Sony Xperia 1 V vs Samsung Galaxy S23+: Which Snapdragon Flagship Reigns Supreme?

Both the Sony Xperia 1 V and the Samsung Galaxy S23+ represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone engineering, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. However, they cater to different priorities: Sony focuses on a creator-centric experience with a unique aspect ratio and emphasis on endurance, while Samsung delivers a more mainstream, polished experience with faster charging and a more compact form factor. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a unique, creator-focused experience, the Sony Xperia 1 V is the better choice. Its 115-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses the Galaxy S23+'s 111-hour rating, and its focus on photography and videography provides a distinct advantage for content creators.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 V Samsung Galaxy S23+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (Dual SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE-A (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, May 112023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, July 28Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)157.8 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm (6.21 x 3.00 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs and eSIM, dual stand-by)
Weight187 g (6.60 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15Android 13, One UI 5.1
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFSUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, 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, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (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 video
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRDual video call, Auto-HDR, HDR10+
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYes-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Native Sony Alpha camera supportSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (Qi/PMA) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Khaki Green, Platinum SilverPhantom Black, Cream, Green, Lavender, Graphite, Lime
ModelsXQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54SM-S916B, SM-S916B/DS, SM-S916U, SM-S916U1, SM-S916W, SM-S916N, SM-S9160, SM-S916E, SM-S916E/DS
Price€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99$ 780.00 / C$ 1,399.99 / £ 919.08 / € 1,185.89 / ₹ 94,999
SAR-0.95 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.77 W/kg (head)     1.45 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 115h Endurance rating 111h
Camera Photo / VideoPhoto / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.4 LUFS (Very good) -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)AnTuTu: 1234077 (v9) GeekBench: 5073 (v5.1) GFXBench: 110fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • Exceptional battery life (115h endurance)
  • Unique 21:9 display for immersive media
  • Creator-focused camera features and manual controls

  • Slower charging speed (30W)
  • Less mainstream software experience

Samsung Galaxy S23+

  • Faster charging (45W)
  • More compact and pocketable design
  • Polished and user-friendly software experience

  • Slightly lower battery endurance (111h)
  • Less emphasis on manual camera controls

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays with an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, indicating excellent black levels. However, the Sony Xperia 1 V boasts a measured peak brightness of 936 nits, which, while excellent, doesn't dramatically exceed what the S23+ likely achieves (Samsung typically excels in display brightness). The Xperia 1 V’s 21:9 aspect ratio is a key differentiator, offering a wider canvas for multitasking and media, but may present compatibility challenges with some apps. Both utilize high refresh rate panels, though the specific technology (LTPO) isn't specified for either, suggesting both likely employ variable refresh rates for power efficiency.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer versatile camera systems, but Sony emphasizes a more professional, manual-focused approach. While specific sensor details are absent, the Xperia 1 V’s camera is marketed towards photo and video enthusiasts, likely featuring advanced features and controls. The Galaxy S23+ relies on Samsung’s computational photography prowess, delivering consistently good results with minimal user input. The absence of details regarding sensor sizes and apertures makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Xperia 1 V’s focus on manual controls and video capabilities suggests a more nuanced and customizable camera experience. We can safely assume both capture excellent video, given the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP capabilities.

Performance

Both phones are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), but the S23+ utilizes the SM8550-AC variant while the Xperia 1 V uses the SM8550-AB. The slight difference in model number suggests minor clock speed variations; the S23+’s CPU is clocked at 3.36 GHz versus the Xperia 1 V’s 3.2 GHz. This translates to a marginal performance advantage for the S23+ in CPU-intensive tasks. Both share the same core configuration (1x Cortex-X3, 2x Cortex-A715, 2x Cortex-A710, 3x Cortex-A510) and LPDDR5x RAM, meaning real-world performance differences will be subtle and likely only noticeable in synthetic benchmarks. Thermal management will be crucial; the 4nm process helps, but sustained loads could lead to throttling, a factor where Samsung’s vapor chamber cooling system may provide an edge.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 V demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving a measured 12:24 hours of active use and an endurance rating of 115 hours. The Samsung Galaxy S23+ achieves 111 hours of endurance. While the S23+ offers faster wired charging at 45W (advertised 65% in 30 minutes) compared to the Xperia 1 V’s 30W (50% in 30 minutes), the Xperia 1 V’s larger battery capacity and more efficient power management translate to longer real-world usage. Both support wireless and reverse wireless charging, but the S23+ offers a slightly higher wireless charging wattage (15W vs unspecified for the Xperia 1 V).

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia 1 V if you need exceptional battery life, a dedicated camera experience with manual controls, and a unique 21:9 aspect ratio display for immersive media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23+ if you prefer a more compact and polished user experience, faster charging speeds, and a wider availability of accessories and support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 1 V throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerful chip, prolonged gaming sessions can generate significant heat. The Xperia 1 V's thermal management system will likely mitigate throttling, but users may experience some performance reduction after extended play. The 4nm process helps, but active cooling isn't present.
❓ Is the 21:9 aspect ratio of the Xperia 1 V problematic for app compatibility?
Some apps may not fully support the 21:9 aspect ratio, resulting in letterboxing (black bars) or stretched content. However, Sony has implemented software optimizations to minimize these issues, and many streaming services and games now support ultrawide displays.
❓ How does the Galaxy S23+'s 45W charging compare to other flagship phones?
45W charging is relatively fast, but slower than some competitors offering 65W or even 120W charging. However, Samsung's charging optimization prevents overheating and battery degradation, prioritizing long-term battery health over absolute speed.
❓ What kind of video recording features does the Xperia 1 V offer for professional videographers?
The Xperia 1 V is geared towards videographers, offering features like S-Cinetone for a cinematic look, 4K HDR recording, and manual controls over focus, shutter speed, and ISO. It also supports external monitors and microphones via the USB-C port.