ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, while the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $999 and $1500. By overall MobileRank rating, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads — 77/100 vs 71/100 (a 6-point difference). Key differences: the ASUS ROG Phone 9 has the bigger battery (5800 mAh vs 5000); the main camera is 50 MP vs 48 MP; the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is faster in AnTuTu (3,842,882 vs 3,136,217); the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is noticeably lighter (200g vs 227g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
ASUS ROG Phone 9
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
What makes ASUS ROG Phone 9 better?
- Bigger battery: 5800 vs 5000 mAh
- Faster charging: 65W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 48MP
- Higher refresh rate: 185Hz vs 120Hz
- Cheaper at launch: $999 vs $1500
- Longer battery life (67/100 vs 53/100)
- Better display (89/100 vs 80/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 VIII better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3842882 vs 3136217
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 3100
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 9900
- Lighter: 200g vs 227g
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 92/100)
- Better camera (69/100 vs 42/100)
- Better portability (56/100 vs 33/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the ASUS ROG Phone 9 vs the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII scores 6 points higher (77/100 vs 71/100). In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads (69/100 vs 42/100). In the "battery" category, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 leads (67/100 vs 53/100). Value score: ASUS ROG Phone 9 — 52/100, 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 is a bit better (97/100 vs 92/100). In the "display" category, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a bit better (89/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the ASUS ROG Phone 9 (69/100 vs 42/100). In the "battery" category, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a bit better (67/100 vs 53/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the ASUS ROG Phone 9 (56/100 vs 33/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | ASUS ROG Phone 9 | Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 3136217 | 3842882 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3100 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9900 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.8" LTPO AMOLED | 6.5" LTPO OLED | |
| Resolution | 2400x1080 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 185 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5800 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 65W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 48 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB / 24GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 15 / ROG UI | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2500 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.8×76.8×8.9 mm | 162.0×74.0×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 227 g | 200 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $1500 |
Camera comparison
ASUS ROG Phone 9
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 13MP
- Front: 32MP
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- Main: 48MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
ASUS ROG Phone 9
- 6.8" LTPO AMOLED
- Resolution: 2400x1080
- Refresh rate: 185 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 6.5" LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
ASUS ROG Phone 9
- 5800 mAh
- Wired: 65W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared ASUS ROG Phone 9 and Sony Xperia 1 VIII, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads ASUS ROG Phone 9 by 18.4% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $501. ASUS ROG Phone 9 was $501 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (97/100 vs 92/100).
display
In the "display" category, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a bit better (89/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the ASUS ROG Phone 9 (69/100 vs 42/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a bit better (67/100 vs 53/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the ASUS ROG Phone 9 (56/100 vs 33/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the ASUS ROG Phone 9 or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII edges out the ASUS ROG Phone 9 by just 6 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the ASUS ROG Phone 9 and the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 has a MobileRank rating of 71/100, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII — 77/100.
Which has the better camera: the ASUS ROG Phone 9 or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads on camera score (69/100 vs 42/100).
Which is more powerful: the ASUS ROG Phone 9 or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads on performance (97/100 vs 92/100).
Should you choose the ASUS ROG Phone 9 over the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The ASUS ROG Phone 9 is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a better fit for gamers and power users.