Sony Xperia 1 VI vs Xiaomi 14 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Endurance

Both the Sony Xperia 1 VI and the Xiaomi 14 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone engineering, powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, they diverge significantly in their philosophies: Sony focuses on a holistic, creator-focused experience with an emphasis on battery life, while Xiaomi prioritizes bleeding-edge speed, particularly in charging, and a more aggressive feature set. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a refined, balanced experience, the Sony Xperia 1 VI emerges as the winner. Its 17:27-hour active use score is a significant advantage. However, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is the clear choice for those who demand the absolute fastest charging and aren't concerned about slightly shorter battery runtimes.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 VI Xiaomi 14 Pro
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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, May 152023, October 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, June 03Available. Released 2023, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front, aluminum frame or titanium frame, glass back
Dimensions162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)161.4 x 75.3 x 8.5 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)223 g or 230 g (7.87 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2Shatterproof glass
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 750
OSAndroid 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 3 major Android upgradesAndroid 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, 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/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 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 4880 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Platinum silver, Khaki green, Scar redBlack, Silver, Titanium, Green
ModelsXQEC54EUKCB.GC, XQEC54EUKCG.GC, XQEC54EUKCS.GC, XQ-EC7223116PN5BC
Price$ 1,299.99 / £ 829.00 / € 977.98About 650 EUR

Sony Xperia 1 VI

  • Exceptional battery life (17:27h active use)
  • Refined and balanced software experience
  • Potential for higher PWM dimming frequency (eye comfort)

  • Slower charging speeds (30W wired)
  • Less aggressive feature set compared to Xiaomi

Xiaomi 14 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging (100% in 18 min)
  • 50W wireless charging
  • Feature-rich MIUI software

  • Shorter battery life compared to Xperia 1 VI
  • MIUI can be prone to bloatware and aggressive notifications

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but the display experience differs. The Sony Xperia 1 VI boasts a measured peak brightness of 1310 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While Xiaomi’s peak brightness isn’t specified, it’s likely comparable. The Xperia 1 VI’s display is geared towards color accuracy, important for content creators, while Xiaomi typically tunes its displays for vibrant, punchy colors. The absence of PWM frequency data for both phones makes it difficult to assess flicker-related eye strain, but Sony historically uses higher frequencies, potentially benefiting users sensitive to flicker.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are missing, but the core processing power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will deliver excellent image quality on both devices. The focus will be on software processing and lens quality. Sony’s camera philosophy leans towards natural color reproduction and detail preservation, while Xiaomi often employs more aggressive sharpening and contrast boosting. Without sensor size data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Sony’s history suggests a focus on larger sensors for improved low-light performance. The absence of information on OIS and aperture sizes further complicates a direct comparison.

Performance

Under the hood, both the Xperia 1 VI and the Xiaomi 14 Pro are powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) chipset, featuring an identical CPU configuration: 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520. This means raw processing power will be nearly indistinguishable between the two. Performance differences will likely manifest in thermal management and sustained performance. Xiaomi’s cooling solutions are often more aggressive, potentially allowing for slightly higher sustained clock speeds, but at the cost of increased heat. Both devices utilize LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 1 VI shines in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 17:27 hours of active use. The Xiaomi 14 Pro, while likely possessing a competitive battery capacity, is overshadowed by the Xperia’s longevity. However, Xiaomi compensates with blistering charging speeds: 120W wired charging can fully replenish the battery in just 18 minutes, a significant advantage over the Xperia 1 VI’s 30W charging (50% in 30 minutes). Xiaomi also offers 50W wireless charging (100% in 40 minutes) compared to Sony’s 15W wireless, further solidifying its lead in charging convenience. The inclusion of reverse wireless charging on both devices is a minor convenience feature.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VI if you need exceptional battery life for demanding tasks like video recording or travel, value a more subtle and refined software experience, and appreciate a focus on creative tools. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Pro if you prioritize the fastest possible charging speeds, want a phone that can fully recharge in under 20 minutes, and are comfortable with a more feature-rich, sometimes aggressive, MIUI software experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xiaomi 14 Pro's 120W charging degrade the battery health faster than the Sony Xperia 1 VI's 30W charging?
While faster charging *can* contribute to slightly accelerated battery degradation over the long term, modern smartphones employ sophisticated charging management systems to mitigate this effect. Xiaomi's charging algorithms are designed to minimize heat and optimize charging cycles. The difference in degradation is likely to be minimal for most users, and the convenience of rapid charging often outweighs the potential for slightly faster wear.
❓ Is the software experience on the Xiaomi 14 Pro significantly different from the Sony Xperia 1 VI, and which is better for a user who prefers a clean Android experience?
Yes, the software experience is a key differentiator. Xiaomi's MIUI is heavily customized and includes numerous features, themes, and pre-installed apps (often considered bloatware). The Sony Xperia 1 VI, on the other hand, offers a much closer-to-stock Android experience with minimal customization and a focus on simplicity. For users who prefer a clean, uncluttered Android experience, the Sony Xperia 1 VI is the clear winner.
❓ How does the thermal performance of the Xiaomi 14 Pro hold up during extended gaming sessions compared to the Sony Xperia 1 VI?
While both phones utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Xiaomi often employs more aggressive cooling solutions. This *could* allow for slightly higher sustained performance during prolonged gaming, but it also means the phone may get hotter. The Xperia 1 VI prioritizes thermal efficiency, potentially resulting in slightly lower peak performance but more consistent temperatures over extended periods. Real-world testing is needed to determine which phone exhibits less throttling.