Alright, let's dive deep into this head-to-head between the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Honor Magic4 Pro. It's a fascinating matchup of different design philosophies, and I'm here to break down what these differences mean for you, the user.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a detailed table breaking down the key specs, and more importantly, what they mean for real-world use:
| Feature | Sony Xperia 1 III | Honor Magic4 Pro | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165 × 71 × 8.2 mm | 163.6 × 74.7 × 9.1 mm | The Sony is taller and narrower, while the Honor is wider and thicker. The Honor is generally more bulky in hand. |
| Weight | 186g | 209g | The Sony is noticeably lighter, likely making it more comfortable for one-handed use and extended periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.81" | The Honor has a larger screen which is great for media consumption but can be less comfortable for one hand use. |
| Resolution | 1644x3840 | 1312x2848 | The Sony's higher resolution translates to incredibly sharp visuals, which will be more noticeable when viewing high-resolution content. |
| PPI | 643 | 460 | Sony wins in pixel density. Expect sharper text and finer details. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both provide excellent contrast and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1000 nits | The Honor will be MUCH easier to view outdoors, especially on sunny days due to the higher max brightness. Sony's lack of brightness is a huge weakness. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) | The Honor's newer chip results in a small performance increase in processing speeds and gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 889,100 | 945,832 | The Honor scores higher in benchmarks, indicating slightly better raw power. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 | The Honor's newer GPU should handle more demanding graphics, especially in gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 12MP, f/1.7, 1.8µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1.0µm, 1/1.56" | Honor's main camera has a higher resolution and larger sensor, potentially capturing more detail, while Sony's wider aperture will likely result in better low-light performance. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | N/A | 64MP, f/2.0, 0.7µm, 1/2" | Honor adds a dedicated portrait lens for more versatile photography. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm, 1/4" | 12MP, f/2.4 | The Honor selfie camera is better in resolution, however the Sony has a wider aperture which will likely perform better in low light. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | N/A | The Sony features a telephoto lens allowing you to zoom without loss of quality. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.3 | N/A | The Sony allows wide-angle photos with ease. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2 | The Honor features a wide-angle lens with macro capabilities, allowing for great shots up close. |
| ToF 3D Sensor | N/A | 0.3MP | Not a large difference between each other |
| Video | Up to 4K 120fps w/ HDR, OIS | Up to 4K 60fps w/ HDR, EIS | The Sony offers a higher frame rate for more cinematic slow-motion footage. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities. |
| DxOMark Score | Main 105, Photo 107, Video 92 | Main 126, Photo 132, Video 117 | The Honor is clearly superior in camera tests according to DXOMark, specifically in both photo and video performance. |
| Camera Features | Standard Set | Standard Set + Manual Focus, Laser AF, Dual Front Cam, Night Mode | The Honor includes more advanced photography features and is more versatile. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4600mAh | Both have similar battery capacity and should offer comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 30W | 100W | The Honor's faster charging is a significant advantage, topping up the phone much more quickly. |
| Features | Bypass Charging | Reverse & 100W Wireless | The Honor has far more charging features, especially the super-fast wireless charging. Sony's "Bypass Charging" allows you to use the phone while plugged in without affecting battery health. |
| Software & Other | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 | The Honor comes with a slightly newer version of Android out of the box, although both can be updated to 13. |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi MiMO | Both offer fast speeds; The Honor features the added Wi-Fi MiMO technology. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Bluetooth 5.2 LE | Both share basic LE technology, however Sony has a significant amount of added Bluetooth features over the Honor device. |
| GPS | Full Suite | Full Suite, NavIC | Honor adds support for additional GPS systems for improved location accuracy. |
| Storage | 256 or 512 GB | 256 or 512 GB | Plenty of storage options. |
| RAM | 12 GB | 8 or 12 GB | Both devices are very well optimized for multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so choose a variant with enough storage space for your needs. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio | DTS / DTS X | Sony has a slight edge for audio enthusiasts with better spacial sound, and better audio immersion. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | Sony uses a side-mounted fingerprint sensor while Honor is using a standard fingerprint sensor. |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | Sony has superior screen protection with the latest Gorilla Glass. |
| Sensors | Full Suite, Barometer | Full Suite, Gravity Sensor | The Sony has some extra sensors (Barometer) while the Honor features a Gravity sensor |
2. Key Insights
Sony Xperia 1 III:
- Strengths: It shines with its incredibly sharp display, lighter build, and a telephoto zoom lens, with fantastic audio quality. Sony has a more comprehensive range of Bluetooth connection options. It also boasts a more advanced screen protection.
- Competitive Advantage: The Xperia offers a more refined multimedia experience with its stunning display and excellent audio, as well as a higher level of Bluetooth connectivity.
- Trade-offs/Limitations: The main disadvantage of the Sony is the lack of brightness, making it hard to use outside on a bright day, and its comparatively slow charging. The camera has lower scores than the Honor device.
Honor Magic4 Pro:
- Strengths: Its standout features include a brighter display for better outdoor visibility, superior camera performance, and much faster charging speed.
- Competitive Advantage: The Magic4 Pro is a beast when it comes to camera and charging speeds, and offers a brighter screen, making it far more useful for outside use.
- Trade-offs/Limitations: The Honor is the bulkier and heavier of the two phones. It does not feature expandable storage and has a slightly weaker audio quality and bluetooth connectivity, as well as an unknown screen protection.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Sony Xperia 1 III:
- Best Suited For: Multimedia enthusiasts who value a high-resolution display, audiophiles who love quality sound, and users who prefer a light phone. This phone excels in content creation and editing workflows, and people who spend time inside and do not need high display brightness.
- Use Cases: Ideal for watching movies, editing photos/videos, listening to high quality music, and creating content.
- Price-to-Value: May be more expensive, but justified for those who truly value display, audio quality and connectivity options.
Honor Magic4 Pro:
- Best Suited For: Users who take photos and videos and for those who need a bright display for use outdoors. The device charges quickly, making it a great choice for people always on the go. It's a power-user phone that is fast, and features a beautiful display, ideal for people always on the go.
- Use Cases: Perfect for social media creators, avid photographers, travelers, and users who need a phone that charges quickly with great outdoor visibility.
- Price-to-Value: The Honor provides good value for its superior camera system and rapid charging speeds.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to ask yourself when making this decision:
- How much do you use your phone outside? If you spend a lot of time outdoors or in bright environments, the Honor's brighter screen is a must.
- Do you prioritize photography and fast charging, or audio and a top of the line display? If photography and charging are important, go with the Honor. If audio and a pin-sharp display is more important, go with the Sony.
- How much do you value a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and better screen protection? The Sony's side-mounted sensor is more efficient, and the screen protection is superior.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- The Photographer: The Honor Magic4 Pro is the clear winner here with its impressive camera system, and superior DxOMark Scores.
- The Multimedia Buff: The Sony Xperia 1 III, with its high-resolution display and audio experience is perfect for watching movies or editing photos/videos.
- The On-the-Go User: The Honor Magic4 Pro’s faster charging and brighter screen is the best match here.
- The Casual User: The Honor is the better overall package for the everyday user due to its superior camera, charging speed, and brightness, however it does not offer the best display or audio.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two, I would personally go for the Honor Magic4 Pro. The higher brightness is key for me because I use my phone outdoors quite a bit. I also value the speed of charging and superior camera system. Although the Sony has a beautiful display and I love the extra bluetooth connection capabilities, the display brightness and the camera is more important to my day-to-day use, and the Honor definitely wins in both of these categories. While the Sony is lighter, that is not as important as the superior screen and camera quality. It is a fantastic piece of tech, but the Honor is just a more complete all-rounder.
