Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Sony Xperia 1 VII
Compare Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs Sony Xperia 1 VII side by side: Exynos 2500 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 50MP vs 52MP camera, 4900mAh vs 5200mAh battery…
Samsung
Galaxy S26 FE
$699
5categories won
Sony
Xperia 1 VII
$1,399
10categories won
7 categories tied · 22 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 Samsung Galaxy S26 FE, 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 Galaxy S26 FE 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.
Galaxy S26 FE provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 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.
Galaxy S26 FE vs Xperia 1 VII: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.5" |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 385 ppi | 529 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1900 nits | 2600 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Exynos 2500 | 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 | 512GB | 512GB |
Camera
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 50 MP | 52 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 3 |
| Optical zoom | 3x | 3.5xWinner |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 12 MP | 12 MP |
| Max video | — | 4K@120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,900 mAh | 5,200 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 45 WWinner | 33 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 15 W |
Design
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 193 g | 192 g |
| Thickness | 7.4 mmWinner | 8.2 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP65/IP68 |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front, tactile micro-grooved frosted glass rear, precision-ribbed aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | Xperia 1 VII |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 17 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 7 yearsWinner | 4 years |
| Security updates | 7 yearsWinner | 5 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Galaxy S26 FE | 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 | $699Winner | $1,399 |
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE
At $699, the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE delivers a spacious 6.7-inch AMOLED display, a 3nm Exynos 2500 chipset, and an impressive seven years of software updates. It perfectly suits budget-conscious buyers who want flagship-tier build quality, capable triple cameras, and long-term reliability without paying top-tier prices.
- Display
- 6.7"
- Chipset
- Exynos 2500
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 4,900mAh
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