Sony Xperia 1 III vs Vivo iQOO 16
The Sony Xperia 1 III (2021) runs on the Snapdragon 888, while the Vivo iQOO 16 (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6; launch prices were $1299 and $840. By overall MobileRank rating, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads — 89/100 vs 60/100 (a 29-point difference). Key differences: the Vivo iQOO 16 has the bigger battery (8400 mAh vs 4500); the main camera is 12 MP vs 50 MP; the Vivo iQOO 16 is faster in AnTuTu (5,498,720 vs 1,232,200); the Sony Xperia 1 III is noticeably lighter (186g vs 223g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Sony Xperia 1 III
Vivo iQOO 16
What makes Sony Xperia 1 III better?
- Lighter: 186g vs 223g
- Better portability (65/100 vs 42/100)
What makes Vivo iQOO 16 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 5498720 vs 1232200
- Better Geekbench Single: 4327 vs 1500
- Better Geekbench Multi: 12873 vs 3537
- Bigger battery: 8400 vs 4500 mAh
- Faster charging: 100W vs 30W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 12MP
- Higher refresh rate: 165Hz vs 120Hz
- Faster wireless charging: 40W vs 11W
- Cheaper at launch: $840 vs $1299
- Higher performance (100/100 vs 65/100)
- Better camera (78/100 vs 46/100)
- Longer battery life (90/100 vs 42/100)
- Better display (99/100 vs 90/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Sony Xperia 1 III vs the Vivo iQOO 16, the Vivo iQOO 16 scores 29 points higher (89/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (100/100 vs 65/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (78/100 vs 46/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 leads (90/100 vs 42/100). Value score: Sony Xperia 1 III — 30/100, Vivo iQOO 16 — 92/100; 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 Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (100/100 vs 65/100). In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 is a bit better (99/100 vs 90/100). In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (78/100 vs 46/100). In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (90/100 vs 42/100). In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III notably outperforms the Vivo iQOO 16 (65/100 vs 42/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Sony Xperia 1 III | Vivo iQOO 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | |
| AnTuTu | 1232200 | 5498720 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1500 | 4327 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3537 | 12873 | |
| Display | 6.5" OLED | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 1644x3840 | 1440x3168 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 165 Hz | |
| Battery | 4500 mAh | 8400 mAh | |
| Charging | 30W | 100W | |
| Wireless charging | 11W | 40W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 105 | — | |
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 12 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 8 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 11 | Android 17 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 6000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP65/IP68 | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 165.0×71.0×8.2 mm | 163.8×76.9×8.3 mm | |
| Weight | 186 g | 223 g | |
| Launch price | $1299 | $840 |
Camera comparison
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Main: 12MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 8MP
Vivo iQOO 16
- Main: 50MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 6.5" OLED
- Resolution: 1644x3840
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Vivo iQOO 16
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 1440x3168
- Refresh rate: 165 Hz
Battery and charging
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 4500 mAh
- Wired: 30W
- Wireless: 11W
Vivo iQOO 16
- 8400 mAh
- Wired: 100W
- Wireless: 40W
Overall performance score
We compared Sony Xperia 1 III and Vivo iQOO 16, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Vivo iQOO 16 leads Sony Xperia 1 III by 77.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $459. Vivo iQOO 16 was $459 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (100/100 vs 65/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 is a bit better (99/100 vs 90/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (78/100 vs 46/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III (90/100 vs 42/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Sony Xperia 1 III notably outperforms the Vivo iQOO 16 (65/100 vs 42/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 significantly outperforms the Sony Xperia 1 III by 29 points (89/100 vs 60/100).
What is the rating of the Sony Xperia 1 III and the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Sony Xperia 1 III has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the Vivo iQOO 16 — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on camera score (78/100 vs 46/100).
Which is more powerful: the Sony Xperia 1 III or the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Vivo iQOO 16 leads on performance (100/100 vs 65/100).
Should you choose the Sony Xperia 1 III over the Vivo iQOO 16?
The Sony Xperia 1 III is a better fit for active users. The Vivo iQOO 16 is a better fit for gamers and power users, those who care about battery life, budget-conscious buyers.