Sony Xperia 1 VIii Vs Vivo X100 Pro: Full Comparison for 2024
Choosing a new flagship phone can be a challenge. The market is crowded with options, but the Sony Xperia 1 VIii and the Vivo X100 Pro stand out for their unique strengths. Both models target users who want the very best in photography, display, and performance. However, each phone takes a very different approach. Sony keeps its focus on professional-grade tools and a classic design, while Vivo pushes boundaries with cutting-edge hardware and features.
If you’re trying to decide between these two top-tier smartphones, you’re in the right place. This guide gives you a deep look at every major aspect: design, display, performance, camera, battery, software, and more. We’ll also highlight some details that most buyers miss, and help you find out which phone truly fits your needs.
Design And Build Quality
The first thing you notice about any phone is how it looks and feels in your hand. Here, Sony and Vivo follow their own paths.
Sony Xperia 1 Viii
Sony keeps its signature style—tall, slim, and distinctly rectangular. The Xperia 1 VIii is crafted from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both front and back, with an aluminum frame. It feels sturdy and premium, and its matte finish helps prevent fingerprints. Sony’s phone is also IP68 water and dust resistant, so it can handle rain or a quick dip.
What sets the Xperia apart is its 21:9 aspect ratio. It’s taller and narrower than most flagships, making it easier to hold with one hand. This design is especially good for watching movies, since it matches the format used in cinemas.
Vivo X100 Pro
Vivo’s design philosophy is different. The X100 Pro has rounded corners, a more curved back, and a large circular camera module that makes a statement. The front and back use Gorilla Glass, but the frame is made from polished metal, giving it a modern look. The phone is slightly heavier and wider than the Sony, but still feels balanced.
Vivo also offers IP68 certification, so there’s no real difference in durability. However, the X100 Pro comes in a range of bold colors, including a unique orange vegan leather variant that stands out from typical glass phones.
Key Differences
- Sony: Slim, tall, understated, professional look.
- Vivo: Curved, bold, and eye-catching design.
Many buyers overlook comfort during long use. The Xperia’s narrow build is easier for small hands, while the Vivo’s curved edges make it more comfortable to hold for gaming and browsing.
Display Technology
The display is where you spend most of your time, so it matters a lot. Both phones offer top-class screens, but with key differences.
Xperia 1 Viii Display
Sony continues its tradition of using a 4K OLED panel—unique in the smartphone world. The 6.5-inch display features a resolution of 3840 x 1644 pixels. This means super sharp details, especially when viewing high-resolution photos or movies.
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz, for smooth scrolling and gaming.
- HDR: Supports HDR10 and BT.2020 color, making movies pop.
- Brightness: Around 1000 nits peak, which is good but not class-leading.
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9, ideal for movies but can cause black bars in some apps.
Sony’s screen is flat, which some people prefer for reduced reflections and easier screen protector fitting.
Vivo X100 Pro Display
The X100 Pro uses a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2800 x 1260 pixels. While it’s not 4K, the pixel density is still high and delivers vibrant visuals.
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz, matching Sony for smoothness.
- HDR: HDR10+ support.
- Brightness: Peaks at up to 3000 nits in certain conditions—one of the brightest on the market.
- Curved Edges: The screen curves at the sides, making gestures feel more fluid.
Vivo’s display is especially good outdoors in bright sunlight. Its high brightness and vibrant colors are great for gaming and video.
Comparison Table: Display Specs
| Feature | Sony Xperia 1 VIii | Vivo X100 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.5-inch | 6.78-inch |
| Resolution | 3840 x 1644 (4K) | 2800 x 1260 |
| Panel Type | OLED | AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| HDR Support | HDR10, BT.2020 | HDR10+ |
| Peak Brightness | ~1000 nits | Up to 3000 nits |
| Screen Shape | Flat | Curved |
Key Insights
- Sony’s 4K display is sharper, but most people won’t notice the difference in daily use.
- Vivo’s brightness is a real advantage outdoors.
- The curved display on Vivo looks modern but can cause accidental touches.
Performance And Hardware
Flagship phones must deliver fast, smooth performance—no matter the task. Here, both Sony and Vivo use the latest processors and generous RAM, but with some differences in approach.
Xperia 1 Viii Performance
Sony’s flagship runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This is one of the fastest processors available in 2024, built for gaming, multitasking, and AI tasks.
- RAM: 12GB or 16GB, depending on the model.
- Storage: 256GB or 512GB, expandable via microSD (rare for flagships).
- Cooling: Advanced vapor chamber to keep temperatures low during gaming.
Sony’s microSD support is a huge plus for photographers and video creators who need lots of storage. You can add up to 1TB extra space.
Vivo X100 Pro Performance
Vivo takes a different route with the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 processor. This chip is close in speed to Qualcomm’s flagship and excels in AI and image processing.
- RAM: Options for 12GB or 16GB.
- Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB (no microSD expansion).
- Cooling: Large vapor chamber, efficient for sustained gaming.
Vivo’s UFS 4. 0 storage is extremely fast, making app launches and file transfers snappy. The phone also has a dedicated imaging chip (V2) to process photos and videos quickly.
Benchmark Comparison
| Test | Sony Xperia 1 VIii | Vivo X100 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | 2100 | 1920 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | 6500 | 7100 |
| AnTuTu 10 | 1,650,000 | 1,720,000 |
Key Insights
- Sony’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 leads in single-core tasks; better for some games and apps.
- Vivo’s Dimensity 9300 shines in multi-core and AI performance.
- Sony offers microSD, which is rare and valuable for media-heavy users.
Camera Systems
For many, the camera is the main reason to buy a flagship phone. Both Sony and Vivo push the limits, but they have very different philosophies.
Xperia 1 Viii Camera
Sony aims for a “pro camera in your pocket.” The phone uses three 12MP sensors (main, telephoto, ultra-wide), co-engineered with Sony’s Alpha camera division.
- Main Sensor: 12MP, 1/1.3-inch, large pixels for low-light.
- Telephoto: Variable periscope lens (85-170mm equivalent), real optical zoom.
- Ultra-Wide: 12MP, high-quality optics.
- Front Camera: 12MP.
What makes Sony different is its manual camera controls. You get real-time focus peaking, RAW shooting, adjustable shutter speed, and ISO—just like a DSLR. Sony’s “Photography Pro” and “Cinema Pro” apps let you fine-tune every setting.
The variable telephoto lens is a rare feature. It uses true moving optics, not just digital cropping. This gives you real 3. 5x to 7. 1x optical zoom, which is unique.
Vivo X100 Pro Camera
Vivo partners with Zeiss, a famous German optics company, for its cameras. The X100 Pro has a triple 50MP system:
- Main Sensor: 50MP, 1-inch Sony IMX989, excellent for low light.
- Telephoto: 50MP periscope (4.3x optical), Zeiss APO lens for reduced color fringing.
- Ultra-Wide: 50MP, sharp across the frame.
- Front Camera: 32MP.
Vivo’s strength is its computational photography. The phone uses advanced algorithms for HDR, night mode, and portrait effects. The Zeiss T* lens coating reduces glare and ghosting, making photos clearer in tricky lighting.
Vivo’s V2 imaging chip handles real-time 4K video processing, motion tracking, and even AI-based photo enhancement.
Camera Feature Comparison
| Camera | Sony Xperia 1 VIii | Vivo X100 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Main Sensor | 12MP, 1/1.3″ | 50MP, 1″ |
| Telephoto | 12MP, variable (85-170mm) | 50MP, 4.3x periscope |
| Ultra-Wide | 12MP | 50MP |
| Front Camera | 12MP | 32MP |
| Manual Controls | Extensive (Pro apps) | Limited |
| Night Mode | Good, less aggressive | Excellent, AI-powered |
| Optical Zoom Range | 3.5x–7.1x | 4.3x |
Non-obvious Camera Insights
- Sony’s true optical zoom is rare and useful for wildlife or sports photography, letting you zoom in without losing quality.
- Vivo’s 1-inch sensor gathers much more light, so night photos look brighter and cleaner with less noise.
Battery Life And Charging
No matter how powerful a phone is, it needs to last all day. Let’s see how these two compare.
Xperia 1 Viii Battery
Sony uses a 5000mAh battery. Thanks to its efficient software and display, the Xperia 1 VIii offers good endurance—usually 5-6 hours of screen-on time. It supports:
- Wired Charging: 30W
- Wireless Charging: 15W
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Yes
Sony is conservative with charging speeds to protect long-term battery health. The phone also includes adaptive charging, learning your habits to reduce battery wear.
Vivo X100 Pro Battery
Vivo includes a 5400mAh battery, larger than Sony’s. The X100 Pro is known for its long battery life—6-7 hours of screen-on time is common, even with heavy use.
- Wired Charging: 100W (full charge in 25 minutes)
- Wireless Charging: 50W
- Reverse Wireless Charging: Yes
Vivo’s fast charging is a real advantage. If you forget to charge overnight, you can get to 50% in about 10 minutes. However, fast charging can shorten battery lifespan if used constantly.
Practical Battery Tips
- Use slower charging overnight to protect battery health.
- Both phones have software to stop charging at 80–90% if you want to extend battery lifespan.
Software And User Experience
The way a phone feels in daily use depends a lot on its software. Here’s what to expect.
Xperia 1 Viii Software
Sony ships its phones with Android 14, close to “stock” Android. There’s almost no bloatware, and the interface is clean and fast. Sony adds a few pro apps for photography and cinema, but otherwise, the experience is pure Android.
- Updates: Sony promises 3 years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches.
- Unique Features: Multi-window mode (great for the tall screen), Game Enhancer, and Side Sense for quick app switching.
Sony’s minimal approach means fewer distractions and better long-term speed. However, some users may find the UI a bit plain compared to competitors.
Vivo X100 Pro Software
Vivo uses Funtouch OS 14 (based on Android 14). The interface is colorful and highly customizable, with many extra features—like dynamic themes, one-handed mode, and advanced privacy controls.
- Updates: Vivo promises 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security.
- Unique Features: AI-based photo editing, Ultra Game Mode, and EasyShare for fast file transfers.
Funtouch OS can feel overwhelming at first. There are more pre-installed apps, and the settings menu is deeper. But power users will love the customization options.
Key Insights
- Sony’s software is best for those who want a pure, fast Android experience.
- Vivo’s software offers more features but can take time to learn.
Audio, Connectivity, And Extra Features
Flagship phones are expected to have top-notch extras. Here’s how these two compare.
Xperia 1 Viii Audio
Sony stands out for audio quality. It’s one of the few flagships with a 3.5mm headphone jack—great for audiophiles. The phone supports high-res audio, LDAC Bluetooth, and front-facing stereo speakers. There’s also a dedicated DAC for better wired sound.
- 3.5mm Jack: Yes
- Stereo Speakers: Yes, front-facing
- Hi-Res Audio: Yes
Vivo X100 Pro Audio
Vivo skips the headphone jack but includes powerful stereo speakers. The phone supports high-res wireless audio via aptX and LDAC, and its speakers get very loud with good bass.
- 3.5mm Jack: No
- Stereo Speakers: Yes, bottom and earpiece
- Hi-Res Audio: Yes (wireless)
Connectivity
Both phones support 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and all standard sensors. Both have dual SIM options (nano+eSIM or dual nano).
Extras
- Sony: MicroSD slot, notification LED, dedicated camera shutter button.
- Vivo: In-display fingerprint sensor (ultra-fast), IR blaster to control appliances.
Some buyers miss the value of a dedicated camera button (Sony) for fast photo capture, or the IR blaster (Vivo) for controlling your TV or air conditioner.
Pricing And Availability
Price is always a big factor. Let’s see how the two compare.
- Sony Xperia 1 VIii: Launch price is around $1,399 (USD) for the 256GB model. It’s available in limited markets—mainly Japan, Europe, and the US.
- Vivo X100 Pro: Launch price is around $1,099 (USD) for the 256GB variant. Vivo is widely available in Asia and expanding to Europe, but not officially sold in the US.
Sales and promotions can change prices, so always check local retailers. The Vivo is generally cheaper for similar specs.
Value Considerations
- Sony: You pay more for the 4K display, pro camera features, and build quality.
- Vivo: Lower price, but with some features (like headphone jack and microSD) missing.
Which Should You Buy?
Both the Sony Xperia 1 VIii and Vivo X100 Pro are excellent, but they fit different users.
Choose Sony if:
- You’re a photography enthusiast who wants real manual controls.
- You value a headphone jack and expandable storage.
- You prefer a classic, understated design with a 4K screen.
Choose Vivo if:
- You want the brightest display and excellent battery life.
- You love computational photography and night shots.
- You want the fastest charging and don’t mind a heavier UI.
No phone is perfect. The best choice depends on what features matter most to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes The Sony Xperia 1 Viii Camera Special?
The Xperia 1 VIii features a variable optical zoom lens (85–170mm), which is rare on smartphones. This means you get real, lossless zoom, not just digital cropping. It also offers full manual controls for photography and video, similar to a professional camera.
Does The Vivo X100 Pro Support Google Play Services?
Yes, the Vivo X100 Pro comes with full Google Play support in all global markets where it is officially sold. You can use the Play Store, Google apps, and all standard Android services.
Which Phone Is Better For Gaming?
Both phones offer strong gaming performance, but the Vivo X100 Pro has a slight edge with its brighter display and faster charging. The ultra-bright screen and large battery mean you can game longer and recharge faster. Sony’s tall screen is great for split-screen gaming and multitasking.
Can I Use A Microsd Card In The Vivo X100 Pro?
No, the X100 Pro does not offer a microSD card slot. You have to choose your storage size when you buy the phone. The Xperia 1 VIii, on the other hand, supports microSD expansion up to 1TB.
How Long Will Each Phone Receive Software Updates?
Both Sony and Vivo promise 3 years of major Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches for these models. This is standard for most flagship phones in 2024, but always check for the latest policy in your region.
For more technical details and official information, visit the GSMArena website.
In the end, your choice should come down to what features you value most. Both the Sony Xperia 1 VIii and Vivo X100 Pro are among the best Android phones of 2024, each with unique strengths. Take your time, weigh your needs, and you’ll end up with a phone you’ll love.
