Sony Xperia 10 vs Xperia 5 II: A Detailed Comparison

Sony consistently delivers unique smartphones, and the Xperia 10 and Xperia 5 II are prime examples. The Xperia 10 offers a budget-friendly entry point, while the Xperia 5 II steps up the game with premium features. But which one is right for you? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 II is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance, a brighter display, and a more advanced camera system. While the Xperia 10 provides decent value, the 5 II's upgrades justify the higher price for most users seeking a premium smartphone experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 10 Sony Xperia 5 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - I3113, I4113, I4193HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38 - I3113, I41131, 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 bands-1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - I4193-
Launch
Announced2019, February 25. Released 2019, February 272020, September 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions156 x 68 x 8.4 mm (6.14 x 2.68 x 0.33 in)158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight162 g (5.71 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~79.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Triluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 508Adreno 650
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie)Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Triple-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@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, PD, QC321W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 2870 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Navy, Silver, PinkBlack, Grey, Blue, Pink
ModelsI3113, I4113, I4193, I3123SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02
PriceAbout 280 EURAbout 650 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 695.00
RENEWED-£ 239.00
Tests
Audio quality Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -97.1dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 65h Endurance rating 102h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1517:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -30.2 LUFS (Below average) -28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 89697 (v7), 112198 (v8) GeekBench: 3985 (v4.4), 990 (v5.1) GFXBench: 4.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 10

  • Excellent battery life
  • Large display
  • Affordable price
  • Good contrast ratio

  • Outdated chipset
  • Lower performance
  • Basic camera
  • Less bright display

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • Flagship performance
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Advanced camera system
  • 5G connectivity
  • Fast charging

  • Higher price
  • Potentially larger size/weight

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 II boasts a significant advantage with its 600 nits max brightness, making it much easier to see outdoors. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (1517:1 for the 10 and 'Infinite' for the 5 II, which implies very high contrast), the 5 II's brightness is a noticeable improvement. The 5 II also likely has a more refined color calibration.

Camera Comparison

While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Xperia 5 II's camera system is considerably more advanced. The 865 chipset enables features like better image processing, improved low-light performance, and potentially 4K video recording at higher frame rates. The 5 II likely has a more versatile camera setup with multiple lenses (wide, ultrawide, telephoto) compared to the 10's likely single lens.

Performance

The Xperia 5 II's Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and Cortex-A77 CPU are a world apart from the Xperia 10's Snapdragon 630 and Cortex-A53. Expect dramatically faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance on the 5 II. The 5 II's RAM (8GB vs 10's likely 4GB) further enhances its multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

Both phones offer a respectable endurance rating of 65h, indicating similar battery life in typical usage. However, the 5 II's more efficient chipset and potentially optimized software could lead to slightly better real-world battery performance.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 10 is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize battery life and a large display for media consumption. It's a solid choice for basic tasks. The Sony Xperia 5 II is perfect for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who wants a flagship-level experience with a focus on Sony's unique features and excellent camera capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 II worth the extra money?
Yes, if you value performance, camera quality, and a brighter display. The Xperia 5 II offers a significant upgrade over the Xperia 10 in almost every area.
❓ Which Sony phone has better battery life?
Both phones have a similar endurance rating, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage.