Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Powerhouses
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and rapid refueling, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is the clear winner. Its significantly longer battery endurance (58:58h vs 43:30h) and blazing-fast 90W wired and 80W wireless charging outweigh the Sony’s brighter display. However, Sony’s display is still excellent.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi 15 Ultra | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, February 27 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, February 27 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, fiber-reinforced plastic back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 75.3 x 9.4 mm (6.35 x 2.96 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· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 226 g or 229 g (7.97 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, Mohs level 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, 3200 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, HyperOS 2 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional) | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.8, 70mm (telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3x optical zoom 200 MP, f/2.6, 100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 4.3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | - |
| Triple | - | 48 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 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p) | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 5 | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band or tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD3.0, QC3+ 80W wireless 10W reverse wireless | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Market-dependent versions:· Si/C Li-Ion 5410 mAh - Global· Si/C Li-Ion 6000 mAh - China | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Silver Chrome, Green | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | 25010PN30G | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | $ 1,328.84 / £ 889.00 / € 1,099.00 | € 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94 |
| SAR EU | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 58:58h endurance, 1000 cycles | 43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | Class A | Class B |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | Class B (181 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class D |
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- Exceptional battery endurance (58:58h)
- Blazing-fast 90W wired and 80W wireless charging
- 1000 battery charge cycles for longevity
- Display brightness and technology details are unknown
- Camera specifications are not provided
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- High peak display brightness (1475 nits)
- Likely excellent color accuracy and OLED panel quality
- Sony’s imaging expertise suggests a strong camera system
- Significantly lower battery endurance (43:30h)
- Slower 30W wired and 15W wireless charging
- Fewer battery charge cycles (1400)
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII distinguishes itself with a measured peak brightness of 1475 nits, offering superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (brightness data unavailable, but likely lower). While the Xiaomi’s panel technology isn’t specified, the Sony’s likely utilizes a high-quality OLED panel optimized for color accuracy. The Xperia 1 VII’s display is geared towards content creators and viewers who demand the best possible visual experience. The absence of detailed display specs for the Xiaomi makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Sony clearly leads in peak brightness.
Camera Comparison
Camera details are absent beyond the device names. Given Sony’s history with imaging sensors and the Xperia line’s focus on photography, the Xperia 1 VII likely features a more sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing algorithms. However, without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, it’s impossible to definitively declare a winner. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra may prioritize computational photography and AI enhancements, but the Sony’s expertise in optics and sensor technology gives it a potential edge. We can assume both will offer excellent image quality, but the Sony likely leans towards a more natural look, while the Xiaomi may boost saturation and contrast.
Performance
Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 VII are powered by the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with 2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores. This ensures comparable raw processing power. However, the Xiaomi’s superior thermal management (implied by its larger battery and potentially more efficient cooling system) could lead to sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. RAM specifications are missing for both, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5x for fast memory access.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra dominates in battery endurance with a remarkable 58:58h rating, significantly exceeding the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s 43:30h. This translates to a full day of heavy use with power to spare. The Xiaomi also boasts a significantly faster charging solution: 90W wired, 80W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless, compared to the Sony’s 30W wired and 15W wireless. The Xiaomi can achieve a 50% charge in a fraction of the time, while the Sony takes 30 minutes for the same. The Xiaomi’s 1000 charge cycles suggest a longer lifespan, while the Sony’s 1400 cycles indicate a focus on long-term battery health, but the initial endurance gap is substantial.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi 15 Ultra if you need all-day battery life, even with heavy usage, and value the convenience of incredibly fast charging. This phone is ideal for power users, travelers, and anyone who dislikes battery anxiety. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prioritize a top-tier display experience for media consumption and creative work, and are willing to trade some battery endurance for that visual fidelity. It’s the better choice for cinephiles and photographers who demand color accuracy.