The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we pit the Vodafone Smart Platinum 7, a mid-range contender, against the Sony Xperia 5, a flagship device known for its premium features. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Xperia 5 clearly takes the crown. While the Vodafone Platinum 7 offers decent value, the Xperia 5's superior Snapdragon 855 chipset, brighter display, and exceptional battery life provide a significantly better overall experience, justifying its higher price point.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, June. Released 2016, June | 2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 154 x 75.7 x 7 mm (6.06 x 2.98 x 0.28 in) | 158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 164 g (5.78 oz) |
| | - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~534 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| | - | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 510 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.6", 1.12µm, PDAF | - |
| 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 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | Hi-Fi audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio
Dynamic vibration system |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3, 50% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Blue, Red, Black, Grey |
| Models | VFD 900 | J8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 500 EUR |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 409.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 674.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 96h
|
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.1 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8)
GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Vodafone Smart Platinum 7
- Affordable
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Quick charging (QC3)
- Outdated chipset
- Less bright display
- Likely inferior camera
- Limited availability
Sony Xperia 5
- Flagship performance (Snapdragon 855)
- Excellent battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Premium build quality
- Versatile camera system
- Higher price
- Design can be polarizing
- Charging speed could be faster
Display Comparison
The Xperia 5 boasts a significantly brighter display (630 nits) compared to the Platinum 7, offering better visibility in sunlight. The Xperia 5's 'infinite' contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks and richer colors, while the Platinum 7's display, though adequate, lacks the same vibrancy. The Xperia 5 also likely has better color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
While specific camera specs are limited for the Platinum 7, the Xperia 5 is known for its excellent camera system, offering versatile lenses and impressive image quality. Expect better low-light performance, dynamic range, and overall detail from the Xperia 5's camera.
Performance
The Snapdragon 855 in the Xperia 5 is a powerhouse, outperforming the Snapdragon 652 in the Platinum 7 by a considerable margin. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Xperia 5. The Xperia 5's CPU architecture is also more efficient.
Battery Life
Both phones offer 18W charging, but the Xperia 5's endurance rating of 96 hours is exceptional, significantly surpassing what we'd expect from the Platinum 7. This indicates a larger battery capacity and more efficient power management in the Xperia 5.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Vodafone Smart Platinum 7? Budget-conscious users seeking a reliable phone for everyday tasks. Who should buy the Sony Xperia 5? Photography enthusiasts, power users, and those prioritizing a premium build, excellent battery life, and top-tier performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Vodafone Platinum 7 still worth buying?
If you're on a very tight budget and only need a basic smartphone for calls, texts, and light browsing, it might suffice. However, for most users, the Xperia 5 offers a much better value proposition.
❓ What is the biggest difference between these two phones?
The biggest difference is the chipset. The Xperia 5's Snapdragon 855 provides significantly faster performance and better efficiency compared to the Platinum 7's Snapdragon 652.
