Weight: 185 grams
Dimensions: 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm
Screen Size: 6.5 in
Precision: 1644 x 3840
CPU: Snapdragon 8 of the first generation
RAM: 12 GB
storage: 256 GB / 512 GB
battery: 5000 mAh
back camera: 12 mega pixel camera + 12 mega pixel camera + 12 mega pixel camera
front camera: 12 megapixels
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is a specialist phone that excels in video watching with its 4K display and for serious photographers who want to get the most out of their camera hardware.
It’s a powerful phone too, but its price tag is quite high and the fact that it’s not the ideal choice for web browsing or point-and-shoot photography means it’s not the right choice for everyone.
to
- Great continuous zoom
- 4K screen
- strong
against
- slow in shipping
- Incredibly high price
- Boring design
Weight: 212 gr
Dimensions: 162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm
Screen Size: 6.7 inches
Precision: 1440 x 3120
CPU: G2 tensor
RAM: 12 GB
storage: 128 GB / 256 GB
battery: 5000 mAh
back camera: 50MP + 48MP + 12MP
front camera: 10.8 megapixels
The Google Pixel 7 Pro is a great all-rounder that’s easy to use and perfect in most circumstances.
Its screen isn’t as sharp as the Xperia 1 IV, its camera has less impressive components, and it’s not quite as powerful, but in most day-to-day use it has everything you need, and thanks to clean and smart software, it’s a joy to use. It’s also cheaper than Sony.
to
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Great camera
- Quick interface
against
- Less powerful than Sony
- There is no continuous zoom
- Lower resolution screen
There has never been more choice at the top of the smartphone market. Case in point: Sony Xperia 1 IV and Google Pixel 7 Pro.
One is a power user’s dream, offering unparalleled manual control and an almost obsessive focus on improving the media playback experience. Other sports have an unprecedented degree of intelligent automation, which makes even advanced tasks seem easy.
So what is the most complete smartphone vision? What is the best device for most people? We’ve used both phones extensively, so let’s see if we can come to a final verdict.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Price and availability
The Sony Xperia 1 IV arrived in the UK and Europe on 16th June 2022, with a launch in the US on 1st September. It is not available in Australia.
The US gets the range-topping 512GB model, which costs $1,599. In the UK and Europe, we got the 256GB model for £1,299.
The Pixel 7 Pro hits the market on October 13, 2022. Prices start at $899 / £849 / AU$1,299 for the 128GB model, while you can also double your storage to 256GB for $999 / £949 / AU$1,449 Australia.
In terms of price and availability, then, it’s a comfortable win for the Pixel 7 Pro.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Pixel 7 Pro: Design
Neither of these phones can be accused of sporting revolutionary designs, as they both look a lot like their immediate predecessors.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV looks almost identical to the Xperia 1 III, with the same flat surfaces and matte aluminum edge. While it’s simple in appearance, you’ll immediately notice its length, thanks to its 21:9 screen and thick bezels.
On the downside, this makes the Xperia 1 IV look a bit outdated, while web and app content can feel a little pushy. On the plus side, it has room for true front-facing stereo speakers, and no unsightly display cutout or punch-hole.
Google’s design is more polished, with a curved screen and a glossy camera covering the display “mask”. It’s just too much fingerprinting and scratching for our liking, but it’s undeniably attractive. This time around, the aforementioned camera visor is all-metal, melting from the phone’s aluminum frame.
The Sony might be a bit taller, but at 165 x 71 x 8.2mm, it’s narrower and thinner than the 162.9 x 76.55 x 8.9mm Pixel 7 Pro. It’s also slightly lighter at 185g, compared to the Google Phone’s 212g.
There are different methods of fingerprint sensors in play here. Sony packs the biometric sensor into the power button on the right edge, while Google uses the display. Google’s system is arguably more advanced, and allows you to unlock the phone when it’s sitting on a table, but we don’t have much preference either way.
The Sony phone features a wider range of physical controls and ports. This includes a two-stage camera shutter button and a 3.5mm headphone jack, reflecting its enthusiastic focus.
Both phones have IP68 certification, but Sony goes one step further with the additional IP65 certification. They will probably do better if a lot of water is present.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Display
These are two of the best screens on the market, but there’s undoubtedly more to talk about with the Xperia 1 IV.
Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate, and Sony’s screen is slightly smaller than Google’s at 6.5 inches instead of 6.7 inches. However, it’s also much sharper, with a rare 4K (1644 x 3840) resolution.
This difference isn’t particularly noticeable in use, and the Pixel 7 Pro’s QHD+ (1440 x 3120) resolution is arguably overkill in and of itself. But that means the Xperia 1 IV is the only 2022 flagship that can play 4K video content at its native resolution.
With a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio, widescreen movies will be border-free, and there’s no notch or hole in the way either.
It’s also a positive point that the Sony Xperia 1 IV’s screen is flat, while Google has opted for a glossier curved display – but it’s visually compromised and more physically exposed.
However, Google Screen is better suited to other forms of content. Web browsing and everyday apps give you more room to breathe with the Pixel 7 Pro.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Pixel 7 Pro: Camera
Both phones can be considered camera specialists, but in very different ways.
The Xperia 1 IV is all about manual control and professional use, with a physical shutter button, in-depth manual camera user interface and Sony’s low-intrusive image processing.
Google’s approach is all about point-and-shoot excellence, with the most advanced image processing on the market resulting in eerily crisp and clear shots in all conditions.
In terms of hardware, Sony gives you three 12MP sensors, while Google runs a 50MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, and 48MP.
This may seem like Google has the edge on specs, but Sony is ahead when it comes to zoom capabilities at least. The Xperia 1 IV is the first camera capable of continuous physical zoom between 70mm and 125mm, which works out to between 3.5x and 5.2x. At the other angle, the Pixel 7 Pro should do a 5x steady telephoto job.
Sony also benefits from the fastest and most advanced autofocus system on the market. This is the benefit of having the prestigious Sony Alpha camera division on speed dial.
However, if we shoot and forget — which is where most people tend to use their smartphones — we’d much rather have the Pixel 7 Pro in our pocket. It always came up with the right shot, and never seemed to miss focus or expose our subject.
The Google Phone is also the king of night mode, as it results in low-light shots of uncanny clarity. Sony doesn’t even have a dedicated night mode, though some might prefer the way it retains a real sense of shadows.
Google wins the selfie round, too, with a new 10.8MP selfie camera that includes autofocus, which Sony’s 12MP example doesn’t. Auto focus generally means a sharper, more defined target.
There’s a completely different approach to color science here, and it’s largely a matter of taste. Sony uses a natural color palette that will satisfy passionate photographers, but may disappoint casual users who want their shots to stand out on social media. Google is better suited to the latter scenario, with cooler shots and more contrast.
In fact, Google’s processing tricks — thanks to a dedicated Tensor G2 chip — are the whole point with the Pixel 7 Pro. Photo Unblur magically sharpens blurry shots, while Magic Eraser lets you remove unwanted background elements from view. It doesn’t always work, but when it does, it’s amazing.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Pixel 7 Pro: Specifications and performance
Sony uses a first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 chipset off the shelf for the Xperia 1 IV, while Google has produced its own Tensor G2 chipset.
If we were to sum up the difference in a sentence, it would be this: Sony’s approach yields superior CPU and GPU performance, while Google allows smarter AI tricks like real-time mirroring.
The Xperia 1 IV outperforms the Pixel 7 Pro in all benchmarks, and it will be our choice if we want to indulge in an intense gaming session. In everyday terms, however, the Pixel 7 Pro feels just as fast.
Both phones have 12GB of RAM as standard, which is enough to keep multiple apps sluggish to move between them. However, neither phone is blessed with storage options. The Xperia 1 IV offers 512GB in the US and 256GB elsewhere, which isn’t ideal, while Google only offers a choice of 128GB or 256GB.
The other distinguishing point is related to software. Google’s provision of Android is unquestionable, providing a clean user interface that’s completely free of bloat. Sony’s additions are relatively light compared to some of the third-party Android manufacturers, but they still feel quite squeaky compared to this or any other Pixel.
On top of that, Sony promised just two Android updates and three years of security patches. Google promises three years of Android upgrades and five years of security upgrades.
Sony Xperia 1 IV vs Pixel 7 Pro: Battery
Both phones are powered by large 5,000mAh batteries, and both offer more or less endurance.
In our Sony Xperia 1 IV review, we noted that the phone “reliably saw us through a full day of standard use, whether that meant a quick check of social media now and then, regular text messages, using Google Maps and streaming music.”
In our Google Pixel 7 Pro review, we noted that “At the end of the day, we have 10-20% battery left if we don’t take a lot of photos that day.”
Those are two different ways of saying basically the same thing: These phones will help you get through a full day of use fairly comfortably.
We can’t separate the two when it comes to recharging either. Both support up to 30W wired charging and 15W Qi wireless charging. Neither is particularly impressive in a world where there are flagship Android phones with 120W charging, but it’s not a big deal.
away
These are two excellent Android flagship phones with great screens, cameras, and performance. However, you can go deeper into the details, and it’s really different.
The Sony Xperia 1 IV is an enthusiast’s gadget, with a very flexible and functional camera system, and a 21:9 4K screen that screams for 4K movie viewing.
On the other hand, the Pixel 7 Pro is a mainstream phone that’s easy to use day in and day out, whether it’s snapping effortlessly clear photos or using its intuitive and colorful user interface.
Because of its broad appeal, all-around uniqueness, and remarkably low price, we have to give the Pixel 7 Pro the win. It provides quite a bit of bang for your buck.
But if you’re someone who obsessed with image composition and media playback standards, you couldn’t do better than Sony’s Pro-tier phone.