Xiaomi 15vsSony Xperia 1 VI
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Xiaomi 15 wins
Verdict
Xiaomi 15 wins 5 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Xiaomi 15 is the overall winner, 5 / 5 — camera is its standout. At USD 899, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Xiaomi 15 takes Performance — led by performance score (2,500,000 pts).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Display — led by peak brightness (3,200 nits).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Battery — led by charging speed (90 W).
- Xiaomi 15 takes Price — led by price (899 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want…
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,500,000 pts vs 2,000,000 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a sharper screen — 460 ppi vs 396 ppi.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,200 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a better camera — 147 pts vs 143 pts.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want longer battery life — 5,400 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want faster charging — 90 W vs 30 W.
- Choose Xiaomi 15 if you want a lower price — 899 USD vs 1,299 USD.
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want…
- Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if you want a bigger screen — 6.5 in vs 6.36 in.
At a glance
- Xiaomi 15
- 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?
Xiaomi 15
Choose Xiaomi 15 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 899, the lowest price in this group.
Sony Xperia 1 VI
Choose Sony Xperia 1 VI if camera matters most. It costs USD 1,299.
Pros & cons
Xiaomi 15
- Elite chipset
- 90 W charging
- Compact flagship
- HyperOS bloatware
- Limited availability
- No charger in box
Sony Xperia 1 VI
- Continuous optical zoom
- Headphone jack
- Creator tools
- Expensive
- 30 W charging
- Only 3 OS updates