Sony Xperia 5 II vs Xperia 1 V: The Ultimate Showdown

Sony consistently delivers unique smartphones, and the Xperia 5 II and Xperia 1 V 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 1 V is the clear winner overall, boasting a significantly faster processor, brighter display, and improved camera capabilities. However, the Xperia 5 II remains a compelling option for those seeking a more compact form factor and excellent value, especially considering its lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 II Sony Xperia 1 V
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, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe
5G bands1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2020, September 172023, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, October 12Available. Released 2023, July 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight163 g (5.75 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 Triluminos display X-Reality Engine-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 740
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, 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 PDAF48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 125mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-5.2x continuous optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 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, LE5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -Native Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Grey, Blue, PinkBlack, Khaki Green, Platinum Silver
ModelsSO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02XQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54
PriceAbout 650 EUR€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM$ 695.00-
RENEWED£ 239.00-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 102h Endurance rating 115h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.3 LUFS (Average) -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • More compact and pocketable
  • Excellent value for money
  • Great camera performance
  • Solid performance for everyday tasks

  • Older chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • No 120Hz refresh rate
  • Slower charging speeds

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • Significantly faster performance
  • Brighter and smoother display (120Hz)
  • Superior camera system
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Premium design and build quality

  • Higher price
  • Larger size
  • Battery life not dramatically better

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 V's 6.5-inch OLED display shines with a measured peak brightness of 936 nits, significantly brighter than the Xperia 5 II's 600 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the 1 V's superior brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The 1 V also features a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and animations, a feature absent in the 5 II.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer excellent camera systems, the Xperia 1 V takes the lead. Its improved image processing, larger sensor, and advanced features like Exmor T for mobile contribute to superior image quality, especially in low light. The 1 V also benefits from improved video recording capabilities.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 1 V provides a substantial performance boost over the Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia 5 II. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the 1 V. The 1 V's newer chipset also offers better power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Xperia 1 V shows a slightly better active use score (12:24h) compared to the Xperia 5 II. However, the Xperia 5 II boasts an impressive endurance rating of 102h, suggesting exceptional standby time. Both support 21W/30W wired charging, but the 1 V adds wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 II is ideal for users who prioritize a smaller, more pocketable phone with a great camera and solid performance. It's a fantastic choice for content creators and photography enthusiasts on a budget. The Sony Xperia 1 V is for power users who demand the absolute best in performance, display quality, and camera features, and are willing to pay a premium for it.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 V worth the extra cost over the Xperia 5 II?
If you prioritize top-tier performance, a brighter display, and the best possible camera experience, then the Xperia 1 V is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and value a more compact size, the Xperia 5 II remains an excellent choice.
❓ What is the difference in camera performance between the two phones?
The Xperia 1 V offers a more advanced camera system with improved image processing, a larger sensor, and features like Exmor T for mobile, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. The 1 V also excels in video recording.