Sony Xperia 1 VIvsNothing Phone (3a) Pro
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 840 more than the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Performance — led by performance score (2,000,000 pts).
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and Sony Xperia 1 VI.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Camera — led by video score (95 pts).
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Price — led by price (459 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 680,000 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a sharper screen — 396 ppi vs 387 ppi.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,300 nits vs 1,200 nits.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want better video quality — 95 pts vs 74 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a better camera — 143 pts vs 116 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a bigger screen — 6.77 in vs 6.5 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want sharper selfies — 50 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want faster charging — 50 W vs 30 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a lower price — 459 USD vs 1,299 USD.
At a glance
- Sony Xperia 1 VI
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
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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.
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if price matters most. It costs USD 459, 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
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- 3x periscope zoom
- Distinctive Glyph design
- Clean software
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is mid-tier
- No wireless charging
- Average low-light video