Sony Xperia 5 vs Xperia 1 V: The Ultimate Showdown

Sony continues to carve its niche with unique, enthusiast-focused smartphones. The Xperia 5 and Xperia 1 V represent different tiers within that strategy. But which one offers the best value and experience for your needs? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia 1 V is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a brighter display, and improved camera capabilities. While the Xperia 5 remains a compelling option for its price and excellent battery life, the 1 V delivers a premium experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 5 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, 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 bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Asia
Launch
Announced2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 052023, May 11
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. 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 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 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
Weight164 g (5.78 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, HDR BT.2020OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020
 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 (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 740
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesColor 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/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm48 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@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)4K@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-EIS)4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, 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, 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
Charging18W wired, PD2.030W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, Red, Black, GreyBlack, Khaki Green, Platinum Silver
ModelsJ8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01MXQDQ62/B, XQ-DQ72, XQ-DQ54
PriceAbout 500 EUR€ 684.00 / $ 1,409.99 / £ 519.99
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM$ 409.99-
RENEWED$ 674.00-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 96h Endurance rating 115h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.1 LUFS (Good) -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1127931 (v9) GeekBench: 4916 (v6) GFXBench: 96fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia 5

  • Excellent battery life
  • Compact and lightweight design
  • Competitive price
  • Good performance for everyday tasks

  • Older chipset
  • Lower display brightness
  • Less advanced camera system
  • Slower charging

Sony Xperia 1 V

  • Top-tier performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Brighter and larger display
  • Superior camera system
  • Faster charging
  • Premium build quality

  • Higher price
  • Slightly larger and heavier
  • Battery life not as exceptional as the Xperia 5

Display Comparison

The Xperia 1 V takes a commanding lead in the display department. Its 936 nits peak brightness is noticeably brighter than the Xperia 5's 630 nits, making it easier to view outdoors. Both feature excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), and OLED technology, but the 1 V's superior brightness provides a more vibrant and immersive viewing experience. The 1 V also has a slightly larger screen.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable cameras, the Xperia 1 V's camera system is a substantial upgrade. The 1 V benefits from Sony's latest image processing algorithms and sensor technology, resulting in better dynamic range, improved low-light performance, and more detailed photos and videos. The 1 V also offers more advanced video recording features.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Xperia 1 V is a generational leap over the Snapdragon 855 in the Xperia 5. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance on the 1 V. The 1 V's newer CPU architecture and 4nm process also contribute to better power efficiency despite the increased performance.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 holds a slight edge in raw battery endurance, with an impressive 96h endurance rating (old data). The Xperia 1 V, while having a lower active use score (12:24h), still delivers a respectable 115h endurance rating (old data). The 1 V's faster charging (30W wired, PD3.0, PPS) helps offset any potential battery life deficit.

Buying Guide

The Xperia 5 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, a compact form factor, and a more budget-friendly price point. The Xperia 1 V is for photography enthusiasts, power users who demand top-tier performance, and those who appreciate a larger, brighter display and premium build quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia 1 V worth the extra cost?
If you're a photography enthusiast or prioritize top-tier performance, the Xperia 1 V's upgrades are well worth the investment. However, if you're on a tighter budget and value battery life, the Xperia 5 remains a solid choice.
❓ What is the difference in camera capabilities?
The Xperia 1 V features a more advanced camera system with improved sensors, image processing, and video recording capabilities. Expect better dynamic range, low-light performance, and overall image quality compared to the Xperia 5.