iQOO 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Deep Dive into Performance, Camera, and Charging

The vivo iQOO 8 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 III represent distinct philosophies in the flagship Android space. The iQOO 8 Pro aggressively targets gamers and power users with its rapid charging and high-performance chipset, while the Xperia 1 III caters to content creators and cinephiles with its focus on camera quality and a cinematic display experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing speed and value, the iQOO 8 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 120W charging is a game-changer, and the Snapdragon 888+ offers a slight performance edge. However, the Xperia 1 III remains a compelling choice for professionals needing top-tier video capabilities.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 8 Pro Sony Xperia 1 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 - SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2021, August 172021, April 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 26Available. Released 2021, August 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions165 x 75.2 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.96 x 0.36 in)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight205 g (7.23 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~518 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1500 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, OriginOS 1.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 60mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 0.8µm, AF12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)
Video8K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.4, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with dual speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioYesNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging120W wired, 100% in 18 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsWhite (BMW M branding), Black, Pilot EditionFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
ModelsV2141A, I2017XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
PriceAbout 660 EUR€ 505.26 / $ 903.43
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 8 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
  • Slightly more powerful Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • 50W Wireless and 10W Reverse Wireless Charging

  • Camera details are limited, making a direct comparison difficult
  • Display specifications are incomplete

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • Exceptional video recording capabilities
  • High peak brightness and excellent contrast ratio
  • Focus on color accuracy for professional use

  • Significantly slower 30W charging
  • Less powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset

Display Comparison

Both phones utilize 6.7-inch displays with similar resolutions, but diverge in their approach. The Xperia 1 III boasts a 620 nit peak brightness, a respectable figure, but the iQOO 8 Pro’s display specifications are not provided, suggesting a potential advantage in brightness. The Xperia 1 III’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio hints at excellent black levels, typical of OLED panels. However, without PWM dimming rate data for the iQOO 8 Pro, it’s difficult to assess potential flicker-related issues for sensitive users. The Xperia 1 III’s focus on color accuracy is evident in its marketing, appealing to professionals needing precise color representation.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 1 III is clearly positioned as a photography and videography powerhouse. While specific sensor details are absent, Sony’s emphasis on ‘Photo / Video’ suggests a comprehensive camera system. The iQOO 8 Pro’s camera specifications are not detailed, making a direct comparison difficult. However, Sony’s history of advanced image processing and optical stabilization (OIS) suggests a superior experience for professional-level content creation. The Xperia 1 III likely excels in video recording, offering features like 4K HDR and cinematic color profiles. The iQOO 8 Pro may focus more on computational photography for everyday shots.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but the iQOO 8 Pro features the Snapdragon 888+ 5G, clocked slightly higher at 2.99 GHz versus the Xperia 1 III’s 2.84 GHz. While the core architecture (1x Cortex-X1, 3x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55) is identical, the ‘+’ variant generally offers improved thermal performance and sustained clock speeds. Both utilize an octa-core CPU configuration. The iQOO 8 Pro’s potential for less thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions gives it a slight edge, though real-world differences may be minimal. RAM specifications are not provided for either device, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Xperia 1 III boasts an endurance rating of 82 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the iQOO 8 Pro’s 120W wired charging is a standout feature, achieving a full charge in just 18 minutes. The Xperia 1 III’s 30W charging, taking 30 minutes to reach 50%, pales in comparison. The iQOO 8 Pro also offers 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging, features not explicitly mentioned for the Xperia 1 III. While the Xperia 1 III’s battery capacity isn’t specified, the iQOO 8 Pro’s charging speed effectively mitigates concerns about battery size for many users.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 8 Pro if you need blistering fast charging, prioritize gaming performance, and want a phone that can keep up with a demanding lifestyle. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you are a content creator who values exceptional video recording features, a natural color science, and a more refined, cinematic user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the iQOO 8 Pro's 120W charging degrade the battery health over time?
While extremely fast charging can theoretically contribute to battery degradation, modern smartphones employ sophisticated charging management systems to mitigate this. The iQOO 8 Pro likely utilizes these technologies, slowing down the charging rate as the battery nears full capacity to minimize stress. Long-term testing would be needed to assess the actual impact.
❓ Is the Sony Xperia 1 III's camera system optimized for low-light photography?
Sony's Xperia series has consistently performed well in low-light conditions, leveraging its sensor technology and image processing algorithms. The Xperia 1 III likely benefits from these advancements, offering detailed and clear images even in challenging lighting environments. However, specific low-light performance will depend on the aperture and sensor size of the main camera, which are not provided.
❓ Can the iQOO 8 Pro handle graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact at maximum settings?
The Snapdragon 888+ chipset in the iQOO 8 Pro is more than capable of running Genshin Impact at maximum settings. The improved thermal management of the ‘+’ variant should help maintain stable frame rates during extended gaming sessions, minimizing throttling. However, sustained performance will also depend on the phone's cooling system, which is not detailed.