Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Xperia 1 II: The Ultimate Showdown

Sony's Xperia line consistently caters to photography enthusiasts and those seeking a premium Android experience. The Xperia 1 IV represents the latest iteration, while the Xperia 1 II remains a compelling option. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which phone is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 IV boasts a significantly faster processor, improved charging speeds, and a slightly brighter display. However, the Xperia 1 II remains a strong contender, especially for those prioritizing value and a proven camera system. The 1 IV wins on performance, but the 1 II offers a more budget-friendly entry point.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 IV Sony Xperia 1 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe1, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia-
Launch
Announced2022, May 112020, February 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, June 11Available. Released 2020, May 22
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm (6.5 x 2.80 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)181.4 g (6.38 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020OLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use casesRuns at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 650
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm-
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, 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, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band or tri-band (region dependent), Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 Native Sony Alpha camera support-
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless21W wired, PD 11W wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Violet, WhiteBlack, Purple, Mirror Lake Green
ModelsXQCT62-B, XQCT54, XQCT54C0V.YD, XQCT54C0B.YD, XQCT54C0W.YD, XQCT54C0V.EEAC, XQCT54C0B.EEAC, XQ-CT72, XQ-CT54, XQ-CT62, SO-51CXQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42
Price$ 1,120.00 / € 489.00About 700 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 100h Endurance rating 83h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.6 LUFS (Good) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 838832 (v9) GeekBench: 3403 (v5.1) GFXBench: 74fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 1 IV

  • Faster Processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
  • Improved Battery Life (100h Endurance)
  • Variable Telephoto Lens
  • Faster Charging (30W)
  • Slightly Brighter Display

  • Higher Price
  • Potential for Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 throttling
  • Design largely unchanged from previous models

Sony Xperia 1 II

  • More Affordable
  • Proven Camera System
  • Excellent Image Quality
  • Compact and Ergonomic Design

  • Slower Processor (Snapdragon 865)
  • Shorter Battery Life (83h Endurance)
  • Slower Charging (21W)
  • Older Technology

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning 6.5-inch OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 21:9 aspect ratio, perfect for content creation and immersive viewing. The Xperia 1 IV edges out the 1 II with a slightly higher measured brightness of 602 nits versus 611 nits (a negligible difference), and improved HDR performance. Both offer exceptional contrast thanks to their 'Infinite' contrast ratio.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera capabilities, but with different strengths. The Xperia 1 IV introduces a variable telephoto lens, offering more flexibility in zoom ranges. The Xperia 1 II has a well-regarded, proven camera system with excellent image quality. Both feature 12MP main, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses, but the 1 IV's image processing and video recording capabilities are generally considered superior.

Performance

The Xperia 1 IV's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides a substantial performance boost over the Xperia 1 II's Snapdragon 865. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the 1 IV. The 1 IV's CPU architecture is also more modern and efficient.

Battery Life

The Xperia 1 IV demonstrates a significant advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 100 hours compared to the Xperia 1 II's 83 hours. This translates to noticeably longer usage times between charges, especially for demanding tasks.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is ideal for serious photographers, videographers, and power users who demand the latest technology and performance. The Xperia 1 II is a great choice for those seeking a premium Sony experience with a fantastic camera and a more accessible price point, especially if they don't need the absolute latest chipset.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 IV worth the upgrade from the Xperia 1 II?
If you prioritize performance, battery life, and the latest camera features, then the Xperia 1 IV is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're on a budget and happy with the Xperia 1 II's camera and performance, the upgrade might not be necessary.
❓ Which phone has better video recording capabilities?
The Xperia 1 IV generally offers superior video recording capabilities, thanks to its improved image processing and advanced features like 4K 120fps recording.