Sony Xperia 1 VII vs Xiaomi 15S Pro
Verdict
Sony Xperia 1 VII and Xiaomi 15S Pro tie on the OH Rank at a score of 72. Sony Xperia 1 VII wins on Main Camera and SD Memory; Xiaomi 15S Pro wins on Performance and Battery. Xiaomi 15S Pro is 1.3mm wider than Sony Xperia 1 VII. Sony Xperia 1 VII is the more recent release, from Jun 2025.
Score Breakdown
Performance /15
Battery /15
Screen /15
IP Protection /15
Main Camera /15
Selfie /5
Video /5
SD Memory /5
Software /5
Desktop Replacement /5
TOTAL
72
72
Sony Xperia 1 VII
74mm (2.91in) · Jun 2025 · Rank #75
9+10+8+12+14+3+3+5+5+3 = 72
FLY* TOP Software* TOP Memory Expansion* TOP Camera
EDITORIAL: Sony seems unsure about the direction of it's mobile business. This year's Xperia announcement didn't introduce Xperia 10 VII- their midrange phone. Xperia 5 V from 2023 was the last compact flagship Sony put out and now they seem to have slimmed their model range from 3 to just 1. The 1 VII is still a great phone. It's hardware is unique and more functional then any other flagship phone. Great grip and a bright screen, forward facing stereo speakers, hi quality headphone jack, SDmemory - this phone offers so much value. The battery life is still a great affair, cameras are as good as ever (tho selfie lacks AF) and software is simple, elegant and bloatware-free.
PROs
excellent build and grip, relatively narrow (easier to use one hand) body, headphone/microphone jack, tool-less SD card slot for quick memory expansion, dedicated two-step camera button, fast SnapDragon 8 Elite chip with UFS4.0 performance, >30hr endurance from a 5000mAh battery, >1500nits bright LTPO OLED screen, IP68 protection, great photos from the 48MP OIS main + 12MP OIS continuous optical zoom + 48MP ultrawide (all 3 have PDAF), a tried and true Sony skin Android with 4 years of OS updates, limited Android 17 desktop replacement functionality
CONs
expensive, lack of innovation, heavy throttling under load, 90min slow charging 5000mAh Lithium battery, sub400ppi non-HDR10+ screen, no-AF selfie, mediocre videos
Xiaomi 15S Pro
75.3mm (2.96in) · May 22, 2025 · Rank #69
11+11+15+12+12+3+3+0+5+0 = 72
FLY* TOP Software
EDITORIAL: Featuring Xiaomi's own processor, the 15S Pro marks a beginning of a new era. Unlike Huawei's Kirin chips, the new XRing 01 is a proper 3nm top-of-the-line processor that should compete head on with SD 8 Elite and Mediatec's top Dimensity 9400. Xiaomi wants to impress: all-day battery, excellent screen, powerful cameras, even the Display Port is there.
PROs
expect fast performance with UFS 4.1 memory, >30hr endurance from a 6100mAh Si battery with sub-60min 90W (50W wireless) charging, >1300 >520ppi LTPO AMOLED with Dolby Vision screen, IP68 protection, reliable 50MP 23mm main + 50MP 120mm periscope telephoto (both OIS PDAF)+ 50MP 14mm AF ultrawide setup, average 32MP 22mm (non AF) selfie, okay video recording, 4 years of OS updates and fast USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port with DisplayPort and OTG
CONs
no AF on selfie, no expandable memory or desktop replacement functionality
Both phones here were scored by me, using the same ten categories, with no ads, sponsorships, or manufacturer relationships — this comparison is as objective and honest as it gets.
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