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

Sony continues to carve its niche with unique, enthusiast-focused smartphones. The Xperia 5 IV and Xperia 1 V represent their latest flagship offerings, each boasting distinct strengths. But which one delivers the best overall experience? This comprehensive comparison will break down every aspect, helping you decide which Xperia is the perfect fit.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 V edges out the 5 IV thanks to its significantly improved performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, enhanced camera capabilities, and slightly brighter display. However, the 5 IV remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a more compact form factor and a slightly lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 IV 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, 66 - Europe1, 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, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 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 - Asia1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2022, September 012023, May 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 22Available. Released 2023, July 28
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions156 x 67 x 8.2 mm (6.14 x 2.64 x 0.32 in)165 x 71 x 8.3 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight172 g (6.07 oz)187 g (6.60 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning 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 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13Android 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.XUFS
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm-
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 60mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 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@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 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
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-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 supportNative Sony Alpha camera support
Battery
ChargingWired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGreen, Black, Ecru WhiteBlack, Khaki Green, Platinum Silver
ModelsXQCQ62B-GC, XQCQ62G.GC, XQ-CQ72/B2TWCX0, XQ-CQ72/C2TWCX0, XQ-CQ72/G2TWCX0, XQCQ54C0B.YD, XQCQ54C0G.YD, XQCQ54C0C.YD, XQ-CQ54, XQ-CQ72, A204SOXQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54
Price€ 248.89 / $ 999.00 / £ 189.99€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 116h Endurance rating 115h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.9 LUFS (Good) -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 835038 (v9) GeekBench: 3448 (v5.1) GFXBench: 63fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 IV

  • More compact and pocketable
  • Excellent camera system
  • Vibrant OLED display
  • Fast charging

  • Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip
  • Less powerful than Xperia 1 V
  • No telephoto lens with optical zoom

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Enhanced camera capabilities
  • Larger, more immersive display
  • Improved video recording

  • Higher price
  • Larger size may not suit everyone
  • Battery life slightly less efficient under heavy load

Display Comparison

Both Xperia phones feature stunning OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and excellent color accuracy. The Xperia 1 V boasts a slightly higher peak brightness of 936 nits compared to the 5 IV's 979 nits, though the difference is minimal in real-world use. The 1 V's larger 6.5-inch screen provides a more immersive viewing experience, while the 5 IV's 6.1-inch display offers better one-handed usability.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems, but the Xperia 1 V takes the lead. Its improved image processing, larger sensor on the main lens, and enhanced video recording capabilities result in superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The 1 V also benefits from Sony's advanced computational photography features.

Performance

The Xperia 1 V's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers a noticeable performance boost over the 5 IV's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance. While the 5 IV is still capable, the 1 V offers a more future-proofed and responsive experience.

Battery Life

Both phones have similar endurance ratings (116h vs 115h), suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage. However, the Xperia 1 V's active use score of 12:24h suggests it might drain slightly faster under heavy load due to its more powerful processor. Both support fast wired charging (PD3.0) and wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 IV is ideal for users who want a powerful, compact phone with excellent camera capabilities and a vibrant display, but don't need the absolute best performance or the largest screen. The Xperia 1 V is for photography enthusiasts, power users, and those who appreciate a larger, cinematic display and top-tier performance, even at a premium price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 V worth the extra money?
If you're a photography enthusiast or prioritize top-tier performance, the Xperia 1 V's improvements in camera and processing power justify the higher price. Otherwise, the Xperia 5 IV offers excellent value for its features.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xperia 1 V is the better choice for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and improved thermal management.