Sony Xperia 1 vs Xperia 5: A Detailed Comparison

Sony's Xperia line offers a unique blend of premium features and a distinct design philosophy. The Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 are both excellent devices, but cater to slightly different users. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 emerges as the slightly better overall choice due to its superior battery life and more compact size, while retaining the core Xperia experience. The Xperia 1 offers a larger, brighter display and a more premium feel, but at a higher price and with shorter battery life. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 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, 26, 28, 29, 32, 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
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2019, February 25. Released 2019, May 302019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions167 x 72 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight178 g (6.28 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 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR BT.2020OLED, HDR BT.2020
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality EngineTriluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 640
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlymicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple12 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", 1.0µm12 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@24/25/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps4K@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 NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, 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, 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
Charging18W wired, PD2.018W wired, PD2.0
TypeLi-Ion 3330 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gray, Purple, WhiteBlue, Red, Black, Grey
ModelsJ8110, J8170, J9110, J9150, SOV40, SO-03LJ8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M
PriceAbout 500 EURAbout 500 EUR
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 409.99
RENEWED-$ 674.00
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB
Battery lifeEndurance rating 79h Endurance rating 96h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.7 LUFS (Good) -27.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 356734 (v7), 418206 (v8) GeekBench: 10985 (v4.4), 2753 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (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

  • Larger, brighter display
  • More premium build quality
  • Advanced camera features
  • Cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio

  • Shorter battery life
  • Larger size can be unwieldy
  • Higher price

Sony Xperia 5

  • Excellent battery life
  • More compact and pocketable
  • Competitive price
  • Great camera performance

  • Slightly less bright display
  • Less premium feel compared to Xperia 1

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 boasts a larger 6.5-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering a more immersive viewing experience. It also has a slightly higher peak brightness (665 nits vs 630 nits on the Xperia 5). Both phones feature a cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio and excellent contrast. The Xperia 1's larger size can be a drawback for one-handed use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature a triple-lens rear camera system with a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The Xperia 1 offers slightly more advanced camera features and manual controls. Image quality is generally excellent on both devices, with Sony's signature color science. Low-light performance is comparable.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6GB of RAM, delivering smooth performance for everyday tasks and demanding games. There's little to differentiate them in terms of raw processing power. The Xperia 5's slightly smaller size might lead to marginally better thermal management during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 significantly outperforms the Xperia 1 in battery life, offering an endurance rating of 96 hours compared to the Xperia 1's 79 hours. This is a major advantage for users who need a phone that can last through a full day of heavy use.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 1 is ideal for photography enthusiasts who prioritize a larger, brighter display and don't mind sacrificing some battery life. It's also a good choice for those who appreciate a more premium, flagship feel. The Xperia 5 is better suited for users who want a more pocketable phone with excellent battery life and a great camera, without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 worth the extra money?
If you prioritize a larger, brighter display and a more premium feel, and don't mind the shorter battery life, then the Xperia 1 is worth the investment. Otherwise, the Xperia 5 offers excellent value.
❓ Which phone is better for photography?
Both phones offer excellent camera performance. The Xperia 1 has slightly more advanced features and manual controls, but the Xperia 5 delivers comparable image quality in most situations.