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In this article, we’ll compare the very best of Google and Sony in 2023. We’ll compare the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Sony Xperia 1 V, the two flagship smartphones that launched this year. The Sony Xperia 1 V was announced back in May and released towards the end of July. The Pixel 8 Pro was both announced and released in October. They’re both quite powerful smartphones but very, very different.
We’ve recently compared the Google Pixel 8 vs Sony Xperia 5 V, in case you’re interested in more compact devices. Having said that, we’ll first list the specifications of the two smartphones, and will then compare them via a bunch of other categories. Those categories include design, display, performance, battery, cameras, and audio. So, without further ado, let’s get going.
Specs
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 V, respectively
– Screen size:
6.7-inch Super Actua AMOLED display (flat, 120Hz LTPO, HDR10+, 2,400 nits)
6.5-inch OLED display (flat, 120Hz LTPO, HDR)
– Display resolution:
2992 x 1344
3840 x 1644
– SoC:
Google Tensor G3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
– RAM:
12GB (LPDDR5X)
12GB (LPDDR5X)
– Storage:
128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 3.1)
256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0)
– Rear cameras:
50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1.2um pixel size, OIS), 48MP (ultrawide, f/1.95 aperture, 125.5-degree FoV, 0.8um pixel size), 48MP (telephoto, f/2.8 aperture, 0.7um pixel size, 5x optical zoom)
48MP (f/1.9 aperture, 1.12um pixel size, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS), 12MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF), 12MP (f/2.3 aperture, Dual Pixel PDAF, 2.5x-5.2x continuous zoom)
– Front cameras:
10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size)
12MP (f/2.0 aperture, 1.25um pixel size)
– Battery:
5,050mAh
5,000mAh
– Charging:
30W wired, 23W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
30W wired, 15W wireless, reverse wireless (charger not included)
– Dimensions (unfolded):
162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8mm
165 x 71 x 8.3mm
– Weight:
213 grams
187 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) & Face Unlock
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
– OS:
Android 14
Android 13 (upgradable to Android 14)
– Price:
$999+
$1,399.99 (often discounted to around $1,000)
– Buy:
Best Buy
Amazon
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Design
The design differences between these two phones are easily visible at first glance. The Pixel 8 Pro has very thin bezels, a centered display camera hole, and is rather curvy. The Sony Xperia 1 V doesn’t have a display camera hole or notch, but it has a bit thicker bezels at the top and bottom, even though they’re still rather thin. The frame is also flat all around on this phone, which is not the case on Google’s flagship.
The in-hand feel with these two devices is entirely different due to all this. They’re both quite slippery, but the Pixel 8 Pro kind of feels more ergonomic due to all the curves. Both devices do have three cameras on the back, though their camera modules are different. The Pixel 8 Pro features a camera visor on the back, which spans from the left side of the frame to the right. Oh, and it’s covered by metal.
The Sony Xperia 1 V has a more regular-looking camera island, which is also smaller. It sits in the top-left corner of the phone’s back. It’s not exactly inferior just because it’s smaller, though, not at all. The Xperia 1 V also has a physical shutter button on the right-hand side. The Pixel 8 Pro is considerably heavier in comparison, as it weighs 213 grams, compared to 187 grams of the Xperia 1 V.
In terms of dimensions, the Pixel 8 Pro is slightly shorter, quite a bit wider, and slightly thicker. The Xperia 1 V does have a slightly smaller display and a different display aspect ratio, it’s very tall and narrow. Both smartphones do offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance, by the way. They both also feel like premium devices, as they should.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Display
There is a 6.7-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED display included on the Pixel 8 Pro. That display is flat, and it supports a 120Hz refresh rate. HDR10+ content is also supported on this panel, and the display goes up to 2,400 nits when it comes to brightness. It has a 20:9 display aspect ratio, and around 87% screen-to-body ratio. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning is included to protect this panel.
The Sony Xperia 1 V, on the other hand, has a 6.5-inch 4K (3840 x 1644) OLED panel. That display is not operating at 4K at all times, though, of course, only when you’re consuming content in 4K. This panel also supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR content as well. The display aspect ratio is 21:9, and Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is included here for protection purposes. The screen-to-body ratio on the Xperia 1 V is around 84%.
Both of these displays are great in basically every way. The colors are vivid, the viewing angles are great, and the blacks are deep. They offer great touch response, and both displays are plenty sharp. Of course, the Xperia 1 V’s panel is sharper, and some people may be able to tell the difference, but truth be said, it’s not that easy on this display size. One advantage that the Pixel 8 Pro has is the fact its display does get brighter. The Xperia 1 V is bright enough, though, so… well, you’ll be good to go with either of these two panels, in all honesty.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Performance
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is fueled by the Google Tensor G3 SoC. The company also included 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Xperia 1 V, on the flip side, comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 4.0 flash storage. Sony’s flagship technically has a more powerful processor, and it also has faster and more efficient storage.
Do note that the Tensor G3 has been crafted especially for Pixels, and it has a ton of AI capabilities. What I’m trying to say is, that both of these phones do offer outstanding performance. The Xperia 1 V is slightly faster when it comes to opening apps, multitasking, and so on, but the difference will only be noticeable if you’re using them side by side. Both smartphones offer great performance.
One area where you may notice a difference is in gaming. The Xperia 1 V is definitely the better phone for that, even though the Pixel 8 Pro can handle pretty much anything out there If you’re planning on playing the most graphically-intensive titles from the Google Play Store, the Xperia 1 V is the better choice though. Overall, however, not many people will have complaints about either device.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Battery
When it comes to battery capacity, the Pixel 8 Pro includes a 5,050mAh unit, while the Sony Xperia 1 V comes with a 5,000mAh battery. Those are good battery capacities for these two phones, but is the battery life any good? Well, yes, it is, on both smartphones. At first, we didn’t exactly have great battery life on the Pixel 8 Pro. The battery life jumped from 6 to 7.5 hours of screen-on-time. After a few weeks, however, things got much better and we were able to get over 7 hours of screen-on-time consistently.
The Sony Xperia 1 V, on the other hand, offers great battery life too. Getting over 7-7.5 hours of screen-on-time is doable if you’re not a gamer. Gaming will, of course, lower these numbers quite a bit, when it comes to both devices. Your mileage may vary, but even with considerable use in a single day, you can pull out great screen-on-time, consistently. Neither phone disappoints in that regard.
In terms of charging, they’re not all that different. Both smartphones support 30W wired charging (PD3.0, PPS), which is not particularly fast considering the industry standard these days, but there you have it. When it comes to wireless charging, the Pixel 8 Pro does have the upper hand. It offers wireless charging up to 23W, compared to 15W charging on the Xperia 1 V. Yes, both smartphones also support reverse wireless charging, albeit very slow. A charger is not included in either retail box, you’ll need to get one yourself.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 V: Cameras
Both smartphones include three cameras on the back. The Pixel 8 Pro has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (126-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Xperia 1 V, on the other hand, features a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto unit (3.5x-5.2x continuous optical zoom).
Are they any good? Well, yes, in fact, these are some of the best smartphones for taking pictures and videos in the market. The Pixel 8 Pro images do end up looking more contrasty and processed, in a good way, while the Xperia 1 V does keep them a bit closer to real life, but they still pop. They’re very detailed during the daytime, and both smartphones managed to keep everything sharp and well-balanced. They both shine in the HDR department as well. The Pixel 8 Pro is capable of providing a bit more details with its ultrawide and telephoto cameras, but the difference is not that big. They both do a great job.
In low light, the Pixel 8 Pro tends to brighten up scenes a bit more. The Xperia 1 V does keep things a bit darker, but that’s something some people will prefer, as the pictures end up looking a bit more realistic. There are plenty of details, though, in low light, from both smartphones. They both balance things out well. The quality drops off with secondary and tertiary cameras, but all three shooters do a great job in low light, on both smartphones. There’s really not much to complain about here.
Audio
You will spot a set of stereo speakers on both smartphones. The sound quality coming from them is good in both cases, but the Xperia 1 V’s speakers are a bit louder. The difference is not that big, but it’s worth noting.
When it comes to an audio jack, if you need it, the Xperia 1 V is your only choice. The Pixel 8 Pro doesn’t include it, but you can always use its Type-C port for audio connections. Bluetooth 5.3 is an option on both smartphones, for wireless audio connectivity.