Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs Sony Xperia 1 VII
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (2026) runs on the Apple A20 Pro, while the Sony Xperia 1 VII (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite; launch prices were $1299 and $1295. By overall MobileRank rating, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads — 80/100 vs 71/100 (a 9-point difference). Key differences: the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has the bigger battery (5567 mAh vs 5000); the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is faster in AnTuTu (3,551,073 vs 2,994,112); the Sony Xperia 1 VII is noticeably lighter (197g vs 249g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
Sony Xperia 1 VII
What makes Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3551073 vs 2994112
- Better Geekbench Single: 4612 vs 3094
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11819 vs 9293
- Bigger battery: 5567 vs 5000 mAh
- Faster charging: 60W vs 30W
- Faster wireless charging: 25W vs 15W
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 91/100)
- Better camera (71/100 vs 54/100)
- Longer battery life (67/100 vs 53/100)
- Better display (85/100 vs 80/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 VII better?
- Lighter: 197g vs 249g
- Cheaper at launch: $1295 vs $1299
- Better portability (58/100 vs 27/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max vs the Sony Xperia 1 VII, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max scores 9 points higher (80/100 vs 71/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads (71/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads (67/100 vs 53/100). Value score: Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max — 70/100, Sony Xperia 1 VII — 52/100; 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 Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit better (97/100 vs 91/100). In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit better (85/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VII (71/100 vs 54/100). In the "battery" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit better (67/100 vs 53/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (58/100 vs 27/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max | Sony Xperia 1 VII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A20 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | |
| AnTuTu | 3551073 | 2994112 | |
| Geekbench Single | 4612 | 3094 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 11819 | 9293 | |
| Display | 6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.5" OLED | |
| Resolution | 1320x2868 | 2340x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5567 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 60W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 15W | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 48 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 48 MP | 12 MP | |
| Front camera | 18 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB | 256GB / 512GB | |
| OS | iOS 27 | Android 15 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 800 nits | |
| NFC | yes | — | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.4×78.0×8.8 mm | 157.0×72.0×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 249 g | 197 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $1295 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Main: 48MP f/1.48
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 18MP
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Main: 48MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 1320x2868
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max
- 5567 mAh
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and Sony Xperia 1 VII, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads Sony Xperia 1 VII by 18.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $4. Sony Xperia 1 VII was $4 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit better (97/100 vs 91/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit better (85/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VII (71/100 vs 54/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a bit better (67/100 vs 53/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VII significantly outperforms the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max (58/100 vs 27/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max edges out the Sony Xperia 1 VII by just 9 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max and the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max has a MobileRank rating of 80/100, the Sony Xperia 1 VII — 71/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on camera score (71/100 vs 54/100).
Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max or the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max leads on performance (97/100 vs 91/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max over the Sony Xperia 1 VII?
The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a better fit for gamers and power users.