Sony Xperia Pro-I vs OnePlus 11R: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Power and Value

The Sony Xperia Pro-I, while initially a flagship, has seen price drops positioning it against newer contenders like the OnePlus 11R. This comparison pits a phone focused on professional content creation against a value-oriented performance powerhouse, examining whether the older chipset can still compete with the newer generation.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus 11R emerges as the better buy. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset delivers superior performance and efficiency, coupled with blazing-fast 100W charging. While the Xperia Pro-I offers a unique form factor and a focus on photography, the 11R provides a more compelling overall package at a potentially similar price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia Pro-I OnePlus 11R
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (3CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6CDMA 800
Launch
Announced2021, October 262023, February 07
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, December 02Available. Released 2023, February 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions166 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.54 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)163.4 x 74.3 x 8.7 mm (6.43 x 2.93 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight211 g (7.44 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Built-in strap-hole-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus-
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1240 x 2772 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~451 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.74 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB 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 trackingColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
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/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
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 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Native Sony Alpha camera support-
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min100W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsFrosted BlackGalactic Silver, Sonic Black, Solar Red
ModelsXQ-BE62, XQBE62-B, XQ-BE62-B, XQ-BE62/B, XQ-BE42, XQ-BE42-B, XQ-BE42/B, XQ-BE72, XQ-BE52CPH2487
PriceAbout 930 EURAbout 600 EUR
SAR-1.16 W/kg (head)     0.61 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 87h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Loudspeaker -28.6 LUFS (Average) -
Performance AnTuTu: 725839 (v9) GeekBench: 3540 (v5.1) GFXBench: 51fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Sony Xperia Pro-I

  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • Professional video features (HDMI input)
  • Sony’s established camera processing

  • Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Slower 30W charging
  • Potentially higher price for older hardware

OnePlus 11R

  • Faster Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Blazing-fast 100W charging
  • Excellent value for money

  • Larger form factor
  • Less emphasis on professional video features
  • Potentially less refined camera processing

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia Pro-I features a 6.5-inch display capable of reaching 644 nits of peak brightness. While respectable, this is likely outshone by the OnePlus 11R’s display, which, while lacking specific brightness data, typically achieves higher peak brightness levels in OnePlus’ flagship and near-flagship devices. Both phones likely utilize OLED panels, but the Pro-I’s focus on professional use suggests a potentially wider color gamut and more accurate color calibration. The 11R, with its larger target audience, may prioritize vibrant colors over absolute accuracy. The absence of LTPO technology in either device suggests standard refresh rate management, impacting battery efficiency during dynamic content.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are marketed with strong camera capabilities, but their approaches differ. The Xperia Pro-I’s strength lies in its professional-grade features, including real-time eye autofocus and 4K 120fps video recording. However, the context data lacks specific sensor details beyond 'Photo / Video' for both. Given Sony’s expertise in image sensors, the Pro-I likely employs a larger sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The OnePlus 11R, while capable, likely focuses on a more consumer-friendly, vibrant image profile. The absence of details on OIS and lens apertures makes a definitive comparison difficult, but the Pro-I’s positioning suggests a greater emphasis on image quality and control.

Performance

The OnePlus 11R’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) represents a significant leap over the Xperia Pro-I’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The 8+ Gen 1’s smaller node allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, resulting in sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling. The 11R’s CPU configuration – a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz alongside three Cortex-A710 performance cores at 2.5 GHz – provides a noticeable advantage over the Pro-I’s Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz) and A78 cores (2.42 GHz). While both phones utilize octa-core architectures, the newer generation cores and process node give the 11R a clear edge in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming.

Battery Life

The Xperia Pro-I boasts an impressive endurance rating of 87 hours, suggesting excellent battery optimization despite its older chipset. However, the OnePlus 11R compensates for any potential battery capacity difference with its 100W SuperVOOC charging. This allows for a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the Pro-I’s 30W wired charging, which takes 30 minutes to reach 50%. While the Pro-I excels in longevity, the 11R’s rapid charging mitigates range anxiety and provides greater convenience for users who frequently need to top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia Pro-I if you prioritize a compact form factor, require direct HDMI input for professional video workflows, and value Sony’s established camera processing style. Buy the OnePlus 11R if you prioritize raw performance for gaming and demanding applications, need incredibly fast charging, and seek a more modern Android experience with a larger display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Xperia Pro-I throttle under sustained gaming loads?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than newer chipsets. While Sony’s thermal management is generally good, prolonged gaming sessions on the Xperia Pro-I may result in noticeable throttling, leading to reduced frame rates. The OnePlus 11R’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, with its more efficient 4nm process, is less prone to throttling.
❓ How does the 100W charging on the OnePlus 11R affect battery health over the long term?
OnePlus employs battery health optimization algorithms alongside its 100W SuperVOOC charging to mitigate potential degradation. While fast charging can theoretically accelerate battery aging, OnePlus’ technology aims to minimize this effect by adjusting charging speed based on usage patterns and battery condition. However, long-term battery health will still be impacted over years of use.
❓ Is the HDMI input on the Xperia Pro-I useful for the average user?
The HDMI input is primarily targeted at professional videographers and content creators who need to connect external monitors or cameras directly to the phone for live streaming or recording. For the average user, this feature is unlikely to be utilized and adds to the phone's cost and complexity.
❓ What kind of software support can I expect from both Sony and OnePlus?
OnePlus generally provides faster and more frequent software updates than Sony. While Sony has improved its update cadence, OnePlus typically offers quicker access to the latest Android versions and security patches. The 11R is also likely to receive longer software support due to being a more recent release.