vivo X60 Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 III: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The vivo X60 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 III represent distinct philosophies in the flagship Android space. The X60 Pro, leveraging the Snapdragon 870, aimed for a balance of performance and value, while the Xperia 1 III, with the Snapdragon 888, targeted enthusiasts with a focus on pro-level camera features and a cinematic experience. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a smooth, efficient experience, the vivo X60 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 91-hour endurance rating and Snapdragon 870 chipset offer a compelling package. However, the Xperia 1 III caters to a niche audience demanding advanced camera controls and a premium multimedia experience.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X60 Pro Sony Xperia 1 III
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International1, 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, 7, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 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
 1, 3, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific)
Launch
Announced2021, March 222021, April 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, April 02Available. Released 2021, August 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Schott Xensation Up), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions158.6 x 73.2 x 7.6 mm (6.24 x 2.88 x 0.30 in)165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight179 g (6.31 oz)186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionSchott Xensation UpCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Funtouch 11.1Android 11, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, Pixel Shift, LED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Quad48 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, gimbal OIS 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", 0.8µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide)-
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/2.3, 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)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 Virtual proximity sensingNative Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging33W wired30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
Type4200 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Shimmer BlueFrosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple
ModelsV2046XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72
PriceAbout 570 EUR€ 505.26 / $ 903.43
SAR0.53 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 91h Endurance rating 82h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.6 LUFS (Good) -26.5 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 734811 (v8) GeekBench: 3749 (v5.1) GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo X60 Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (91h endurance)
  • More affordable price point
  • Efficient Snapdragon 870 chipset

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Lower peak display brightness

Sony Xperia 1 III

  • Pro-grade camera features and manual controls
  • 120Hz display for smoother visuals
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Potential for thermal throttling with Snapdragon 888
  • Slightly lower battery endurance (82h)

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 III’s 620 nits of measured brightness falls short of the vivo X60 Pro’s 818 nits, meaning the X60 Pro will offer superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical of OLED panels, but the Xperia 1 III’s focus on color accuracy, a Sony hallmark, may appeal to professionals. While neither spec sheet details refresh rate, the Xperia 1 III is known for its 120Hz panel, a feature absent from the X60 Pro. This impacts scrolling smoothness and gaming responsiveness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but their approaches differ. While both are capable of Photo and Video, the Xperia 1 III’s strength lies in its manual controls and pro-level features, leveraging Sony’s Alpha camera technology. The X60 Pro, while capable, focuses on computational photography and ease of use. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Xperia 1 III’s emphasis on optical image stabilization (OIS) and variable telephoto lenses suggests a more sophisticated photographic experience. The X60 Pro likely relies more heavily on software processing.

Performance

The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts the Snapdragon 888 (5nm) versus the vivo X60 Pro’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The 5nm process theoretically provides better power efficiency, but the 888 is known for thermal throttling under sustained load. The Xperia 1 III’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz) offers a performance edge in single-core tasks, while the X60 Pro’s Kryo 585 (3.2 GHz) is competitive. Real-world performance will depend on thermal management, and the X60 Pro’s larger process node may offer more consistent performance over extended periods. Both utilize octa-core CPUs, but the architectural differences favor the Xperia 1 III in raw processing power.

Battery Life

The Xperia 1 III’s 82-hour endurance rating is marginally better than the X60 Pro’s 91-hour rating, a surprising result given the more power-efficient chipset in the Xperia. This suggests the X60 Pro’s software optimization and potentially larger battery capacity (not specified) contribute to its longer runtime. The Xperia 1 III offers 30W wired charging with a 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside wireless and reverse wireless charging. The X60 Pro’s 33W wired charging is slightly faster, but lacks wireless charging options. The X60 Pro’s superior endurance rating mitigates the lack of wireless charging for many users.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X60 Pro if you need exceptional battery life, a consistently smooth user experience, and a more affordable price point. It’s ideal for daily drivers, social media enthusiasts, and those who value longevity. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you prioritize professional-grade camera features, a truly immersive multimedia experience with its display, and don't mind managing battery life more carefully. It’s geared towards photographers, videographers, and content creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Xperia 1 III overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 870. While Sony implemented cooling solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings can lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance. The X60 Pro’s Snapdragon 870 is less prone to this issue, offering more consistent performance over time.
❓ How does the camera processing differ between the vivo X60 Pro and the Sony Xperia 1 III?
The vivo X60 Pro leans towards computational photography, enhancing images with software algorithms for vibrant colors and improved detail. The Xperia 1 III prioritizes a more natural look, offering greater control over image parameters and preserving detail for post-processing. It's geared towards users who prefer to edit their photos themselves.
❓ Is the lack of wireless charging on the vivo X60 Pro a significant drawback?
For users heavily reliant on wireless charging, it is. However, the X60 Pro’s exceptional battery life (91h endurance) mitigates this issue for many. The 33W wired charging is still relatively fast, and the longer battery life reduces the frequency of needing to charge.
❓ What kind of user would benefit most from the Xperia 1 III's cinematic features?
The Xperia 1 III's 21:9 display and pro-video features are ideal for content creators and cinephiles. The ability to record in 4K HDR and utilize manual controls makes it a powerful tool for filmmaking and video editing on the go.