Sony Xperia 5 IV vs Xperia 5 II: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Sony's Xperia line consistently delivers a unique blend of premium hardware and a focus on photography. The Xperia 5 IV and 5 II are both excellent choices, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which phone is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 5 IV boasts a significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, brighter display, and improved charging speeds. However, the Xperia 5 II remains a compelling option, especially for those prioritizing value and a slightly more compact design. The 5 IV is the clear performance winner, but the 5 II offers a more budget-friendly entry point.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 IV Sony Xperia 5 II
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, 48, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 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
Announced2022, September 012020, September 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 22Available. Released 2020, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions156 x 67 x 8.2 mm (6.14 x 2.64 x 0.32 in)158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight172 g (6.07 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 -Triluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 650
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 13Android 10, upgradable to Android 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingZeiss optics, 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 PDAF12 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@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS1080p@30fps, 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 Adaptive5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-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
ChargingWired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Ion 4000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGreen, Black, Ecru WhiteBlack, Grey, Blue, Pink
ModelsXQCQ62B-GC, XQCQ62G.GC, XQ-CQ72/B2TWCX0, XQ-CQ72/C2TWCX0, XQ-CQ72/G2TWCX0, XQCQ54C0B.YD, XQCQ54C0G.YD, XQCQ54C0C.YD, XQ-CQ54, XQ-CQ72, A204SOSO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02
Price€ 248.89 / $ 999.00 / £ 189.99About 650 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 695.00
RENEWED-£ 239.00
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 116h Endurance rating 102h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.9 LUFS (Good) -28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance AnTuTu: 835038 (v9) GeekBench: 3448 (v5.1) GFXBench: 63fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 IV

  • Significantly faster performance
  • Brighter display
  • Improved charging speed
  • Better battery endurance
  • Enhanced camera features

  • Higher price point
  • Potentially more complex UI for some users

Sony Xperia 5 II

  • More affordable
  • Compact design
  • Excellent camera quality
  • Reliable performance

  • Slower performance compared to 5 IV
  • Less bright display
  • Slower charging speed
  • Older chipset

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 IV's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 979 nits, significantly outperforming the 5 II's 600 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the 5 IV provides a noticeably more vibrant and visible experience, especially outdoors. Both utilize OLED technology for rich colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera systems, but the 5 IV introduces improvements in image processing and video recording. While detailed camera specs are not fully provided, the 5 IV generally offers better low-light performance and more advanced video features. Both phones are known for their manual controls and focus on photographic fidelity.

Performance

The Xperia 5 IV's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a substantial upgrade over the 5 II's Snapdragon 865 5G. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the 5 IV. While the 5 II is still capable, the 5 IV's chipset provides a more future-proofed experience.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 IV edges out the 5 II in battery endurance, boasting an impressive 116h rating compared to the 5 II's 102h. Both support PD3.0 fast charging, but the 5 IV charges faster, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. While both offer reverse wireless charging, the 5 IV's larger battery capacity provides a slight advantage in real-world usage.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia 5 IV is ideal for photography enthusiasts, power users who demand top-tier performance, and those who appreciate a brighter display. The Xperia 5 II is a great choice for users seeking a reliable, capable phone with excellent camera capabilities at a more accessible price point, and those who prefer a slightly smaller form factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 5 IV worth the extra cost over the Xperia 5 II?
If you prioritize performance, a brighter display, and faster charging, the Xperia 5 IV is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and still want a great camera and reliable performance, the Xperia 5 II remains a strong contender.
❓ Which phone has better video recording capabilities?
The Xperia 5 IV generally offers superior video recording capabilities due to its more advanced chipset and image processing. Both phones are known for their manual video controls, appealing to videographers.