Sony Xperia 5 II Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Sony Xperia 5 II is a smartphone that was released in late 2020 and has been gaining popularity among tech enthusiasts. This device boasts a sleek design, impressive camera capabilities, and powerful performance, making it a strong contender in the smartphone market.

Design and Build Quality

The Sony Xperia 5 II boasts an elegant and modern design, with a sleek and slim form factor that makes it comfortable to hold and use. The phone features a matte glass back with a frosted finish that adds a touch of sophistication to the overall design. The device is available in four color options: Black, Blue, Grey, and Pink, catering to different style preferences.

The phone's build quality is impressive, with a solid construction that feels sturdy and durable. The device is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, making it suitable for use in challenging environments. The phone's frame is made of aluminum, which adds to its overall durability and robustness.

The phone's button layout is intuitive, with the volume rocker, power button, and fingerprint sensor located on the right-hand side of the device. The fingerprint sensor's placement is ergonomic and easy to access, making it simple to unlock the phone quickly.

Despite its large 6.1-inch display, the Sony Xperia 5 II is compact and lightweight, making it easy to handle and use with one hand. The phone's slim bezels and tall aspect ratio give it a modern and futuristic look that is sure to turn heads.

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 II's design and build quality are top-notch, with a sleek and stylish design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The phone's solid construction and durable materials make it a device that can withstand daily wear and tear, making it an excellent choice for users who value quality and durability in their mobile devices.

Display

The Sony Xperia 5 II boasts a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2520 pixels. One of the most impressive features is the 120Hz refresh rate that ensures smooth scrolling and animations. The screen is also HDR10 certified and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protection, making it resistant to scratches and cracks.

The color accuracy and vibrancy of the display are top-notch, with deep blacks and bright whites. The HDR technology enhances the contrast and makes the colors pop, providing an immersive viewing experience. The brightness levels are also impressive, making it easy to use the phone outdoors in bright sunlight.

The touch sensitivity and responsiveness of the screen are excellent, making it easy to navigate and interact with the device. The screen gestures are smooth and fluid, and the touch response is fast and accurate.

Overall, the display of the Sony Xperia 5 II is one of the best features of the device, providing a stunning visual experience that will delight users. Whether you're watching videos, playing games, or browsing the web, the quality of the display is sure to impress.

Performance

The Sony Xperia 5 II is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, which packs an octa-core CPU with a 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 585 configuration. The Adreno 650 GPU ensures smooth graphics and quick response times, making it ideal for gaming and multitasking.

With 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, the Xperia 5 II delivers lightning-fast performance and ample space to store your files, apps, and media. It also supports microSD cards up to 1TB, providing even more storage options.

The phone's multitasking capabilities are impressive, allowing you to switch between apps seamlessly without any lag or delay. In addition, the gaming performance is excellent, with graphics rendering smoothly and quickly, even on demanding games.

The Xperia 5 II's benchmark scores are also impressive, with high scores on popular tests such as Geekbench and AnTuTu. Real-world usage is equally impressive, with apps opening quickly and running smoothly.

Overall, the Xperia 5 II's performance is top-notch, making it an excellent choice for power users who demand the best performance from their smartphones.

Software and User Interface

The Sony Xperia 5 II runs on the Android 10 operating system with Sony's custom UI. The user interface is clean and easy to navigate, with customizable options available to suit individual preferences.

Sony has included several pre-installed apps, some of which may be considered bloatware. However, these apps can be easily uninstalled or disabled if not needed. The phone also comes with useful features like split-screen multitasking and a game enhancer mode that optimizes the device's performance for gaming.

The device's user-friendly interface is further enhanced by its fingerprint sensor, which is conveniently located on the side of the phone. Face unlock is not available on this device.

Sony has been known for providing timely software updates, and the Xperia 5 II is no exception. The device has received several updates since its release, which have improved the phone's performance and security.

Overall, the software and user interface of the Xperia 5 II are commendable. The phone runs smoothly, and the custom UI provides a unique and enjoyable user experience. The timely software updates and useful features make this device a great choice for those who value software performance and ease of use.

Camera

The Sony Xperia 5 II boasts a triple rear camera setup, including a wide 12MP lens with an f/1.7 aperture, an ultrawide 12MP lens with an f/2.2 aperture, and a telephoto 12MP lens with an f/2.4 aperture. Additionally, the front-facing camera is an 8MP lens with an f/2.0 aperture.

In terms of image quality, the Xperia 5 II does an exceptional job in various lighting conditions, producing sharp and detailed images with accurate colors. The camera app offers a range of features, including a manual mode, a night mode, and a portrait mode that allows you to adjust the depth of field. The telephoto lens enables up to 3x optical zoom, and the digital zoom goes up to 30x, which is impressive.

The Xperia 5 II also excels in video recording, capturing footage in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. The camera app offers a range of creative video modes, including slow-motion, time-lapse, and cinematic effects. The camera's image stabilization technology works well, producing smooth and stable footage even when you're moving.

While the camera performance of the Xperia 5 II is impressive, it falls short when compared to some of its competitors in low-light situations. However, the camera's overall performance is still excellent and is sure to satisfy most users' needs.

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 II's camera is one of its strongest features, producing high-quality images and videos that are sure to impress. The camera app is easy to use and offers a range of creative options, making it a great choice for photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Sony Xperia 5 II offers a range of connectivity and networking options to keep you connected in various situations. It comes with 5G and 4G LTE support, ensuring that you can enjoy fast internet speeds on the go. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 is also available, providing a reliable wireless connection when you're at home or in a hotspot. Bluetooth 5.1 allows you to connect to other devices wirelessly, such as headphones, speakers, or even your car.

NFC is also present, enabling you to make contactless payments using Google Pay or other payment apps. GPS is available for location-based services and navigation, and the device also includes a range of sensors such as a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and face unlock for added security and convenience.

The Sony Xperia 5 II also includes a USB Type-C 3.1 port for charging and data transfer, and it supports Qi wireless charging for added convenience. Overall, the device offers a robust suite of connectivity and networking options that make it a versatile and reliable device for everyday use.

Additional Features

The Sony Xperia 5 II comes packed with a range of additional features that set it apart from other smartphones in its class. For starters, the phone boasts an IP68 rating, which means it is both water and dust-resistant, making it an ideal choice for those who lead an active lifestyle or work in harsh environments.

The phone also has expandable storage options, which is a rare feature in modern smartphones. Users can expand the internal storage of the device up to 1TB via a microSD card, providing ample space for all their media files, documents, and apps.

Audio quality is also a standout feature of the Sony Xperia 5 II, with the phone sporting a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos sound. This makes the device perfect for music lovers who want to enjoy their tunes in high quality.

The phone also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which provides an easy and secure way to unlock the device. Additionally, the Xperia 5 II boasts a range of sensors, including a compass, accelerometer, proximity sensor, and barometer, among others.

Overall, the additional features of the Sony Xperia 5 II make it a well-rounded and versatile device that is sure to appeal to a wide range of users. Whether you're looking for a rugged phone that can withstand tough conditions, or a device that delivers exceptional audio quality, the Xperia 5 II ticks all the boxes.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Sony Xperia 5 II to other related phones on the market, a few notable competitors come to mind. One such phone is the Samsung Galaxy S21. Like the Xperia 5 II, the Galaxy S21 features a high-quality OLED display and a powerful processor. However, the S21 has a larger screen size and a slightly higher resolution, making it a better choice for streaming media content.

Another related phone is the iPhone 12 Pro. While the Xperia 5 II is an Android device, the iPhone 12 Pro offers a similar level of performance and features. The iPhone 12 Pro has a slightly smaller display than the Xperia 5 II, but it is still a high-quality OLED panel. The 12 Pro also boasts a powerful processor and a great camera system, making it a great choice for photographers and content creators.

Finally, the Google Pixel 5 is also a notable competitor to the Xperia 5 II. The Pixel 5 features a slightly smaller display than the Xperia 5 II, but it is still an OLED panel with a high refresh rate. The Pixel 5 also has a powerful processor and a great camera system, making it a great choice for users who prioritize camera quality and software features. Overall, while each of these phones has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, the Xperia 5 II stands out for its great display, powerful processor, and versatile camera system.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sony Xperia 5 II is a well-rounded smartphone that offers a great user experience. It boasts a sleek design with premium materials and excellent build quality. The OLED display is impressive with its vibrant colors, high resolution, and smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Performance-wise, it excels with its Snapdragon 865 5G chipset and 8GB of RAM, making multitasking and gaming a breeze. The camera setup is also notable, producing sharp and detailed images in various lighting conditions.

While the software and user interface could use some improvements, Sony's custom UI is still user-friendly and offers a decent amount of customization options. Battery life is decent, but not the best in its class. However, the fast charging and wireless charging options make up for it.

Overall, the Xperia 5 II is a great smartphone that brings a lot to the table. It's suitable for anyone looking for a premium device that offers great performance, a stunning display, and an impressive camera. Its water and dust resistance, expandable storage, and 3.5mm headphone jack are also features that make it stand out from its competitors. For those who value these features, the Sony Xperia 5 II is definitely worth considering.