Sony Xperia Pro-I vs. Google Pixel 7 Pro: A Deep Dive for Power Users

The Sony Xperia Pro-I and Google Pixel 7 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the flagship Android space. The Pro-I, a niche device aimed at content creators, prioritizes direct connectivity and manual control. The Pixel 7 Pro, meanwhile, leverages Google’s AI prowess to deliver a refined, intelligent smartphone experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Google Pixel 7 Pro emerges as the more compelling choice. Its superior display brightness, advanced computational photography, and broader feature set offer a more polished and accessible experience. However, professional videographers and photographers will find the Xperia Pro-I’s external monitor support and direct HDMI input invaluable.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia Pro-I Google Pixel 7 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, 48, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GE2AE
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GE2AE
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub61, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GP4BC
Launch
Announced2021, October 262022, October 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 02Available. Released 2022, October 13
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions166 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.54 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight211 g (7.44 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Built-in strap-holeIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use casesAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, 12-bit RAW, HDR, eye trackingLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Triple12 MP, f/2.0-4.0, 24mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 2.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS (315 PDAF points, 90% frame coverage) 12 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", PDAF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, AF
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPortUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Native Sony Alpha camera supportUltra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsFrosted BlackObsidian, Snow, Hazel
ModelsXQ-BE62, XQBE62-B, XQ-BE62-B, XQ-BE62/B, XQ-BE42, XQ-BE42-B, XQ-BE42/B, XQ-BE72, XQ-BE52GP4BC, GE2AE, GFE4J
PriceAbout 930 EUR€ 248.84 / $ 204.00 / £ 259.99 / ₹ 36,999
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 87h Endurance rating 83h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.6 LUFS (Average) -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 725839 (v9) GeekBench: 3540 (v5.1) GFXBench: 51fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 796369 (v9) GeekBench: 3187 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia Pro-I

  • HDMI input for external monitor connectivity
  • Manual camera controls for professional workflows
  • Excellent battery endurance (87h)

  • Dimmer display compared to the Pixel 7 Pro
  • Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Less refined software experience

Google Pixel 7 Pro

  • Brighter and more vibrant display (1090 nits)
  • Google Tensor G2 chip with AI capabilities
  • Versatile camera with exceptional computational photography
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Slightly lower battery endurance (83h)
  • Less manual control in the camera app
  • No HDMI input for external monitors

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1090 nits compared to the Xperia Pro-I’s 644 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the Pixel 7 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio provides deeper blacks and more vivid colors. The Pro-I’s display, while still excellent, is noticeably less impactful outdoors. Neither specification details refresh rate, but both are expected to offer adaptive refresh rates for smoother scrolling and animations.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are equipped with versatile camera systems, but their approaches differ. The Pixel 7 Pro leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, delivering consistently excellent results with minimal user input. The Xperia Pro-I, on the other hand, prioritizes manual control and direct connectivity. The Pro-I’s standout feature is its ability to connect directly to external monitors via HDMI, enabling real-time monitoring and professional workflows. While both capture high-quality photo and video, the Pro-I caters to professionals who demand granular control over their image settings. The Pixel 7 Pro’s image processing excels in dynamic range and low-light performance, while the Pro-I offers more flexibility for color grading and post-processing.

Performance

Both phones employ an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A78 cores, but diverge in their chipsets. The Pixel 7 Pro’s Google Tensor G2 is custom-designed for machine learning tasks, excelling in areas like voice recognition and image processing. The Xperia Pro-I utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G. While the Snapdragon 888 is a capable performer, the Tensor G2’s focus on AI gives the Pixel 7 Pro an edge in tasks like real-time translation and advanced camera features. The Pixel 7 Pro’s CPU has slightly higher clock speeds (2x2.85 GHz vs 1x2.84 GHz) on its prime cores, potentially offering a marginal performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks. Both utilize 5nm fabrication, but the Tensor G2’s architecture is optimized for Google’s software ecosystem.

Battery Life

Battery endurance is relatively close, with the Xperia Pro-I achieving an 87-hour rating and the Pixel 7 Pro at 83 hours. However, charging speeds differ significantly. The Xperia Pro-I supports 30W wired charging, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. The Pixel 7 Pro offers 23W wired charging (also 50% in 30 minutes) but adds the convenience of 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. This gives the Pixel 7 Pro greater flexibility in charging options, especially for users who frequently utilize wireless charging or need to top up accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia Pro-I if you are a professional photographer or videographer who requires direct HDMI connectivity to external monitors for real-time review and control, and values a more manual camera experience. Buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro if you prioritize a seamless, AI-powered experience, exceptional camera versatility with computational photography, and a brighter, more vibrant display for everyday use.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xperia Pro-I's HDMI input work with all external monitors?
The Xperia Pro-I's HDMI output supports standard HDMI protocols, but compatibility can vary depending on the monitor's input capabilities. It's generally compatible with most professional monitors and displays, but it's recommended to check your monitor's specifications for compatibility.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G2 improve the Pixel 7 Pro's camera performance?
The Tensor G2 chip enables advanced computational photography features like Super Res Zoom, Magic Eraser, and Photo Unblur. It also accelerates image processing, resulting in faster capture times and improved low-light performance. The chip's machine learning capabilities allow for more accurate scene recognition and image optimization.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Xperia Pro-I significantly slower than the competition?
While 30W isn't the fastest charging available, it still delivers a 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Pixel 7 Pro's 23W wired charging takes a similar amount of time. The key difference is the Pixel 7 Pro's addition of wireless charging options, offering greater convenience.
❓ Can the Pixel 7 Pro's camera replace a dedicated point-and-shoot camera?
For most users, the Pixel 7 Pro's camera offers comparable or even superior image quality to many point-and-shoot cameras, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Its computational photography features and versatile lens options provide a wide range of creative possibilities.