Sony Xperia 5 II vs Xperia 10 II: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming, especially when considering Sony's diverse lineup. The Xperia 5 II and Xperia 10 II offer distinct experiences, catering to different needs and budgets. This comprehensive comparison will break down their key features to help you make an informed decision.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 II is the clear winner for performance and camera capabilities, thanks to its Snapdragon 865 chipset and superior optics. However, the Xperia 10 II offers a more budget-friendly option with a respectable battery life and a larger display, making it suitable for casual users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 II Sony Xperia 10 II
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat11 600/75 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2020, September 172020, February 24
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, October 12Available. Released 2020, May 05
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame
Dimensions158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)157 x 69 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.72 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight163 g (5.75 oz)151 g (5.33 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
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~77.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020OLED
 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 (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 610
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
 UFS 3.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLED flash, HDR, panorama
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 PDAF12 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0"
Video4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0"
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min18W wired, PD, QC3
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAhLi-Po 3600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Grey, Blue, PinkBlack, White, Mint Green, Berry Blue
ModelsSO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02XQ-AU51, XQ-AU52, SO-41A
PriceAbout 650 EURAbout 700 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM$ 695.00-
RENEWED£ 239.00-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 102h Endurance rating 92h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.3 LUFS (Average) -28.8 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 196545 (v8) GeekBench: 5679 (v4.4), 1413 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • Superior Performance
  • Excellent Camera
  • Brighter Display
  • Faster Charging (21W)

  • Higher Price
  • Smaller Size (potentially less screen real estate)

Sony Xperia 10 II

  • More Affordable
  • Larger Display
  • Good Battery Life
  • Compact Size

  • Slower Performance
  • Less Capable Camera
  • Slower Charging (18W)

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 II boasts a brighter display at 600 nits compared to the Xperia 10 II's 520 nits, resulting in better outdoor visibility. Both feature an 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting excellent black levels. The 5 II's smaller size might be preferable for one-handed use, while the 10 II's larger screen is better for media.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia 5 II's camera system is a major upgrade. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the 5 II's Snapdragon 865 includes a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) and likely better sensors, resulting in superior image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The 5 II also likely offers more advanced video recording features.

Performance

The Xperia 5 II's Snapdragon 865 chipset provides significantly faster performance than the Xperia 10 II's Snapdragon 665. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a better gaming experience. The 5 II's CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) is far more powerful than the 10 II's (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver).

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 II edges out the Xperia 10 II slightly with an endurance rating of 102h versus 92h. Both offer respectable battery life, but the 5 II's more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery contribute to its advantage.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 II is ideal for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and power users who demand top-tier performance. The Xperia 10 II is a great choice for those seeking a reliable, affordable smartphone with a long-lasting battery and a large screen for media consumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 II worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a brighter display, the Xperia 5 II is definitely worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and primarily need a reliable phone for basic tasks, the Xperia 10 II is a solid choice.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Sony has historically provided decent software updates, but it's generally expected that the flagship Xperia 5 II will receive updates for a longer period than the Xperia 10 II.