Sony's Xperia line has a rich history of innovation. Today, we're pitting two popular models against each other: the Xperia Z5 and the Xperia Z1s. Both were flagship devices in their time, but significant differences exist. Let's dive in to see which one holds up best.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia Z5 is the clear winner, boasting a superior chipset, better camera, and significantly longer battery life. While the Z1s offers a slightly faster CPU clock speed, the Z5's overall performance and features make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E6603, E6653 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 - E6603, E6653 | 4, 17 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps (E6603), LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps (E6653) | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, September 02. Released 2015, October 02 | 2014, January. Released 2014, January |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 in) | 145.7 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm (5.74 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 154 g (5.43 oz) | 162 g (5.71 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP58 dust proof and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating | Shatter proof glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~428 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.2 inches, 73.2 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~64.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | TFT |
| | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Adreno 330 |
| OS | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat) | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.0 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF | 20.7 MP, 1/2.3", AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5.1 MP, f/2.4 | 2 MP |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, aptX | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3 TV-out), OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted; EU model only), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | - |
| Music play | Up to 87 h | Up to 40 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 520 h (2G) / Up to 540 h (3G) | Up to 600 h (2G) / Up to 620 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 17 h (3G) | Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White, Graphite Black, Gold, Green, Pink | Black |
| Models | E6653, SO-01H, SOV32, E6603, 501SO | C6916 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) | 0.72 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -95.5dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 48h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 986 (nominal), 2.88(sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 66dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1580Basemark X: 24941 | - |
Sony Xperia Z5
- Superior Camera
- Longer Battery Life
- Faster Processor
- Larger Display
- Modern Features
- Snapdragon 810 thermal throttling potential
- Older Design
Sony Xperia Z1s
- Compact Size
- Slightly Faster CPU Clock Speed
- More Affordable (used)
- Outdated Processor
- Shorter Battery Life
- Lower Camera Quality
- Smaller Display
- Limited Software Updates
Display Comparison
The Xperia Z5 features a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a contrast ratio of 986:1 (nominal) and a surprisingly good 2.88:1 in direct sunlight. The Z1s has a 4.3-inch Triluminos display. While both offer vibrant colors, the Z5's larger size and better sunlight visibility give it an edge. Resolution is also higher on the Z5.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia Z5's camera is a major upgrade. It features a 20.7MP Exmor RS sensor with fast hybrid autofocus, delivering significantly better image quality, especially in low light. The Z1s has a 20.7MP camera, but its autofocus and image processing are noticeably behind. Video recording capabilities are also improved on the Z5.
Performance
The Z5's Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset with an octa-core CPU (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) provides a noticeable performance boost over the Z1s' Snapdragon 800 (28 nm) with a quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400. The Z5's architecture is more efficient, despite the Snapdragon 810 having a reputation for thermal throttling. The Z5 also benefits from more modern RAM and storage technologies.
Battery Life
The Z5's battery life is a standout feature, offering an endurance rating of 48 hours. The Z1s, while decent, doesn't come close to this longevity. This difference is due to a larger battery capacity in the Z5 and more efficient power management.
Buying Guide
The Xperia Z5 is ideal for users prioritizing camera quality, battery endurance, and modern features. The Xperia Z1s might appeal to budget-conscious buyers seeking a compact Android experience, but be aware of its age and limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 810 in the Z5 prone to overheating?
Yes, the Snapdragon 810 can experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. However, Sony implemented thermal management solutions to mitigate this issue.
❓ Can I still find software updates for either of these phones?
Software updates for both devices are largely discontinued. You may find custom ROMs available for the Z5, but support for the Z1s is increasingly limited.
