Sony Xperia 5 II vs Xperia 1: The Ultimate Showdown

Sony consistently delivers unique Android experiences, and the Xperia 5 II and Xperia 1 are prime examples. Both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different users. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the perfect Sony device.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 II offers a more powerful processor, brighter display, and significantly better battery life for a lower price. While the Xperia 1 boasts a larger screen and a slightly more refined design, the 5 II provides better overall value and performance.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia 5 II	Sony Xperia 1

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA	-
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2020, September 17	2019, February 25. Released 2019, May 30
Status	Available. Released 2020, October 12	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions	158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)	167 x 72 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	163 g (5.75 oz)	178 g (6.28 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
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 6	Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution	1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)	1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size	6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020	OLED, HDR BT.2020
	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine	Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine

Platform
CPU	Octa-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)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 640
OS	Android 10, upgradable to Android 12	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	UFS 3.0	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Features	Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking	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	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
Video	4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS	4K@24/25/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS	1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system	24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min	18W wired, PD2.0
Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh	Li-Ion 3330 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Grey, Blue, Pink	Black, Gray, Purple, White
Models	SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02	J8110, J8170, J9110, J9150, SOV40, SO-03L
Price	About 650 EUR	About 500 EUR

Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM	$ 695.00	-
RENEWED	£ 239.00	-

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 102h	Endurance rating 79h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-28.3 LUFS (Average)	-26.7 LUFS (Good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 356734 (v7), 418206 (v8) GeekBench: 10985 (v4.4), 2753 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 II

Superior battery life
More powerful processor
Brighter display
More compact size
Lower price

Slightly less premium design
FHD+ resolution instead of 4K

Sony Xperia 1

Larger 4K OLED display
More premium design and build quality
Slightly better color accuracy (potentially)

Shorter battery life
Less powerful processor
Higher price

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 features a 6.5-inch 4K OLED display, offering incredible detail and vibrant colors. The Xperia 5 II has a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display. While the 5 II's display is slightly less sharp, it boasts a measured peak brightness of 600 nits compared to the Xperia 1's 665 nits, making it slightly easier to view outdoors. Both have excellent contrast ratios.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems with similar setups (main, ultrawide, telephoto). The Xperia 5 II benefits from Sony's latest image processing algorithms, potentially resulting in slightly improved image quality in certain conditions. Video recording capabilities are comparable on both devices.

Performance

The Xperia 5 II’s Snapdragon 865 provides a noticeable performance boost over the Xperia 1’s Snapdragon 855. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. Both phones have ample RAM (8GB) for most users.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 II shines in battery life, achieving an impressive endurance rating of 102 hours, significantly outperforming the Xperia 1's 79 hours. This difference is a major advantage for users who need their phone to last through a full day of heavy use.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 II is ideal for users who prioritize performance, battery life, and a more compact form factor. It's a great choice for mobile gamers and content creators on a budget. The Sony Xperia 1 is best suited for those who demand a large, cinematic display, appreciate a more premium design, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

The Xperia 5 II is the better choice for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 865 processor and superior thermal management.

❓ Is the Xperia 1's 4K display worth the extra cost?

If you prioritize a large, incredibly detailed display for media consumption, then yes. However, for most users, the FHD+ display on the Xperia 5 II is more than adequate.

❓ Which phone has better software support?

Sony has improved its software update policy, but both phones are expected to receive similar levels of support for the foreseeable future.