Sony Xperia 5 II vs. Xperia XZ1: A Detailed Comparison for Sony Enthusiasts
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Sony Xperia 5 II is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865 offers significantly improved performance and 5G connectivity, while the 102-hour endurance rating provides a substantial battery life boost over the XZ1’s 82 hours. The 5 II’s faster charging also addresses a common pain point of older flagships.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ1 | Sony Xperia 5 II |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - F8341, F8342 | 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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - G8341 | 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 (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66 - G8343 | - | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2017, August 31. Released 2017, September 19 | 2020, September 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, October 12 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 148 x 73.4 x 7.4 mm (5.83 x 2.89 x 0.29 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 | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 163 g (5.75 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10 | OLED, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 540 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF | - |
| Triple | - | 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@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p, 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3" | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 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, QC3 | 21W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 4000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Warm Silver, Venus Pink, Moonlit Blue | Black, Grey, Blue, Pink |
| Models | G8341, G8342, F8341, F8342, G8343, SOV36, SO-01K | SO-52A, XQ-AS52, XQ-AS62, XQ-AS72, A002SO, SOG02 |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 650 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 695.00 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 239.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 82h | Endurance rating 102h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1406 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 65dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 69dB | -28.3 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | GeekBench: 6541 (v4.4), 1527 (v5.1) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 532655 (v8) GeekBench: 3301 (v5.1) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ1
- Truly compact form factor
- Lower price point (used market)
- Solid build quality
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 835)
- Shorter battery life
- Slower charging speeds
Sony Xperia 5 II
- Significantly faster performance (Snapdragon 865)
- Improved battery life (102h endurance)
- Faster charging (21W, PD3.0)
- 5G connectivity
- Higher initial cost ($695 for 128GB/8GB)
- Slightly larger form factor than XZ1
Display Comparison
The Xperia 5 II boasts a measured peak brightness of 600 nits, a considerable improvement over the XZ1’s nominal 1406 contrast ratio (and 3.765 in sunlight). While the XZ1’s contrast ratio is respectable, the 5 II’s higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors. The 5 II also claims an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, likely due to its OLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the XZ1’s LCD. The 5 II’s aspect ratio (21:9) also caters to content consumption, while the XZ1’s more standard ratio may appeal to those preferring a more conventional viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature capable photo and video capabilities, but the Xperia 5 II likely benefits from advancements in image processing and potentially a newer sensor. While specific sensor details are missing, the 5 II’s inclusion of the Snapdragon 865’s image signal processor (ISP) allows for improved noise reduction, dynamic range, and overall image quality. The XZ1’s camera was solid for its time, but the 5 II’s newer hardware and software provide a clear advantage, particularly in low-light conditions. The absence of detailed camera specs prevents a deeper analysis, but the 5 II’s newer platform is a strong indicator of superior performance.
Performance
The jump from the Snapdragon 835 in the XZ1 to the Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia 5 II is substantial. The 865, built on a 7nm+ process, offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance. The 5 II’s CPU configuration – 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 – provides a noticeable advantage over the XZ1’s Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo). The 5 II also benefits from faster RAM, though the specific LPDDR version isn’t specified, and supports 5G connectivity, a feature absent in the XZ1. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience.
Battery Life
The Xperia 5 II’s endurance rating of 102 hours represents a significant improvement over the XZ1’s 82 hours. This is likely due to a combination of the more efficient Snapdragon 865 chipset and potentially a slightly larger battery capacity (not specified in the data). The 5 II also supports 21W wired charging with PD3.0, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes, a substantial upgrade over the XZ1’s 18W QC3 charging. This faster charging speed addresses a common complaint with older flagships, allowing for quicker top-ups throughout the day.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sony Xperia XZ1 if you prioritize a truly compact form factor and are on a tight budget, willing to accept older technology and potentially reduced software support. Buy the Sony Xperia 5 II if you demand modern performance for gaming and content creation, require 5G connectivity, and value significantly improved battery life and faster charging speeds. The 5 II is the better all-around device for power users.