Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (2023) runs on the Apple A17 Pro, while the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $1199 and $1500. By overall MobileRank rating, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads — 77/100 vs 72/100 (a 5-point difference). Key differences: the Sony Xperia 1 VIII has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4441); the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is faster in AnTuTu (3,842,882 vs 1,467,470); the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is noticeably lighter (200g vs 221g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
What makes Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max better?
- Cheaper at launch: $1199 vs $1500
- Better camera (83/100 vs 69/100)
- Better display (85/100 vs 80/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 VIII better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3842882 vs 1467470
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 2900
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 7200
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4441 mAh
- Faster charging: 30W vs 27W
- Lighter: 200g vs 221g
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 79/100)
- Longer battery life (53/100 vs 41/100)
- Better portability (56/100 vs 43/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max vs the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII scores 5 points higher (77/100 vs 72/100). In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads (97/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max leads (83/100 vs 69/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads (53/100 vs 41/100). Value score: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max — 54/100, Sony Xperia 1 VIII — 62/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (97/100 vs 79/100). In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a bit better (85/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a bit better (83/100 vs 69/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (53/100 vs 41/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (56/100 vs 43/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max | Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A17 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 1467470 | 3842882 | |
| Geekbench Single | 2900 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 7200 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.5" LTPO OLED | |
| Resolution | 2796x1290 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4441 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 27W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 154 | — | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP | 48 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | iOS 17 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2000 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 159.9×76.7×8.3 mm | 162.0×74.0×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 221 g | 200 g | |
| Launch price | $1199 | $1500 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Main: 48MP f/1.78
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- Main: 48MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- 6.7" Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2796x1290
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 6.5" LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- 4441 mAh
- Wired: 27W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Sony Xperia 1 VIII, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max by 61.8% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $301. Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max was $301 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (97/100 vs 79/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a bit better (85/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a bit better (83/100 vs 69/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (53/100 vs 41/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (56/100 vs 43/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII edges out the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max by just 5 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max has a MobileRank rating of 72/100, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII — 77/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max leads on camera score (83/100 vs 69/100).
Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads on performance (97/100 vs 79/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max over the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is a better fit for active users, mobile photography enthusiasts. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a better fit for gamers and power users.