Sony Xperia 1 II vs Xperia 5 II: A Detailed Comparison

Sony's Xperia line offers a unique blend of premium features and a focus on photography. The Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 II are both excellent choices, but cater to slightly different users. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is the perfect fit.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 II offers better battery life and a slightly more compact design, making it a more versatile daily driver. However, the Xperia 1 II boasts a larger, brighter display, a more cinematic aspect ratio, and a slightly more premium feel, appealing to content creators and those prioritizing screen real estate. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 II Sony Xperia 5 II
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, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 28, 77, 78 NSA/Sub61, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat19 1600/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2020, February 242020, September 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, May 22Available. Released 2020, October 12
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 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight181.4 g (6.38 oz)163 g (5.75 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, 120Hz, 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 Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingZeiss optics, color 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/1.7, 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
Video4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
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 YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
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, LE5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
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/6, 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 wireless21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Purple, Mirror Lake GreenBlack, Grey, Blue, Pink
ModelsXQ-AT51, XQ-AT52, SOG01, XQ-AT42SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02
PriceAbout 700 EURAbout 650 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 695.00
RENEWED-£ 239.00
Tests
Battery lifeEndurance rating 83h Endurance rating 102h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.3 LUFS (Good) -28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 534701 (v8) GeekBench: 3295 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 1 II

  • Larger, brighter 4K OLED display
  • More advanced camera features
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio

  • Shorter battery life
  • Higher price
  • Larger size may be less comfortable for some

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • Excellent battery life
  • More compact and pocketable
  • Faster charging (PD3.0)
  • More affordable

  • Smaller display
  • Fewer advanced camera features
  • Less premium design

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 II features a stunning 6.5-inch 4K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate (though it dynamically adjusts), offering incredible detail and vibrant colors. Its 611 nits brightness is impressive. The Xperia 5 II has a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, boasting a respectable 600 nits brightness. While the 5 II's display is excellent, the 1 II's larger size, higher resolution, and slightly brighter panel give it a noticeable edge for media consumption and creative work.

Camera Comparison

Both phones share a similar camera system with a main, ultrawide, and telephoto lens. The Xperia 1 II offers slightly more advanced features and manual controls, catering to experienced photographers. The Xperia 5 II's camera is still excellent, providing great image quality in a more user-friendly package. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and 8GB of RAM, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks and demanding games. While the CPU configurations are identical, the Xperia 5 II's slightly more efficient thermal management might allow it to sustain peak performance for longer periods. Real-world performance differences are minimal.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 II shines in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 102 hours, significantly better than the Xperia 1 II's 83 hours. This difference is likely due to the 5 II's smaller display and more efficient power management. The Xperia 5 II also supports PD3.0 fast charging, reaching 50% in just 30 minutes.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 1 II is ideal for content creators, photography enthusiasts who appreciate a larger screen and more advanced features, and those who value a premium design. The Xperia 5 II is a great choice for users seeking a more compact and pocketable phone with excellent battery life and a strong camera system, without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the difference in camera features between the two phones?
The Xperia 1 II offers more advanced manual controls and features geared towards experienced photographers, while the Xperia 5 II provides a more streamlined and user-friendly camera experience.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
Both phones offer excellent gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 865. The Xperia 5 II might maintain peak performance slightly longer due to better thermal management.