Apple iPhone SE 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 VII
Compare Apple iPhone SE 4 vs Sony Xperia 1 VII side by side: Apple A18 (3nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 48MP vs 52MP camera, 3279mAh vs 5200mAh battery…
Apple
iPhone SE 4
$499
5categories won
Sony
Xperia 1 VII
$1,399
13categories won
3 categories tied · 21 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Sony Xperia 1 VII takes the overall win
The Sony Xperia 1 VII proves superior overall against the Apple iPhone SE 4, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Xperia 1 VII leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Xperia 1 VII. Choose the Xperia 1 VII if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the iPhone SE 4 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Xperia 1 VII takes battery honors offering 5,200 mAh alongside 33W charging.
Xperia 1 VII provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and 16GB RAM.
Xperia 1 VII takes photography with 52MP optics and 3.5x optical telephoto capabilities.
iPhone SE 4 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $499 vs $1399.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
iPhone SE 4 vs Xperia 1 VII: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.06" | 6.5" |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 529 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 HzWinner |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | 2600 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Apple A18 (3nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Process node | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| AnTuTu score | 2,400,000 | 2,950,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 8900 | 10100Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 16 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 128GB | 512GBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 48 MP | 52 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 3Winner |
| Optical zoom | 1x | 3.5xWinner |
| Ultrawide | — | 48 MP |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | — | 4K@120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 3,279 mAh | 5,200 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 20 W | 33 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
Design
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 165 gWinner | 192 g |
| Thickness | 7.8 mmWinner | 8.2 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP65/IP68 |
| Build | Aerospace aluminum frame, glass front and back | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, tactile micro-grooved frosted glass rear, precision-ribbed aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | iOS 18 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 7 yearsWinner | 4 years |
| Security updates | 7 yearsWinner | 5 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | iPhone SE 4 | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Storage expansion | None | microSD |
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| Launch price | $499Winner | $1,399 |
Apple iPhone SE 4
The iPhone SE 4 transforms Apple’s budget lineup: the home button and thick bezels are replaced with a 6.1-inch OLED, Face ID, USB-C, 48MP camera, and full Apple Intelligence capability for under $500.
- Display
- 6.06"
- Chipset
- Apple A18 (3nm)
- Main camera
- 48MP
- Battery
- 3,279mAh
Sony Xperia 1 VII
Refusing to follow mobile industry compromises, the Sony Xperia 1 VII retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD expansion, continuous 85-170mm optical zoom, and a notchless 120Hz OLED display tuned for professionals.
- Display
- 6.5"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Main camera
- 52MP
- Battery
- 5,200mAh