Sony Xperia 1 V vs Xperia 1 II: A Flagship Showdown

Sony's Xperia line consistently caters to enthusiasts seeking a premium experience. The Xperia 1 V represents the latest iteration, boasting significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Xperia 1 II. But is the newer model worth the investment, or does the older flagship still hold its own?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 V is the clear winner, offering a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a brighter display, and improved battery life. However, the Xperia 1 II remains a compelling option for those seeking a high-quality camera and a more affordable price point, especially if performance isn't the absolute top priority.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 V 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
Announced2023, May 112020, February 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, July 28Available. Released 2020, May 22
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 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
Weight187 g (6.60 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 Victus 2Corning 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 cases
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 (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 650
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 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
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 PDAF12 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@30/60fps, 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
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.1, 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, tri-band, 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, Khaki Green, Platinum SilverBlack, Purple, Mirror Lake Green
ModelsXQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54XQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42
Price€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99About 700 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 115h Endurance rating 83h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.4 LUFS (Very good) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • Significantly faster performance
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Improved battery life
  • Enhanced camera processing
  • Latest Snapdragon chipset

  • Higher price point
  • Design largely unchanged from previous models

Sony Xperia 1 II

  • More affordable
  • Excellent camera system
  • Premium Sony design
  • Proven track record

  • Slower performance
  • Dimmer display
  • Shorter battery life
  • Older chipset

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 V's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 936 nits, significantly brighter than the 1 II's 611 nits. Both feature excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), and the 1 V's improved brightness makes it noticeably better for outdoor visibility. Both phones have a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, catering to content creators and cinephiles.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems, but the 1 V introduces improvements. While specific sensor details are similar, Sony's image processing algorithms have been refined in the 1 V, resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The 1 V also benefits from improved video recording capabilities. Both offer a versatile triple-lens setup with telephoto, ultrawide, and main lenses.

Performance

The Xperia 1 V's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a generational leap over the 1 II's Snapdragon 865. The 8 Gen 2 offers significantly faster processing speeds and improved efficiency, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The 1 V's CPU configuration (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) is superior to the 1 II's (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55).

Battery Life

The Xperia 1 V demonstrates a significant advantage in battery life. Its active use score of 12:24h and an endurance rating of 115h far surpasses the 1 II's 83h endurance rating. The 1 V's more efficient chipset and optimized software contribute to this improved longevity. Charging speeds are also faster on the 1 V with 30W wired charging compared to the 1 II's 21W.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Xperia 1 V? Users prioritizing top-tier performance, a brighter display for outdoor use, and the latest camera technology. Who should buy the Sony Xperia 1 II? Budget-conscious buyers who still want a premium Sony experience with a fantastic camera and a proven track record.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 V a significant upgrade over the Xperia 1 II?
Yes, the Xperia 1 V offers substantial improvements in performance, display brightness, and battery life, making it a worthwhile upgrade for users seeking the latest technology.
❓ Which phone is better for photography?
While both have excellent cameras, the Xperia 1 V benefits from improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance, giving it a slight edge.