy S24 in peak brightness at 1475 nits versus 1401 nits. While the difference is subtle, it translates to slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. Both likely utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, though this isn't explicitly stated. Sony’s focus on color accuracy, a hallmark of their displays, will appeal to professionals, while Samsung’s display is known for its vibrant, punchy colors. Bezels appear comparable, contributing to a modern aesthetic on both devices.

Camera Comparison

While both phones are expected to deliver excellent image quality, Sony’s approach centers on professional-grade features and natural color reproduction. The Xperia 1 VII’s camera system, while details are limited in the provided data, likely features a larger main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms. Samsung’s camera leans towards vibrant, shareable images with extensive software enhancements. The absence of specific sensor details prevents a definitive comparison, but Sony’s history suggests a focus on optical quality and manual control. The 2MP macro camera on the S24 is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit, while Sony typically avoids such low-resolution sensors.

Performance

The performance gap is significant. The Sony Xperia 1 VII leverages the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm), featuring a custom Oryon V2 Phoenix CPU architecture with a peak clock speed of 4.32 GHz. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy S24’s chipset options: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) in the US/Canada/China, and the Exynos 2400 (4nm) internationally. The 3nm process of the Snapdragon 8 Elite offers superior power efficiency and thermal performance, allowing for sustained peak performance. The Oryon cores are designed for higher single-core performance, benefiting demanding applications. The S24’s Exynos variant may exhibit more thermal throttling under prolonged load, impacting gaming and video editing. Both devices utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the superior chipset in the Xperia 1 VII will maximize its potential.

Battery Life

Battery life is where the Sony Xperia 1 VII truly shines. Its active use score of 15:32h dramatically surpasses the Samsung Galaxy S24’s 12:06h. This difference is further amplified by the Xperia 1 VII’s impressive 43:30h endurance and 1400 battery cycles, indicating exceptional longevity. Both phones support 30W wired charging with 50% charge in 30 minutes, and 15W wireless charging. However, the Xperia 1 VII’s larger battery capacity and more efficient chipset translate to significantly longer real-world usage between charges.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 if you need a versatile, pocketable phone with a vibrant display and seamless integration with the Samsung ecosystem. Its AI features and readily available support network are significant advantages. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prioritize exceptional battery life, raw processing power for demanding tasks, and a dedicated focus on photography and videography, even if it means a higher price point and less mainstream appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 2400 chip in the international Galaxy S24 overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Exynos 2400, built on a 4nm process, is prone to more thermal throttling than the Snapdragon 8 Elite. While Samsung has implemented cooling solutions, prolonged gaming or demanding tasks may result in reduced performance to prevent overheating. The Snapdragon variant in the US/Canada/China will offer better sustained performance.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 8 Elite's Oryon CPU cores benefit real-world usage on the Xperia 1 VII?
The Oryon V2 Phoenix cores prioritize single-core performance, which directly impacts responsiveness in applications, faster app loading times, and smoother multitasking. This is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and graphically intensive games. The architecture is designed for efficiency, contributing to the Xperia 1 VII’s exceptional battery life.
❓ Is the 15W wireless charging on both phones significantly slower than the 30W wired charging?
Yes, wireless charging is considerably slower. Expect a full charge via wireless to take over 2 hours, compared to approximately 30 minutes for a 50% charge with the wired adapter. Wireless charging is best suited for overnight top-ups rather than quick power boosts.
❓ What is the practical benefit of the Xperia 1 VII's 1400 battery cycles?
The 1400 battery cycle rating indicates that the Xperia 1 VII’s battery is designed to retain a significant portion of its original capacity even after being fully charged and discharged 1400 times. This translates to a longer lifespan and reduced battery degradation over several years of use, offering better long-term value.