iPhone 11 Pro vs. Sony Xperia 5 V: A Detailed Comparison of Two Compact Powerhouses

The iPhone 11 Pro, despite its age, remains a popular choice due to its compact size and continued software support. The Sony Xperia 5 V, a more recent release, aims to deliver a flagship experience in a similarly pocketable form factor. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value and performance in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Sony Xperia 5 V emerges as the superior choice. Its modern Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, significantly longer battery endurance (130h vs 86h), and faster charging capabilities outweigh the iPhone 11 Pro’s established ecosystem and software optimization.

PHONES
Phone Names Apple iPhone 11 Pro Sony Xperia 5 V
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A22151, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE 1.6 Gbps DL, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2160, A2217-
Launch
Announced2019, September 102023, September 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2019, September 20Available. Released 2023, September 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions144 x 71.4 x 8.1 mm (5.67 x 2.81 x 0.32 in)154 x 68 x 8.6 mm (6.06 x 2.68 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight188 g (6.63 oz)182 g (6.42 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 4m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)-
Display
ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1125 x 2436 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size5.8 inches, 84.4 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10, BT.2020
Platform
CPUHexa-core (2x2.65 GHz Lightning + 4x1.8 GHz Thunder)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetApple A13 Bionic (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUApple GPU (4-core graphics)Adreno 740
OSiOS 13, upgradable to iOS 26.1Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 NVMe-
Main Camera
Dual-48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama)Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single8 MP, f/2.0, AF-
Triple12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 120˚, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6"-
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec.4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBLightning, USB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, DisplayPort
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
Stand-byUp to 353 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 18 h 30 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 3046 mAh, non-removable (11.67 Wh)Li-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsMatte Space Gray, Matte Silver, Matte Gold, Matte Midnight GreenBlack, Blue, Platinum Silver
ModelsA2215, A2160, A2217, iPhone12,3XQ-DE54
PriceAbout 240 EUR€ 999.99 / $ 1,444.00
SAR1.18 W/kg (head)     1.16 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.99 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -94.2dB / Crosstalk -81.0dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 86h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.3 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 460784 (v7) GeekBench: 13829 (v4.4) GFXBench: 57fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

  • Established iOS ecosystem
  • Excellent video recording capabilities
  • Compact and durable design

  • Older chipset (A13 Bionic)
  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Slower charging speeds

Sony Xperia 5 V

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
  • Exceptional battery endurance (130h)
  • Faster and more versatile charging (30W, PD3.0, PPS)

  • Android OS may not appeal to all users
  • Slightly lower peak display brightness

Display Comparison

The Sony Xperia 5 V’s 746 nits of measured brightness is slightly lower than the iPhone 11 Pro’s 805 nits, but this difference is unlikely to be noticeable in most real-world scenarios. Both displays offer excellent contrast, with the iPhone 11 Pro boasting an 'infinite' nominal contrast ratio. However, the Xperia 5 V benefits from a more modern display architecture, potentially offering better color accuracy and viewing angles, though specific panel technology details are not provided. The compact size of both devices is a key selling point, catering to users who prefer a phone that’s easy to handle.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer capable photo and video recording, but details are limited. The Xperia 5 V likely benefits from Sony’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes, common in their flagship devices. The iPhone 11 Pro’s camera system is well-regarded for its consistent image quality and video stabilization. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Sony’s expertise in camera technology gives the Xperia 5 V an edge. We can assume the Xperia 5 V will have more advanced computational photography features.

Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) in the Xperia 5 V represents a significant leap in performance and efficiency over the Apple A13 Bionic (7nm+) found in the iPhone 11 Pro. The 8 Gen 2’s octa-core configuration, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core, delivers superior multi-core performance, crucial for demanding applications and multitasking. The 4nm process node also translates to better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during extended gaming sessions. While the A13 Bionic remains capable, the Xperia 5 V offers a demonstrably faster and more future-proof experience.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 5 V’s endurance rating of 130 hours significantly surpasses the iPhone 11 Pro’s 86 hours. This translates to a substantial difference in real-world battery life, with the Xperia 5 V offering approximately 16:19 hours of active use. Both devices support 50% charging in 30 minutes, but the Xperia 5 V’s 30W wired charging with PD3.0 and PPS is more versatile and efficient than the iPhone 11 Pro’s PD2.0. The Xperia 5 V also adds reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the iPhone 11 Pro.

Buying Guide

Buy the Apple iPhone 11 Pro if you are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, prioritize iOS software updates, and require a reliable, albeit older, device with a proven track record. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 V if you prefer Android’s customization options, demand the latest processor for demanding tasks, and value exceptional battery life and fast charging in a compact form factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 5 V get noticeably warmer than the A13 Bionic during prolonged gaming?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is more powerful, its 4nm process node is also more efficient. This means it generates less heat than the A13 Bionic’s 7nm+ process, especially during sustained workloads like gaming. The Xperia 5 V is designed with thermal management in mind, minimizing throttling and maintaining consistent performance.
❓ Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens on the Xperia 5 V a significant drawback compared to the iPhone 11 Pro?
The Xperia 5 V utilizes advanced digital zoom capabilities and Sony’s image processing algorithms to compensate for the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens. While a dedicated lens offers optical zoom benefits, the Xperia 5 V’s software enhancements can deliver surprisingly good results at moderate zoom levels. The iPhone 11 Pro's telephoto lens will still offer superior optical zoom quality.
❓ How does the software update commitment differ between the iPhone 11 Pro and the Sony Xperia 5 V?
Apple provides long-term software support for its devices, and the iPhone 11 Pro continues to receive iOS updates. Sony’s software update policy is typically shorter, with the Xperia 5 V expected to receive a limited number of major Android updates. This is a key consideration for users who prioritize long-term software support and security patches.