iPhone Air vs Sony Xperia 5 IV: Which One Should You Buy?

iPhone Air edges ahead with a BeastScore of 78.1/100 — but the right choice depends on what matters to you.

Head-to-head
Comparing 2 devicesSwipe ⇄
Apple · 2025

iPhone Air

iPhone Air
78/ 100
Launch price$999
Sony · 2022

Sony Xperia 5 IV

Sony Xperia 5 IV
79/ 100
Launch price$999
Head-to-head

iPhone Air wins 5 of 8 categories

Here's exactly where each phone is stronger.

iPhone Air
iPhone Air
5 wins
Sony Xperia 5 IV
Sony Xperia 5 IV
1 win
At a glance

Bigger shape = better phone.

SpeedCameraSelfieBatteryDisplayConnectivitySecurityValue
iPhone AirSony Xperia 5 IV
Category winners

Scores out of 100. How we score

  • SpeediPhone Air
    90
    80
  • CameraiPhone Air
    82
    75
  • VideoNot enough data
  • SelfieiPhone Air
    76
    60
  • BatterySony Xperia 5 IV
    58
    86
  • DisplayiPhone Air
    90
    86
  • ConnectivityiPhone Air
    88
    83
  • SecurityTie
    100
    100
  • ValueTie
    55
    55
Key differences
  • Sony Xperia 5 IV has the bigger battery5,000 mAh vs 3,149 mAh
  • Sony Xperia 5 IV charges faster30W vs 20W
  • iPhone Air has a sharper main camera48 MP vs 12 MP
  • iPhone Air has the bigger screen6.5" vs 6.1"
  • iPhone Air is lighter165 g vs 172 g
  • iPhone Air has a sharper selfie camera18 MP vs 12 MP
  • iPhone Air has newer Bluetooth6 vs 5.1
  • iPhone Air has more RAM12 GB vs 8 GB
  • iPhone Air has the faster chipApple A19 Pro vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • iPhone Air has faster Wi-FiWi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 6E
See all specs ↓

Why buy each phone

Swipe ⇄
Reasons to buy iPhone Air
  • ✓7 g lighter (165 g vs 172 g), easier to hold
  • ✓48 MP main camera
  • ✓6.5" display at 120 Hz
Reasons to buy Sony Xperia 5 IV
  • ✓Bigger 5,000 mAh battery (+1,851 mAh)
  • ✓12 MP main camera
  • ✓6.1" display at 120 Hz

Full specifications

Swipe ⇄
SpecificationiPhone AirSony Xperia 5 IV
1. Display & Screen🏆 iPhone Air Wins Display
Screen typeLTPO Super Retina XDR OLEDOLED
Screen Size6.5"6.1"
Resolution & Density2736x1260 (460 ppi)2520x1080 (449 ppi)
Refresh Rate120 Hz ProMotion120 Hz
Brightness3,000 nits peak800 nits peak
Screen ProtectionNot listedNot listed
2. Platform & Performance🏆 iPhone Air Wins Performance
Chipset / ProcessorApple A19 Pro (3nm)Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm)
CPU CoresNot listedNot listed
GPU GraphicsApple GPU (6-core)Adreno 730
Operating SystemiOS 26Android 12
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory12 GB LPDDR8 GB LPDDR
Internal Storage256GB / 512GB / 1024GB128GB / 256GB
Storage SpeedNot listedNot listed
Card SlotNoNo
4. Main Camera Optics🏆 iPhone Air Wins Camera
Primary Camera48 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Fusion 48MP12 MP, f/1.7, OIS, Sony Exmor RS
Telephoto ZoomNone (digital zoom only)12 MP (3.5x optical zoom), f/2.4, OIS
Ultrawide CameraN/A12 MP, f/2.2
LiDAR / DepthNoneNone
5. Video
Main Camera Video
Not listed
Not listed
Front Video
Not listed
Not listed
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens18 MP, f/1.912 MP, f/2
7. Body & Dimensions🏆 iPhone Air Lightest Chassis
Dimensions156.2 x 74.7 x 5.64 mm156 x 67 x 8.2 mm
Weight165 g172 g
Build MaterialsNot listedNot listed
SIM TypeNot listedNot listed
Water ResistanceIP68IP68
8. Battery & Charging🏆 Sony Xperia 5 IV Wins Battery
Battery Capacity3,149 mAh5,000 mAh
Wired Fast Charging20W wired fast charging30W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging25W wireless charging15W wireless charging
Reverse ChargingNot listedNot listed
9. Sound & Audio
LoudspeakerNot listedNot listed
3.5mm Headphone JackNoNo
10. Connectivity
Wi-Fi StandardWi-Fi 7Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth6.05.1
USB Port & SpeedUSB-C 2.0USB-C 3.2
NFCYes (contactless payment)Yes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
SensorsNot listedNot listed
Satellite FeaturesNot listedNot listed
12. Colors & Overview
ColorsNot listedNot listed
Launch Price$999$999
Our verdict

iPhone Air wins — BeastScore 78.1/100

The iPhone Air is the better pick for most people thanks to its sharper main camera (48 MP vs 12 MP) and bigger screen (6.5" vs 6.1"). The Sony Xperia 5 IV is worth a look if you prefer its bigger battery (5,000 mAh vs 3,149 mAh).

Buy iPhone Air if you want

Higher-resolution main camera: 48 MP vs 12 MP · Brighter screen: 3,000 nits vs 800 nits

Buy Sony Xperia 5 IV if you want

Larger battery: 5,000 mAh vs 3,149 mAh · Faster wired charging: 30W vs 20W

Common questions

Which is better: iPhone Air or Sony Xperia 5 IV?

The iPhone Air is the better pick for most people thanks to its sharper main camera (48 MP vs 12 MP) and bigger screen (6.5" vs 6.1"). The Sony Xperia 5 IV is worth a look if you prefer its bigger battery (5,000 mAh vs 3,149 mAh). BeastScore: iPhone Air 78.1/100, Sony Xperia 5 IV 78.7/100.

What are the main battery and display differences between iPhone Air and Sony Xperia 5 IV?

iPhone Air has a 6.5-inch display and 3149 mAh battery. Sony Xperia 5 IV has a 6.1-inch display and 5000 mAh battery.

How do iPhone Air and Sony Xperia 5 IV compare for speed?

iPhone Air scores 90/100 for performance; Sony Xperia 5 IV scores 80/100.

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