Sony Xperia 5 vs Xperia 5 II: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 5 II is the clear winner, offering a faster processor, improved camera, and faster charging. While the original Xperia 5 still holds value, the 5 II's enhancements justify the higher price for most users seeking a premium compact experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia 5 | Sony Xperia 5 II |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | 1, 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 bands | - | 1, 3, 8, 28, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05 | 2020, September 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) | 158 x 68 x 8 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 164 g (5.78 oz) | 163 g (5.75 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR BT.2020 | OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Triple | 12 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", 1.0µm | 12 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 |
| Video | 4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Black, Grey | Black, Grey, Blue, Pink |
| Models | J8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M | SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02 |
| Price | About 500 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | $ 409.99 | - |
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 695.00 |
| RENEWED | $ 674.00 | £ 239.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 96h | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -27.1 LUFS (Good) | -28.3 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 5
- Exceptional battery life
- Smooth performance
- Excellent OLED display
- Compact and lightweight
- Older chipset
- Slower charging
- No 5G support
- Less advanced camera
Sony Xperia 5 II
- Faster processor and more RAM
- Improved camera system
- 5G connectivity
- Faster charging
- Real-time eye autofocus
- Higher price
- Slightly lower peak brightness than the 5
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with infinite contrast ratios. However, the Xperia 5 boasts a slightly brighter peak brightness of 630 nits compared to the 5 II's 600 nits. Both offer a 120Hz refresh rate (though it's dynamic on the 5 II), providing a smooth visual experience. The color accuracy is superb on both.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia 5 II's camera system is a significant upgrade. While both phones offer a triple-lens setup, the 5 II features improved image processing, better low-light performance, and a more versatile zoom range. The 5 II also benefits from real-time eye autofocus, a feature highly valued by photographers. Video recording capabilities are also enhanced on the 5 II.
Performance
The Xperia 5 II's Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and 8GB of RAM provide a noticeable performance boost over the Xperia 5's Snapdragon 855 and 6GB of RAM. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the 5 II. The 5 II also supports 5G connectivity, a feature absent in the original 5.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with endurance ratings of 96h and 102h respectively. The 5 II edges out the 5 slightly, but both will easily last a full day of moderate to heavy use. The 5 II also supports faster 21W charging with PD3.0, reaching 50% in just 30 minutes, compared to the 5's 18W charging.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia 5 is a great choice for budget-conscious users who prioritize exceptional battery life and a smooth, albeit slightly older, Snapdragon 855. The Xperia 5 II is ideal for photography enthusiasts and those who want the latest technology, including 5G connectivity and a more powerful processor, even in a compact form factor.