Samsung Galaxy S26 vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII
The Samsung Galaxy S26 (2026) runs on the Samsung Exynos 2600, while the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $799 and $1500. By overall MobileRank rating, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads — 77/100 vs 74/100 (a 3-point difference). Key differences: the Sony Xperia 1 VIII has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4000); the main camera is 50 MP vs 48 MP; the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is faster in AnTuTu (3,842,882 vs 2,827,538); the Samsung Galaxy S26 is noticeably lighter (162g vs 200g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Samsung Galaxy S26
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 better?
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 48MP
- Lighter: 162g vs 200g
- Cheaper at launch: $799 vs $1500
- Better camera (77/100 vs 69/100)
- Better display (81/100 vs 80/100)
- Better portability (89/100 vs 56/100)
What makes Sony Xperia 1 VIII better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3842882 vs 2827538
- Better Geekbench Single: 3639 vs 2880
- Better Geekbench Multi: 11047 vs 9100
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4000 mAh
- Faster charging: 30W vs 25W
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 89/100)
- Longer battery life (53/100 vs 31/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Samsung Galaxy S26 vs the Sony Xperia 1 VIII, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII scores 3 points higher (77/100 vs 74/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads (53/100 vs 31/100). Value score: Samsung Galaxy S26 — 62/100, 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 89/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Sony Xperia 1 VIII are nearly equal (81/100 vs 80/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is a bit better (77/100 vs 69/100). In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 (53/100 vs 31/100). In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (89/100 vs 56/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Sony Xperia 1 VIII | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 2600 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 2827538 | 3842882 | |
| Geekbench Single | 2880 | 3639 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9100 | 11047 | |
| Display | 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | 6.5" LTPO OLED | |
| Resolution | 2340x1080 | 1080x2340 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 25W | 30W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 15W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 146 | — | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 48 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 48 MP | |
| Telephoto | 10 MP | 48 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 2600 nits | — | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP65/IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 158.4×75.8×7.3 mm | 162.0×74.0×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 162 g | 200 g | |
| Launch price | $799 | $1500 |
Camera comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 10MP
- Front: 12MP
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- Main: 48MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 48MP
- Telephoto: 48MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Samsung Galaxy S26
- 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 6.5" LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 1080x2340
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Samsung Galaxy S26
- 4000 mAh
- Wired: 25W
- Wireless: 15W
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared Samsung Galaxy S26 and Sony Xperia 1 VIII, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads Samsung Galaxy S26 by 26.4% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $701. Samsung Galaxy S26 was $701 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a bit better (97/100 vs 89/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Sony Xperia 1 VIII are nearly equal (81/100 vs 80/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 is a bit better (77/100 vs 69/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 (53/100 vs 31/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 VIII (89/100 vs 56/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Samsung Galaxy S26 or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII edges out the Samsung Galaxy S26 by just 3 points — the two devices are very close in overall level.
What is the rating of the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 has a MobileRank rating of 74/100, the Sony Xperia 1 VIII — 77/100.
Which has the better camera: the Samsung Galaxy S26 or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 leads on camera score (77/100 vs 69/100).
Which is more powerful: the Samsung Galaxy S26 or the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII leads on performance (97/100 vs 89/100).
Should you choose the Samsung Galaxy S26 over the Sony Xperia 1 VIII?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Sony Xperia 1 VIII is a better fit for gamers and power users.