Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, while the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $1299 and $1500. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 77/100 (a 7-point difference). Key differences: the main camera is 200 MP vs 48 MP; the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is faster in AnTuTu (3,842,882 vs 3,463,142).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Faster charging: 60W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 48MP
- Faster wireless charging: 25W vs 15W
- Cheaper at launch: $1299 vs $1500
- Better camera (86/100 vs 69/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 53/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 80/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 VIII better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3842882 vs 3463142
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 3601
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 10686
- Lighter: 200g vs 214g
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 96/100)
- Better portability (56/100 vs 51/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 7 points higher (84/100 vs 77/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 69/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100, 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 and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are nearly equal (97/100 vs 96/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (88/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (86/100 vs 69/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (61/100 vs 53/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (56/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 3463142 | 3842882 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3601 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 10686 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.5" LTPO OLED | |
| Resolution | 3120x1440 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 60W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 15W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 157 | — | |
| Main camera | 200 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 48 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2600 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | 162.0×74.0×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 214 g | 200 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $1500 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- Main: 48MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 6.5" LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Sony Xperia 1 VIII, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra by 9.9% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $201. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was $201 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are nearly equal (97/100 vs 96/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (88/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (86/100 vs 69/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (61/100 vs 53/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (56/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra edges out the Sony Xperia 1 VIII by just 7 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a MobileRank rating of 84/100, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII — 77/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 69/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra over the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a better fit for gamers and power users.