The compact smartphone market has been growing in popularity, and Sony has been keeping up with their Xperia 5 series. Today, we’ll be reviewing the Sony Xperia 5 IV.
I was impressed with the phone’s screen, which had a fast refresh rate and was incredibly bright. The camera was another standout feature, with a choice of three lenses and excellent photo and video quality. However, I did experience some thermal issues with the phone getting hot during extended use.
Design and Build Quality
The Sony Xperia 5 IV features a sleek and compact design, making it easy to hold and use with just one hand. It has a frosted matte finish on the back that not only looks elegant but also helps to hide fingerprints. The flat back is made of durable Gorilla Glass Victus, while the frame is made of aluminum for added sturdiness. The phone is also dust-resistant and waterproof with an IP65/68 rating. The two-step hardware shutter key for the cameras is a Sony signature feature that comes in handy for photography enthusiasts.
Display and Audio
The Xperia 5 IV has a 6.1-inch FHD 120Hz HDR 21:9 wide display that is bright and sharp, with a resolution of 1080 x 2520 pixels. The screen also boasts of support for 10-bit color and HDR10, making it great for media consumption. The phone has a traditional headphone jack and front-facing stereo speakers that provide well-balanced and clear audio. The sound quality is impressive, with well-presented vocals and highs and good bass.
Performance and Battery Life
The Xperia 5 IV is powered by a Snapdragon 888 chipset, which is flagship-grade and provides excellent performance. In benchmark tests, the phone is one of the most powerful smartphones on the market and can handle everything you throw at it. The phone comes with a 5000mAh battery that offers significantly better battery life than last year’s model, with an overall endurance rating of 116 hours. However, the phone tends to heat up quickly, especially when using certain apps or wireless charging.
Camera
The Xperia 5 IV comes with three rear cameras – a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera. The camera performance here is some of the best around, with excellent detail, low noise, great contrast, and a realistic look. The photos from the main camera are outstanding, with a natural-looking rendition and plenty of detail. The dynamic range is wide, and the colors look lively yet realistic. The ultra-wide camera is impressive and captures rich details with great-looking centers and enough sharpness in the corners.
Software and Features
The Xperia 5 IV runs on Android 12 with a Sony skin and a few proprietary Sony features on top. You get the Side Sense menu, which can hold shortcuts to apps or features, and a game enhancer that allows you to create custom profiles for individual titles. Sony’s Music Pro app is a paid service that allows you to record singing and instruments and upload this recording for professional quality processing within the cloud. The phone also comes with a suite of camera apps, including the default Photo Pro app, Cinema Pro app, and Video Pro app.
Value for Money
The Xperia 5 IV is a great all-around package in a small and narrow form factor, with an excellent screen, amazing cameras, and impressive speakers. However, the phone tends to heat up quickly, and the asking price of $1000 is steep, considering that you don’t get an adapter or cable in the box. Nevertheless, if you’re a photography enthusiast or a mobile gamer who wants a flagship with a pocketable design, the Xperia 5 IV is a solid choice that earns our full recommendation.
Pros:
- The Sony Xperia 5 IV has a great all-around package in a small and narrow form factor, making it easy to use and carry around.
- The phone has an excellent camera system that produces high-quality photos and videos, especially when using the manual options.
- The Xperia 5 IV has a bright and sharp 6.1-inch FHD 120Hz HDR 21:9 wide display that is great for watching movies and videos.
Cons:
- The phone’s thermal management is not the best, and it can get hot quickly, especially when using certain apps or wireless charging.
- At an asking price of $998, the Xperia 5 IV is expensive compared to other flagship phones on the market.
- The phone’s volume rocker is small and may take some getting used to.
Conclusion
Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is a great option for those looking for a compact phone with excellent camera capabilities and a bright screen. However, the phone’s thermal management could use some improvement.
Questions & Answers:
Question: How is the camera performance on the Sony Xperia 5 IV?
Answer: The Xperia 5 IV has an excellent camera system that produces high-quality photos and videos, especially when using the manual options. The camera apps are feature-packed, and there are options for shooting both stills and video.
Question: Does the Sony Xperia 5 IV have a headphone jack?
Answer: Yes, the Xperia 5 IV has a traditional headphone jack, making it great for listening to music or watching movies without disturbing others.
Question: How is the battery life on the Sony Xperia 5 IV?
Answer: The Xperia 5 IV has a larger 5000mAh battery compared to last year’s model, resulting in significantly better battery life with an overall endurance rating of 116 hours. The charging rate is 30 watts, but you don’t get an adapter or cable in the box.
