Sony Xperia 5 Plus vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Android Phones

The Sony Xperia 5 Plus and OnePlus 8 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship Android experience. The Xperia 5 Plus, released in 2020, prioritized a compact form factor and a more traditional Sony experience. The OnePlus 8 Pro, also from 2020, aimed for a more mainstream appeal with a larger display, faster charging, and a focus on 5G connectivity. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device holds up better today.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the better choice. While the Xperia 5 Plus offers a more compact design, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s superior chipset (Snapdragon 865 vs 855), significantly faster charging speeds (30W wired/wireless vs 18W wired), and comparable battery endurance provide a more compelling overall package.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 Plus OnePlus 8 Pro
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) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
AnnouncedNot announced yet2020, April 14
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions168.2 x 71.6 x 8.1 mm (6.62 x 2.82 x 0.32 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight-199 g (7.02 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~415 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 101.8 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, HDR BT.2020Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Triluminos display X-Reality Engine-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlyNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad12 MP, (wide), 1/1.5", predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 8 MP, (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 64 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm 2 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Video4K@24/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, PD2.030W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4000 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlue, Red, Black, GreyGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
Models-IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
Price-About 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5 Plus

  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Sony’s Alpha camera technology for accurate colors
  • Headphone jack (likely, based on Sony’s history)

  • Older Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • Slower 18W charging
  • Limited RAM options

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Faster Snapdragon 865 5G chipset
  • Significantly faster 30W wired and wireless charging
  • Larger, higher-resolution display

  • Larger and heavier form factor
  • May lack a headphone jack (depending on region)
  • Potentially more expensive

Display Comparison

Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s larger screen size is a significant differentiator. While neither spec sheet details refresh rates, the OnePlus 8 Pro was known for its 120Hz display, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to the Xperia 5 Plus’s likely 60Hz panel. The Xperia 5 Plus’s 6.1-inch display caters to those seeking a pocketable device, while the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 6.78-inch screen provides a more expansive viewing experience. The OnePlus 8 Pro's larger size also allows for a higher resolution, resulting in a sharper image.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system, while details are missing here, was known for its versatility and strong image processing. The Xperia 5 Plus, leveraging Sony’s Alpha camera technology, likely prioritizes color accuracy and dynamic range. Without sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system generally received more positive reviews for its overall performance and features. The lack of detail on the Xperia 5 Plus's camera suggests it may not have been a primary selling point.

Performance

The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G chipset represents a clear generational leap over the Xperia 5 Plus’s Snapdragon 855. The 865, built on a 7nm+ process, offers improved performance and efficiency. While both CPUs share a 2.84 GHz Kryo/Cortex-A77 prime core, the 865’s architecture and increased clock speeds in its secondary cores provide a noticeable advantage in multi-threaded tasks. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s availability in configurations up to 12GB of RAM (compared to the Xperia 5 Plus’s unspecified RAM) further enhances multitasking capabilities. The 865 also includes an integrated 5G modem, a feature absent in the 855.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts a significant advantage in charging speed, offering 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes), alongside 3W reverse wireless charging. The Xperia 5 Plus is limited to 18W wired charging with PD2.0. Both phones share an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite potential differences in battery capacity. However, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s faster charging mitigates any potential battery life concerns, allowing for quicker top-ups throughout the day.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia 5 Plus if you prioritize a truly compact flagship experience and value Sony’s unique camera processing style. Its smaller size makes it ideal for one-handed use and those who dislike large phones. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prioritize performance, fast charging, and a larger, more immersive display. It’s the better option for gamers, power users, and those who want a phone that can keep up with demanding tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 855 in the Xperia 5 Plus still hold up for gaming in 2024?
While the Snapdragon 855 is still capable of running most mobile games, it will struggle with the most demanding titles at maximum settings. You may experience frame drops and longer loading times compared to the Snapdragon 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro, which offers a smoother and more consistent gaming experience.
❓ How does the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wireless charging compare to other wireless charging options?
30W wireless charging is exceptionally fast for its time and remains competitive even today. It’s significantly faster than the 15W or 10W wireless charging found on many other phones, allowing you to quickly top up your battery without needing a cable. The Xperia 5 Plus lacks wireless charging entirely.
❓ Is the difference in display size between the Xperia 5 Plus and OnePlus 8 Pro noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the 6.78-inch display on the OnePlus 8 Pro is considerably larger than the 6.1-inch display on the Xperia 5 Plus. This difference is particularly noticeable when watching videos, browsing the web, or playing games. The larger screen provides a more immersive experience, but the Xperia 5 Plus is easier to handle with one hand.
❓ Given the age of both phones, are software updates still available?
Software update support is limited for both devices. While both initially launched with Android 10, they have received updates to later versions. However, they are unlikely to receive further major Android version updates. Security patches may also be infrequent.