Sony Xperia 5 IV 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 IV is a cutting-edge smartphone that offers a truly immersive experience. With its stunning 6.1-inch OLED display, you can enjoy vibrant colors and sharp details while watching movies or playing games. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, ensuring smooth multitasking and speedy performance. The triple-camera setup with Zeiss optics allows you to capture stunning photos and videos, while the 12MP front camera ensures beautiful selfies. The Xperia 5 IV also boasts a long-lasting 5000mAh battery and supports fast wired and wireless charging. With its sleek design and available color options, this device is a true standout in the market. Starting at $700, the Xperia 5 IV offers incredible value for its premium features.

Design and Build Quality

The Sony Xperia 5 IV boasts a sleek and premium design that exudes elegance. With its compact form factor and well-balanced dimensions of 156 x 67 x 8.2 mm, it offers a comfortable grip and excellent one-handed usability. The device's aesthetics are enhanced by its glass front and back, both protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, which adds a touch of sophistication while ensuring durability. The aluminum frame adds to the overall sturdiness and robustness of the phone.

The bezels surrounding the 6.1-inch OLED display are minimal, resulting in an impressive 83.2% screen-to-body ratio. The display itself is vibrant and sharp, thanks to its 1080 x 2520 resolution and HDR BT.2020 support. The use of OLED technology ensures deep blacks and excellent contrast. Moreover, the 120Hz refresh rate provides smooth scrolling and fluid animations, enhancing the overall user experience.

The Xperia 5 IV's design elements are well thought out, with attention to detail evident throughout. The placement of buttons and controls is ergonomic, allowing for easy and intuitive navigation. The inclusion of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor adds convenience without compromising the sleek design.

In terms of portability, the Xperia 5 IV weighs just 172 g, making it lightweight and easy to carry. The device's IP65/IP68 rating ensures resistance to dust and water, offering peace of mind in various environments.

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 IV showcases a combination of premium materials, meticulous construction, and a sleek design that culminate in a device that is both aesthetically pleasing and durable. Whether it's the choice of materials, the fit and finish, or the attention to detail, Sony has managed to create a smartphone that not only looks great but also feels solid in hand.

Display

The Sony Xperia 5 IV boasts a 6.1-inch OLED display, offering an immersive visual experience. The screen size strikes a balance between being compact enough for one-handed use and providing ample space for content consumption. With a display resolution of 1080 x 2520 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 449 ppi, the Xperia 5 IV delivers sharp and detailed visuals. The 21:9 aspect ratio enhances the cinematic feel, making it ideal for multimedia consumption and gaming.

The OLED technology used in the Xperia 5 IV ensures deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast. This results in vivid and lifelike visuals, enhancing the overall viewing experience. The display supports HDR BT.2020, allowing for a wider color gamut and improved color accuracy. Additionally, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, providing durability and resistance against scratches and accidental drops.

The Xperia 5 IV offers impressive brightness levels, making it easily readable even under direct sunlight. The outdoor visibility is enhanced, ensuring that the screen remains visible in various lighting conditions. The touch responsiveness is smooth and precise, providing a seamless user experience.

The device also features a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and fluid animations. This high refresh rate enhances the overall responsiveness of the device, providing a more immersive and lag-free experience.

Additionally, the Xperia 5 IV incorporates features like an anti-reflective coating, which reduces glare and improves visibility in bright environments. It also includes an always-on display feature and a blue light filter to reduce eye strain. The adaptive brightness feature automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient lighting conditions, optimizing the viewing experience.

Overall, the display of the Sony Xperia 5 IV offers a combination of excellent color accuracy, vibrant visuals, responsive touch controls, and durability, making it a compelling choice for multimedia enthusiasts and gamers.

Performance

The Sony Xperia 5 IV boasts impressive performance capabilities thanks to its powerful chipset and GPU. Equipped with the Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) chipset and Adreno 730 GPU, this device offers excellent performance for both gaming and everyday tasks.

In terms of gaming performance, the Xperia 5 IV excels with smooth gameplay and impressive graphics. The GPU benchmarks and gaming benchmarks showcase its ability to handle graphically demanding games with ease. The device delivers high frame rates and smooth animations, ensuring an immersive gaming experience.

The CPU benchmarks and processor performance of the Xperia 5 IV are equally impressive. The octa-core processor, consisting of the Cortex-X2, Cortex-A710, and Cortex-A510 cores, provides excellent multitasking performance and app loading speeds. Users can expect a lag-free experience when switching between apps or performing resource-intensive tasks.

One of the standout features of the Xperia 5 IV is its system optimization and thermal management. The device efficiently manages heat, ensuring that it remains cool during extended gaming sessions or heavy usage. This not only enhances the overall performance but also prevents any thermal throttling that may affect the device's performance over time.

When it comes to benchmark tests, the Xperia 5 IV consistently delivers impressive scores. Synthetic benchmarks showcase its prowess, with high scores in various performance metrics. The device's processor efficiency and GPU efficiency contribute to its overall stellar performance.

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 IV offers a smooth user experience and lag-free performance, making it a top contender for gamers and power users alike. With its powerful chipset, impressive GPU, and efficient system optimization, this device excels in providing a high-performance experience for demanding tasks and gaming.

Software and User Interface

The Sony Xperia 5 IV runs on the Android 12 operating system, with the ability to upgrade to Android 13 in the future. This ensures that users have access to the latest features and security updates. Sony has incorporated its own customization on top of the stock Android interface, offering a unique user experience. The interface is clean and user-friendly, making it easy for users to navigate through the phone's features.

In terms of pre-installed apps, the Xperia 5 IV comes with a selection of useful applications. These include Sony's own multimedia apps such as the Music and Video apps, which provide a seamless and immersive media experience. Additionally, the phone offers Sony Alpha camera support, allowing users to connect their Xperia 5 IV with Sony Alpha cameras for enhanced photography capabilities.

One aspect worth noting is the lack of bloatware on the Xperia 5 IV. Bloatware refers to unnecessary or unwanted apps that come pre-installed on a device. Sony has taken a minimalistic approach, ensuring that users have more control over the apps they choose to have on their device. This allows users to have a cleaner and more personalized experience, without being overwhelmed by unnecessary applications.

Overall, the software experience on the Sony Xperia 5 IV is smooth and intuitive. With the latest Android operating system, Sony's customization, and the absence of bloatware, users can enjoy a user-friendly interface and a streamlined experience. Whether it's navigating through apps, capturing stunning photos with the impressive camera setup, or enjoying multimedia content, the Xperia 5 IV offers a seamless software experience.

Camera

The Sony Xperia 5 IV boasts a versatile and capable camera setup. It features a triple camera system with 12 megapixels each, offering a variety of focal lengths for different shooting scenarios. The main wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/1.7 and a focal length of 24mm captures detailed and vibrant images with excellent sharpness and dynamic range. The telephoto lens, with an aperture of f/2.4 and a focal length of 60mm, enables users to capture distant subjects with clarity and detail. The ultrawide lens, with a 124˚ field of view, allows for expansive landscape and group shots.

In terms of image quality, the Sony Xperia 5 IV excels in daylight photography, producing images with natural colors and accurate reproduction. The camera's image stabilization ensures shake-free shots, resulting in better clarity and sharpness. Indoors and in low-light conditions, the device performs admirably, thanks to its low-light sensitivity and noise reduction capabilities. The night mode feature further enhances low-light performance, allowing users to capture stunning night-time scenes with improved detail and reduced noise.

The camera app offers a range of features, including portrait mode, HDR, and panorama mode, giving users flexibility in capturing various types of shots. The pro mode allows for manual adjustments, giving more control over settings such as ISO and shutter speed. The AI scene recognition intelligently identifies different scenes and adjusts the camera settings accordingly, ensuring optimal results in different environments.

When it comes to video recording, the Sony Xperia 5 IV supports 4K video capture, providing high-resolution footage with excellent detail. Video stabilization ensures smooth and steady footage, even during handheld recording. Slow-motion video and time-lapse modes offer creative options for capturing unique moments. The device supports multiple video formats, allowing for compatibility and flexibility in editing and sharing videos. Overall, the camera capabilities of the Sony Xperia 5 IV make it a reliable choice for photography enthusiasts and content creators.

Battery Life

The Sony Xperia 5 IV comes equipped with a Li-Po 5000mAh non-removable battery. This sizable battery capacity ensures a decent battery life, allowing users to go through their day without worrying about running out of power. The device supports fast charging with PD 3.0 technology, boasting the ability to charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes. This feature comes in handy when you need a quick boost of power on the go. Additionally, the Xperia 5 IV supports wireless charging, which provides convenience for users who prefer a cable-free charging experience. The battery performance of the Xperia 5 IV is optimized to deliver efficient power usage, maximizing the screen-on time and standby time. The device also offers battery management features such as a battery saver mode to further extend battery life when needed. Overall, the Xperia 5 IV's battery is designed to provide a reliable and long-lasting power source for the user's daily needs.

Connectivity and Networking

The Sony Xperia 5 IV offers a wide range of connectivity options to ensure seamless communication and data transfer. With support for 5G technology, users can experience lightning-fast data speeds and enjoy lag-free streaming and browsing. The device also features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, allowing for high-speed wireless internet connectivity. Bluetooth 5.2 is available, enabling fast and stable connections with compatible devices. NFC is included, enabling convenient contactless payments and easy pairing with other NFC-enabled devices. The USB Type-C 3.2 port offers fast data transfer and charging capabilities. The Xperia 5 IV also supports dual SIM functionality, allowing users to use two different phone numbers on a single device. In terms of network compatibility, the device supports GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G networks. GPS with support for various positioning systems such as GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, and QZSS ensures accurate navigation. Additionally, the Xperia 5 IV can serve as a mobile hotspot, allowing other devices to connect to the internet through its cellular data connection. Overall, the Xperia 5 IV provides a comprehensive range of connectivity options to meet the needs of modern smartphone users.

Additional Features

Additional Features of Sony Xperia 5 IV:

- Standout Features: The Sony Xperia 5 IV boasts several standout features that make it a top choice for gadget enthusiasts. With its powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and Adreno 730 GPU, the Xperia 5 IV delivers exceptional performance and smooth multitasking capabilities.

- Water and Dust Resistance: This smartphone is IP65/IP68 certified, making it resistant to water and dust. It can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, providing peace of mind for those who frequently use their devices in wet or dusty environments.

- Wireless Charging: The Xperia 5 IV supports wireless charging, allowing users to conveniently charge their devices without the need for cables. It is compatible with Qi wireless charging technology, making it compatible with a wide range of wireless charging pads and accessories.

- Advanced Sensors: In addition to standard sensors like the accelerometer and gyroscope, the Xperia 5 IV is equipped with a sensor suite that includes advanced motion sensors and environmental sensors. These sensors enhance the overall user experience and enable features such as precise motion tracking and environmental data monitoring.

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 IV combines powerful performance, water and dust resistance, wireless charging, and advanced sensors, making it a feature-packed smartphone for tech enthusiasts.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Sony Xperia 5 IV is a flagship smartphone that offers a range of impressive features and specifications. When comparing it to related gadgets in the market, it stands out as a strong competitor. One notable competitor is the iPhone 13 Pro. Both devices offer powerful performance and high-quality cameras, but there are some differences to consider.

In terms of specifications, the Xperia 5 IV features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, while the iPhone 13 Pro is equipped with Apple's A15 Bionic chip. Both processors deliver excellent performance, but the Xperia 5 IV's Snapdragon chipset offers more flexibility for customization and optimization.

When it comes to the camera capabilities, the Xperia 5 IV boasts a triple camera setup with 12 MP lenses for wide, telephoto, and ultrawide shots. The iPhone 13 Pro, on the other hand, features a triple camera system with larger sensors and advanced computational photography features. While both devices capture stunning photos and videos, the iPhone 13 Pro's camera system is often praised for its impressive low-light performance.

In terms of pricing, the Xperia 5 IV is priced competitively at around $700.00, making it a more affordable option compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, which starts at $999.00. This price difference may make the Xperia 5 IV more appealing to users looking for a high-end smartphone at a more affordable price point.

In the competitive landscape, Sony faces tough competition from other established brands like Samsung and Google. However, the Xperia 5 IV stands out with its unique features such as Sony Alpha camera support, which allows users to connect their Xperia device to a Sony Alpha camera and control it remotely.

In terms of market positioning, the Xperia 5 IV targets users who prioritize photography and media consumption on a compact yet powerful device. Its 6.1-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate delivers a vibrant and smooth viewing experience.

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 IV offers a compelling package with its powerful performance, versatile camera system, and attractive price point. While it may face stiff competition from other brands, it stands out with its unique features and value for money proposition.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Sony Xperia 5 IV offers a compelling package for smartphone enthusiasts. With its sleek and durable design, vibrant OLED display, and powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, it delivers a premium user experience. The triple-camera system, developed in collaboration with Zeiss, produces stunning photos and videos, enhanced by features like HDR and eye tracking. Additionally, the device boasts a long-lasting battery and convenient features like a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and 3.5mm audio jack. While the absence of a high refresh rate display may disappoint some, the Xperia 5 IV remains a solid choice for those seeking a well-rounded and capable smartphone. Potential buyers can confidently consider this device for its impressive performance and reliable features.