Sony Xperia 1 II vs Xperia 5: The Ultimate Showdown

Sony's Xperia line offers a unique blend of premium features and a distinct design philosophy. Choosing between the Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 can be tough, as both offer compelling experiences. This comprehensive comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 II boasts a superior camera system, brighter display, and more powerful processor. However, the Xperia 5 offers longer battery life and a more compact form factor at a lower price. Ultimately, the 1 II is for photography enthusiasts, while the 5 is a great all-rounder.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 II Sony Xperia 5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
5G bands1, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub6-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2020, February 242019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, May 22Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm (6.5 x 2.80 x 0.30 in)158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight181.4 g (6.38 oz)164 g (5.78 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020OLED, HDR BT.2020
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use casesTriluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 640
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD 11W wireless18W wired, PD2.0
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Purple, Mirror Lake GreenBlue, Red, Black, Grey
ModelsXQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42J8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M
PriceAbout 700 EURAbout 500 EUR
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 409.99
RENEWED-$ 674.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB
Battery lifeEndurance rating 83h Endurance rating 96h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.3 LUFS (Good) -27.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 1 II

  • Superior Camera System
  • Brighter 4K Display
  • More Powerful Processor
  • Variable Telephoto Lens

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • Larger and Heavier
  • Higher Price

Sony Xperia 5

  • Longer Battery Life
  • More Compact Size
  • Lower Price
  • Excellent Display

  • Less Powerful Processor
  • Standard Telephoto Lens
  • Lower Resolution Display

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with infinite contrast ratios. The Xperia 1 II has a 6.5-inch 4K HDR display with 611 nits brightness, offering stunning detail and vibrant colors. The Xperia 5 has a slightly smaller 6-inch Full HD+ display with 630 nits brightness, providing a more manageable size and still delivering a great viewing experience. The 1 II's 4K resolution is a significant advantage for media consumption and creative work.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 1 II's camera system is a major highlight. It features a triple-lens setup with a variable telephoto lens, offering greater versatility. The Xperia 5 also has a triple-lens setup, but lacks the variable telephoto. Both phones capture excellent photos and videos, but the 1 II's advanced features and processing provide a noticeable edge in image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The 1 II also supports 4K 120fps video recording.

Performance

The Xperia 1 II utilizes the Snapdragon 865 chipset, offering a noticeable performance boost over the Xperia 5's Snapdragon 855. While both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, the 1 II excels in demanding games and applications. The 1 II also benefits from slightly faster RAM speeds. Both phones have ample RAM for multitasking.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 takes the lead in battery life, offering an endurance rating of 96 hours compared to the Xperia 1 II's 83 hours. While both phones provide a full day of usage, the 5's larger battery capacity ensures longer runtimes, especially for heavy users.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 1 II is ideal for photography enthusiasts, videographers, and users who prioritize a large, high-quality display and top-tier performance. The Xperia 5 is a better choice for those seeking a more pocketable phone with excellent battery life and a slightly more affordable price tag, without sacrificing too much on performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 II worth the extra cost?
If you're a serious photographer or videographer, the Xperia 1 II's superior camera system and 4K display justify the higher price. Otherwise, the Xperia 5 offers excellent value.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xperia 1 II's Snapdragon 865 and slightly faster RAM provide a smoother gaming experience, especially for demanding titles.