Sony Xperia 5 is a flagship smartphone by the brand that once was leading the mobile market. The company has no one to blame but its failed marketing strategy. However, it seems that Sony is willing to revive its gold days with the Xperia 5. The compactness with elegant design and flagship features showcases the brand’s ambitions. Especially, if you look at its upgraded display and camera setup.
Our Sony Xperia 5 review includes a complete assessment of this flagship phone. We have evaluated the design, display quality, camera setup, and performance of this Sony mobile.
Sony Xperia 5 Specs Review
Display: 6.1-inch OLED Full HD+ (2520 x 1080)
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm)
GPU: Adreno 640
RAM: 6 GB
Storage: 128 GB
Front Camera: 8 MP
Rear Camera: Triple-Cam (12MP + 12MP + 12MP)
Battery: 3140 mAh
OS: Android 9.0 (Upgradable to Android 11)
Weight: About 164g (5.78 oz)
Design & Build
Sony Xperia 5 weighs around 5.8 ounces and measures 6.2 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches (HWD). Thanks to its slim, lengthy design, the Android phone stand out in the crowd. However, the design is not as trendy as one would expect from a flagship phone. Still, it has a flair attached to it and we found it handy during our Sony Xperia 5 review.
The bezels around the display are a bit chunky, and it can be a challenge for many to reach the upper right or corner while holding it. Its 21:9 aspect ratio is ideal for watching movies, TV shows and you will have a better view while gaming. Overall, this is a classy phone with flat glass black.
Sony Xperia 5 has an aluminium frame with an all-glass body. Both the front and back of this Android phone is protected with Gorilla Glass 6. On the top, there is a punch-hole selfie camera while the bottom bears a USB-C port with speakers.
The right side features a camera button on the lower side which we found convenient. The fingerprint scanner is placed between the volume rockers and the power button. Although there is sufficient space between the buttons, you might end up pressing the power or camera button randomly. The SIM slot is on the left side which you can easily open without a key.
Display Quality
As highlighted, the Xperia 5 features a 6.1-inch display with an aspect ratio of 21:9. This is an OLED screen with a resolution of 2520 x 1080 that provides a pixel density of 449ppi. We were able to get velvety, rich colours with inky back contrast that are attributes of OLED panels.
This is a Full-HD+ screen that boasts HDR support, thanks to Sony’s Bravia X1. The Creator Mode allows you to “watch movies as the creators intended.” We watched the Formula 1 Drive to Survive on Netflix and were able to receive crispy, vivid visuals.
Camera Setup
Sony Xperia 5 has an amazing camera setup that matches the iPhone 11 Pro. The front camera is an 8MP lens while the rear camera setup consists of three lenses. All sensors are 12MP, but each has a different focal length. Both telephote and ultra-wide cameras have an f/2.4 aperture, while the primary sensor comes in at f/1.6.
The primary lens has an f/1.6 aperture, while the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses come in at f/2.4. The front-facing lens clocks in at 8MP with an f/2.0 aperture.
For YouTube vloggers, the Xperia 5 is a great choice. You can produce videos in 1080p with 60fps and 4K at 30fps. Plus, there is a Cinema Pro app by Sony that offers more granular control over settings. The onboard gyroscopic video stabilization further improves video quality.
Performance Overview
The specs on Sony Xperia 5 are intriguing and during our review, we found its performance promising. It comes with the Snapdragon 855 (7nm) processor paired with Adreno 640 GPU. The Android version on it is 9.0 (pie) which is upgradable to Android 11. Plus, there is 6 GB RAM that comes along with a storage of 128 GB.
The hardware on Sony Xperia 5 lives up to expectations and there is more to it than meets the eye. The only drawback is its subpar 3140 mAh battery which is not up to modern industry standards. Still, you can get a full day performance with normal usage. Sadly, Sony Xperia 5 does not support wireless charging, but it does support fast charging at 18W.
Bottomline
If you are looking for an affordable flagship smartphone, Sony Xperia 5 is a great pick. You will have a dazzling smartphone with a high-speed processor, a suitable quantity of RAM and storage, and a decent camera setup. This is a decent choice for everyday users with medium to high needs.
