Sony Xperia 1 V vs. Samsung S23 Ultra: Head-to-Head Comparison
Two titans of the flagship smartphone market go head-to-head in our latest comparison. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is undoubtedly the more popular of the two, having established itself as a household name over the years (next to the Apple iPhones, of course).
However, Sony’s Xperia series does bring its fair share of enthusiasts who insist on a change in the pecking order. Will Sony’s latest high-end smartphone prove to be a challenge?
Retailing at similar prices, here’s how the Sony Xperia 1 V measures up to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
| Sony Xperia 1 V | Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra | |
| Price | RM6,399 | RM6,199 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy |
| Display | 6.5″ 4K OLED, HDR, 3840 x 1644px, 120Hz, 21:9 Wide Display, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | 6.8″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3088 x 1440px, 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Rear Camera | 48MP 1/1.35″ Exmor T (Wide-angle) + 12MP 1/3.5″ Exmor RS (Telephoto) + 12MP 1/2.5″ Exmor RS (Ultra-wide) | 200MP 1/1.3″ (Wide-angle) + 10MP w/ 10x Optical Zoom (Telephoto) + 10MP w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Telephoto) + 12MP (Ultra-wide) |
| Front Camera | 12MP 1/2.9” Exmor RS | 12MP |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB | 512GB |
| Battery & Charging | 5,000mAh, 30W wired charging; Supports wireless charging | 5,000mAh, 45W wired charging; Supports 15W wireless charging |
| Wi-Fi & Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | In-display |
| 3.5mm Jack | Yes | No |
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Resistance | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant |
| Stylus | N/A | Built-in |
It is a battle on many fronts when it comes to these devices. You can easily find the differences in many aspects, from displays, to cameras, to RAM/storage configurations, even down to fingerprint sensor placement.
In developing these phones, both brands will strive to pander towards winning your decision. But ultimately, it comes down to you.
The first thing you have to acknowledge is whether you’re willing to adjust yourself to a narrower device. The 21:9 aspect ratio of the Xperia 1 V defers uniquely from what you find on most other smartphones. It is different, but it can be different in a good way.
Image Credit: GSMArena
As for displays, both brands will have their own ways of framing how one is better than the other, but you’ll get top-notch quality on either choices.
The other main aspect to consider is whether you will have use of a stylus. If your day-to-day involves jotting notes for work or inspiration, you’ll be glad to know the S23 Ultra comes with the S-Pen stylus, which slips in nicely into the built-in silo. The Sony, on the other hand, does not come with a stylus.
A Samsung fan will rave a hundred and one ways about the power of the S23 Ultra’s cameras – and they will all be valid. Boasting four camera sensors with one of them going up to 200MP and the other having 10x optical zoom does win some bragging rights. And we have not even mentioned the 100x zoom yet.
It might have been a clean sweep; lest you forget, Sony is also camera specialist, some would argue more so than a smartphone brand. On paper, the Xperia 1 V displays lesser megapixels, but its Exmor sensors are utilized even on some of its full-fledged interchangeable lens cameras.
Many will say sensors are where the battle is won.
Other areas to consider is whether you’d prefer a side-mounted fingerprint sensor of the Xperia 1 V, or the in-display sensor on the S23 Ultra. Another thing to take note of is that the Xperia 1 V keeps the 3.5mm headphone jack, which has become increasingly uncommon in most flagships today.
And lastly, if you’ve noticed, despite both processors being Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the S23 Ultra has a ‘For Galaxy’ addition. This is because Samsung partnered with Qualcomm to apparently optimize the processor for the S23 Ultra. Make of that what you will.
If you had RM6k++ to spare, which smartphone will you be picking? Let us know!
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