Samsung Galaxy S23vsSony Xperia 1 VI
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Sony Xperia 1 VI wins
Verdict
Sony Xperia 1 VI wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Sony Xperia 1 VI is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 1,299 — USD 750 more than the Samsung Galaxy S23. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Display — led by pixel density (425 ppi).
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Camera — led by camera score (143 pts).
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Battery — led by battery (5,000 mAh).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Price — led by price (549 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a sharper screen — 425 ppi vs 396 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,750 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a lower price — 549 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want…
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,000,000 pts vs 1,500,000 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a bigger screen — 6.5 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want better video quality — 95 pts vs 93 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a better camera — 143 pts vs 135 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 3,900 mAh.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want faster charging — 30 W vs 25 W.
At a glance
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Sony Xperia 1 VI
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Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Samsung Galaxy S23
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if price matters most. It costs USD 549, the lowest price in this group.
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
Samsung Galaxy S23
- Compact size
- 3x telephoto
- Big discount
- 3,900 mAh battery
- 25 W charging
- Aging chipset
Sony Xperia 1 VI
- Continuous optical zoom
- Headphone jack
- Creator tools
- Expensive
- 30 W charging
- Only 3 OS updates