Sony Xperia 1 VII vs. vivo X90 Pro: A Flagship Face-Off

The Sony Xperia 1 VII represents a continuation of Sony’s pro-focused smartphone approach, while the vivo X90 Pro aims to deliver a premium experience with a focus on speed and convenience. This comparison pits Sony’s refined, cinematic approach against vivo’s aggressive charging and powerful chipset, offering a choice between a creator-centric device and a performance powerhouse.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and incredibly fast charging, the vivo X90 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 96-hour endurance rating and 120W charging significantly outperform the Xperia 1 VII. However, the Xperia 1 VII’s Snapdragon 8 Elite and superior display brightness cater to power users and content creators.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X90 Pro Sony Xperia 1 VII
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
Launch
Announced2022, November 222025, May 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 06Available. Released 2025, June 04
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frame, eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions164.1 x 74.5 x 9.3 mm (6.46 x 2.93 x 0.37 in)162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight214.9 g (7.58 oz)197 g (6.95 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.05 GHz Cortex-X3 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9200 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G715 MC11Adreno 830
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14 (Global), OriginOS 3 (China)Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 4.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm-
Triple50.3 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.6, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.4", 0.7µm, AF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 108˚ 16mm (ultrawide), AF48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 48 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 8 min 50W wireless Reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless
Type4870 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsLegendary Black, RedMoss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black
ModelsV2242A, V2219XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256
PriceAbout 1200 EUR€ 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 96h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.5 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 1228735 (v9) GeekBench: 4273 (v5.1) GFXBench: 74fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-
EU LABEL
Battery-43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles
Energy-Class B
Free fall-Class B (181 falls)
Repairability-Class D

vivo X90 Pro

  • Incredibly fast 120W charging
  • Exceptional 96-hour battery endurance
  • Reverse wireless charging capability
  • Potentially competitive camera system (details pending)

  • Chipset is a generation behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Display brightness lower than the Xperia 1 VII
  • Limited display specifications (refresh rate, panel type)

Sony Xperia 1 VII

  • Top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite performance
  • Significantly brighter display for HDR content
  • Long-term battery health with 1400 charge cycles
  • Sony’s renowned camera image processing

  • Slower 30W charging speed
  • Lower battery endurance rating compared to the X90 Pro
  • Higher price point likely

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a significantly brighter display at 1475 nits, exceeding the vivo X90 Pro’s 934 nits. This brightness advantage translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both displays feature an infinite contrast ratio, the Xperia 1 VII’s higher peak brightness is crucial for HDR content consumption and professional photo/video editing. The X90 Pro’s display specifications lack details on refresh rate or panel technology, suggesting a standard experience compared to the Xperia’s likely LTPO OLED panel, offering variable refresh rates for power efficiency.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are positioned as camera-centric, but details are limited. The lack of specific sensor information for the vivo X90 Pro makes a direct comparison difficult. However, Sony’s history suggests a focus on image quality and color science, likely leveraging a large sensor with advanced image processing. The Xperia 1 VII’s camera system benefits from Sony’s expertise in image sensor technology and processing algorithms. Without detailed specs on the X90 Pro’s camera, it’s difficult to assess its capabilities beyond ‘Photo/Video’ functionality. The Xperia 1 VII’s pro-grade features, such as manual controls and advanced video recording options, cater to experienced photographers and videographers.

Performance

The Xperia 1 VII’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency over the vivo X90 Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 9200 (4nm). The Snapdragon 8 Elite utilizes Oryon V2 Phoenix cores, offering higher clock speeds (up to 4.32 GHz) and improved IPC compared to the Cortex-X3 in the Dimensity 9200. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 3nm process node further enhances thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While the Dimensity 9200 is no slouch, the Snapdragon 8 Elite provides a clear advantage for demanding users.

Battery Life

The vivo X90 Pro’s 96-hour endurance rating is a standout feature, significantly exceeding the Xperia 1 VII’s 43:30h endurance. This difference is partially offset by the Xperia 1 VII’s larger battery capacity (unspecified, but implied to be larger than what’s needed for 43:30h) and its impressive 1400 charge cycles, promising long-term battery health. However, the X90 Pro’s 120W wired charging (50% in 8 minutes) is dramatically faster than the Xperia 1 VII’s 30W charging (50% in 30 minutes). The X90 Pro also offers 50W wireless charging and reverse wired charging, features absent or less powerful on the Xperia 1 VII.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X90 Pro if you need exceptional battery life, blazing-fast charging, and a consistently smooth experience for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prioritize top-tier processing power for demanding applications, a brighter and more color-accurate display for content creation, and a longer-term battery health promise with its 1400 cycle lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 9200 in the vivo X90 Pro experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 9200 is a powerful chipset, its 4nm process node is less efficient than the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite. This means the X90 Pro is more likely to experience thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding gaming sessions, potentially leading to reduced performance over time. However, vivo’s cooling solutions may mitigate this to some extent.
❓ How does the 1400 charge cycle rating of the Xperia 1 VII impact long-term battery health compared to the X90 Pro?
The Xperia 1 VII’s 1400 charge cycle rating indicates a greater emphasis on long-term battery health. This means the battery is designed to retain a higher percentage of its original capacity after a significantly larger number of charge cycles compared to a typical smartphone battery. While the X90 Pro’s fast charging is convenient, it may contribute to faster battery degradation over several years of use.
❓ Is the lack of a high refresh rate display on the vivo X90 Pro noticeable for everyday use?
Without confirmed specifications, it's likely the X90 Pro features a standard 60Hz or 90Hz display. Users accustomed to 120Hz or higher refresh rates on devices like the Xperia 1 VII may notice a difference in smoothness, particularly when scrolling through content or playing fast-paced games. However, for many users, the difference may not be significant.