Sony Xperia Pro-I vs Xperia Pro: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia Pro-I is the clear winner, boasting a significantly better camera, brighter display, and faster charging. However, its higher price tag makes the Xperia Pro a compelling option for those prioritizing a more budget-friendly professional tool, especially if external monitor connectivity is key.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia Pro-I | Sony Xperia Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 2, 5, 66, 260, 261 Sub6, mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 26 | 2020, February 24. Released 2021, January 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 02 | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 166 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.54 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) | 170.2 x 76.2 x 10.2 mm (6.70 x 3.00 x 0.40 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 211 g (7.44 oz) | 225.1 g (7.94 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Built-in strap-hole | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~76.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020 |
| Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 512GB 12GB RAM | 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.X | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, 12-bit RAW, HDR, eye tracking | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | - |
| Triple | 12 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) | 12 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) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, micro HDMI |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Native Sony Alpha camera support | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min | 21W wired, PD |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Frosted Black | Black |
| Models | XQ-BE62, XQBE62-B, XQ-BE62-B, XQ-BE62/B, XQ-BE42, XQ-BE42-B, XQ-BE42/B, XQ-BE72, XQ-BE52 | - |
| Price | About 930 EUR | About 2000 EUR |
| 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
- Superior Camera (1-inch sensor)
- Brighter Display
- Faster Charging (30W)
- Improved Performance (Snapdragon 888)
- Excellent Battery Life (87h Endurance)
- Higher Price
- Larger Size/Weight
Sony Xperia Pro
- More Compact Design
- External Monitor Connectivity
- Lower Price
- Capable Camera System
- Slower Charging (21W)
- Less Powerful Processor (Snapdragon 865)
- Lower Display Brightness
- Less Impressive Camera
Display Comparison
The Xperia Pro-I features a noticeably brighter display, measuring 644 nits peak brightness compared to the Pro's likely lower brightness (estimated around 450-500 nits based on typical Xperia Pro specs). Both phones utilize OLED panels with excellent color accuracy, but the Pro-I's extra brightness provides better visibility in outdoor conditions. Both have a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling.
Camera Comparison
This is where the Pro-I truly shines. It features a 12MP primary sensor with a 1-inch type sensor, a significant upgrade over the Pro's camera system. This larger sensor allows for significantly better low-light performance, wider dynamic range, and shallower depth of field. The Pro-I also boasts improved video recording capabilities. The Pro still offers a capable camera system, but it doesn't match the Pro-I's professional-grade performance.
Performance
While both phones utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, the Pro-I's Snapdragon 888 5G offers a performance edge over the Pro's Snapdragon 865 5G. The 888's 5nm process and slightly tweaked CPU cores contribute to faster processing speeds and improved efficiency. Both phones offer ample RAM for multitasking, but the Pro-I's newer chipset handles demanding applications and games more effectively.
Battery Life
The Xperia Pro-I boasts an exceptional endurance rating of 87 hours, a testament to its efficient power management. The Xperia Pro's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the Pro-I's longevity. The Pro-I also benefits from faster 30W charging compared to the Pro's 21W.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia Pro-I is ideal for professional photographers and videographers who demand top-tier camera performance and a vibrant display. The Xperia Pro is a better choice for users who need external monitor connectivity and a more compact form factor, and are less concerned with the absolute best camera capabilities.