Sony Xperia 1 VIvsiQOO Z9
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 1,000 more than the iQOO Z9. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Performance — led by performance score (2,000,000 pts).
- iQOO Z9 takes Display — led by peak brightness (1,800 nits).
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- iQOO Z9 takes Price — led by price (299 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
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 700,000 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 sharper screen — 396 ppi vs 395 ppi.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want better video quality — 95 pts vs 62 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a better camera — 143 pts vs 92 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose iQOO Z9 if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a bigger screen — 6.67 in vs 6.5 in.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,800 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want sharper selfies — 16 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want faster charging — 44 W vs 30 W.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a lower price — 299 USD vs 1,299 USD.
At a glance
- Sony Xperia 1 VI
- iQOO Z9
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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?
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 1,299.
iQOO Z9
Choose iQOO Z9 if price matters most. It costs USD 299, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Sony Xperia 1 VI
- Continuous optical zoom
- Headphone jack
- Creator tools
- Expensive
- 30 W charging
- Only 3 OS updates
iQOO Z9
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Strong chip for the price
- 44 W charging
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame
- Average low-light camera