Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII

Compare Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII side by side: Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 108MP vs…

Samsung

Xperia 1 VIII

$1,449

10categories won

3 categories tied · 19 scored in total · add a third phone

Information Gain

Which one wins?

MxMob Algorithmic Verdict

Sony Xperia 1 VIII takes the overall win

Overall Pick

The Sony Xperia 1 VIII proves superior overall against the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G leads with sharper imaging, while battery endurance leans towards the Xperia 1 VIII. Choose the Xperia 1 VIII if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G if its lower retail price better fit your budget.

🔋 BatteryXperia 1 VIII

Xperia 1 VIII takes battery honors offering 5,500 mAh alongside 45W charging.

🎮 GamingXperia 1 VIII

Xperia 1 VIII provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 16GB RAM.

📸 CameraGalaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G wins photography with 108MP main imaging and 10x dedicated optical zoom.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1199 vs $1449.

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.

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G vs Xperia 1 VIII: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Screen size	6.8"	6.5"
Resolution	1440 x 3200Winner	1080 x 2340
Pixel density	516 ppi	—
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	1500 nits	2800 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Chipset	Exynos 2100 / Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
Process node	5 nm	3 nmWinner
AnTuTu score	870,000	—
Geekbench multi	3800	—
Maximum RAM	12 GB	16 GBWinner
Maximum storage	128GB	512GBWinner

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Main sensor	108 MPWinner	50 MP
Rear cameras	4Winner	3
Optical zoom	10xWinner	7.1x
Ultrawide	12 MP	48 MPWinner
Selfie camera	40 MPWinner	24 MP
Max video	8K at 24fps / 4K at 60fps all cameras	—

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Capacity	5,000 mAh	5,500 mAhWinner
Wired charging	25 W	45 WWinner
Wireless charging	15 W	20 WWinner

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Weight	227 g	192 gWinner
Thickness	8.9 mm	8.2 mmWinner
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front and back	—

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
Operating system	Android 11	Android 16
OS updates	4 years	4 years
Security updates	5 years	5 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G	Xperia 1 VIII
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 7
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
Launch price	$1,199Winner	$1,449