Sony Xperia 1 VIvsSamsung Galaxy S25
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 500 more than the Samsung Galaxy S25. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Sony Xperia 1 VI takes Performance — led by storage (256 GB).
- Samsung Galaxy S25 takes Display — led by peak brightness (2,600 nits).
- 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 S25 takes Price — led by price (799 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 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 6.2 in.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a better camera — 143 pts vs 138 pts.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,000 mAh.
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want faster charging — 30 W vs 25 W.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,050,000 pts vs 2,000,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want a sharper screen — 416 ppi vs 396 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,600 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 if you want a lower price — 799 USD vs 1,299 USD.
At a glance
- Sony Xperia 1 VI
- Samsung Galaxy S25
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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.
Samsung Galaxy S25
Choose Samsung Galaxy S25 if display matters most. It costs USD 799, 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
Samsung Galaxy S25
- Compact size, flagship chip
- Bright 120 Hz display
- 7 years of updates
- 4,000 mAh battery is modest
- 25 W wired charging
- 128 GB base storage