The Xperia 1 VI went mainstream with its new aspect ratio and simplified camera controls. Can it challenge the iPhone 15 Pro Max?
Intro
Sonny rattled some feathers with the official announcement of the Xperia 1 VI on May 15. The phone drops two of Xperia’s most iconic features: the 4K screen and the 21:9 aspect ratio. The Japanese company hopes that by doing this, it will cater to a wider audience, and maybe, just maybe, some people will buy the Xperia 1 VI instead of, let’s say, the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Today, we’re going to explore this idea in detail. Is the Xperia 1 VI properly equipped to take on the iPhone 15 Pro Max? What are the main differences between the two phones? And which one should you buy? To find answers to these pressing questions, read on!
Xperia 1 VI vs iPhone 15 Pro Max differences:
Xperia 1 VIiPhone 15 Pro Max
6.5-inches, FHD+ resolution, LTPO screen with 1-120Hz refresh rate Bigger screen with a higher resolution, same 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate
New 19.5:9 aspect ratio, top and bottom bezels still present Almost no bezels around the screen but Dynamic Island spoils it
New zoom capabilities on the periscope camera, it can now do 85-170mm Telephoto camera has only 5x zoom
The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 onboard The latest Apple A17 Pro chipset
New camera app, housing all the pro-grade creator’s software iOS 17 with its usual pros and cons
Bigger battery, two days battery life advertised Smaller battery
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
Display Differences
Performance
Camera
Audio Quality
Battery and Charging
Specs
Summary
Read more:
Sony Xperia 1 VI Preview: Xperia goes mainstream?
Sony Xperia 1 VI vs Xperia 1 V: The Times They Are a-Changin’
Design and SizeBezel vs island
These two animals are radically different when you put them side by side, no matter the new and more mainstream aspect ratio of the Xperia 1 VI. This phone looks like a Sony, and it retains the top and bottom bezels around the screen instead of going for a notch or a cutout.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, employs the so-called Dynamic Island, which is just a pill-shaped cutout with some fancy software on top to mask it from time to time.
The camera bumps on both phones are also radically different. The Xperia follows in the footsteps of a long line of vertically positioned, elongated camera systems, while the iPhone uses a squarish design.
When it comes to materials, there are differences again. The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with a titanium frame, while the Xperia 1 VI uses aluminum. Even though both phones use glass, they feel different in the hand because Sony does this texture thing with the Gorilla Glass Armor.
Size-wise, the iPhone is still shorter and wider than the Sony by around two millimeters, but it’s also 30 grams heavier.
Both devices use different design routes to get to the smartphone result, and it’s up to you which one you will go for.
Display Differences
Here comes the big one. The Xperia 1 VI sports a 6.5-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution (1080×2340) and a flexible refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120Hz. This offers around 396 PPI, which isn’t the best pixel density for a flagship phone. The aspect ratio is now 19.5:9, similar to what you find in many modern premium phones, including the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Speaking of the iPhone, it comes with a bigger screen at 6.7 inches and also has higher resolution and pixel density—2796 x 1290 and 460 PPI, respectively.
