Sony Xperia Pro vs Xperia Pro-I: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia Pro-I is the clear winner, boasting a significantly upgraded camera system, a newer Snapdragon 888 chipset, and faster charging. While the Pro offers a built-in HDMI input, the Pro-I's overall improvements in photography and performance make it the superior choice for most professionals.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia Pro | Sony Xperia Pro-I |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 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 | 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 |
| 5G bands | 2, 5, 66, 260, 261 Sub6, mmWave | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| 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 | 2020, February 24. Released 2021, January 27 | 2021, October 26 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, December 02 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 170.2 x 76.2 x 10.2 mm (6.70 x 3.00 x 0.40 in) | 166 x 72 x 8.9 mm (6.54 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 225.1 g (7.94 oz) | 211 g (7.44 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Built-in strap-hole | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| 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 (~76.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 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-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| 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, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, 12-bit RAW, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| Triple | 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) | 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) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps 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 | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, micro HDMI | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort |
| 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 | 21W wired, PD | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black | Frosted 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 2000 EUR | About 930 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
- Built-in HDMI input for external monitoring
- Professional video recording features
- Compact and relatively lightweight
- Older Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Less impressive camera compared to Pro-I
- Slower charging speed
Sony Xperia Pro-I
- Superior 1.0-inch camera sensor
- Newer Snapdragon 888 chipset
- Faster 30W charging
- Brighter display
- High price point
- No significant design changes from previous models
- Lacks the HDMI input of the Pro
Display Comparison
Both phones feature OLED displays, but the Pro-I boasts a measured peak brightness of 644 nits, offering better visibility in bright sunlight compared to the Pro. Color accuracy is excellent on both, typical of Sony's displays, but the Pro-I's slightly brighter panel gives it a marginal edge.
Camera Comparison
This is where the Pro-I truly shines. It features a 1.0-inch sensor, a significant upgrade over the Pro's camera. The Pro-I delivers superior image quality, especially in low light, with better dynamic range and less noise. The Pro's camera is still capable, but the Pro-I's advancements are substantial.
Performance
The Xperia Pro-I's Snapdragon 888 (5nm) provides a noticeable performance boost over the Pro's Snapdragon 865 (7nm). The Cortex-X1 prime core in the 888 offers improved single-core performance, resulting in smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. Both handle demanding tasks well, but the Pro-I feels more responsive.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 87h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Pro-I's faster 30W charging provides a quicker top-up compared to the Pro's 21W charging.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia Pro is ideal for videographers and photographers who prioritize a direct HDMI input for external monitoring and recording. The Xperia Pro-I is best suited for those who demand top-tier camera performance, faster processing, and a more modern smartphone experience.