Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII

Compare Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 200MP…

Samsung

Xperia 1 VIII

$1,449

5categories won

4 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 S26 Ultra, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the Xperia 1 VIII leads with superior optics, 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 S26 Ultra 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.

🎮 GamingTie

Both handsets deliver top-tier speed with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and smooth everyday multitasking.

📸 CameraXperia 1 VIII

Xperia 1 VIII takes photography with 50MP optics and 7.1x optical telephoto capabilities.

🏷️ ValueGalaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $1299 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 S26 Ultra vs Xperia 1 VIII: specifications compared

Display

Display comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
Screen size	6.9"	6.5"
Resolution	1440 x 3120Winner	1080 x 2340
Pixel density	498 ppi	—
Refresh rate	120 Hz	120 Hz
Peak brightness	2400 nits	2800 nitsWinner

Performance

Performance comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
Process node	3 nm	3 nm
AnTuTu score	2,400,000	—
Geekbench multi	8900	—
Maximum RAM	16 GB	16 GB
Maximum storage	1TBWinner	512GB

Camera

Camera comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
Main sensor	200 MPWinner	50 MP
Rear cameras	4Winner	3
Optical zoom	5x	7.1xWinner
Ultrawide	50 MPWinner	48 MP
Selfie camera	12 MP	24 MPWinner

Battery and charging

Battery and charging comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
Capacity	5,000 mAh	5,500 mAhWinner
Wired charging	60 WWinner	45 W
Wireless charging	25 WWinner	20 W

Design

Design comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
Weight	214 g	192 gWinner
Thickness	7.9 mm	8.2 mm
Water resistance	IP68	IP68
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	—

Software and support

Software and support comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
Operating system	Android 16	Android 16
OS updates	7 yearsWinner	4 years
Security updates	7 yearsWinner	5 years

Connectivity and value

Connectivity and value comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Specification	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Xperia 1 VIII
5G	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	—	Wi-Fi 7
Storage expansion	None	None
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
Launch price	$1,299Winner	$1,449