Sony appears to have settled into a snug, if not terribly thrilling smartphone formulation. Skinny, tall and squared-off rectangles constructed for content material creation and consumption, the Sony Xperia household genes run notably sturdy in all of the gadgets we’ve seen thus far. This may actually even be mentioned for the Xperia 5 V, the third and remaining cellphone to finish Sony’s trio of Mark V gadgets.
We’ve already taken a have a look at the flagship Xperia 1 V in addition to the most affordable cellphone of the sequence, the Xperia 10 V, which earned itself a What Hello-Fi? Award because of its stellar AV efficiency and cheap price ticket. Each telephones earned 5 stars of their respective opinions, so what does the center system have to supply? Unsurprisingly, Sony’s prioritisation of image and sound has received us over as soon as once more, however it’s up in opposition to some robust competitors.
Value
The Sony Xperia 5 V is priced at £849 right here within the UK. That, surprisingly, is £100 cheaper than the final technology mannequin. It hasn’t launched within the US or Australia but, however we anticipate the value shall be round $899 and AU$1299 respectively when (or if) it does. Decrease costs are all the time welcome to see, and this has been a pattern throughout the Sony smartphone lineup this yr, because the 1 V and 10 V are additionally cheaper than their predecessors.
Whereas welcome, the cheaper price nonetheless places the Xperia 5 V within the firing line of some critically robust competitors. It’s slap bang in between Apple’s newest equal choices, with the iPhone 15 beginning at £799 and the iPhone 15 Plus at £899. There’s additionally strain from Google’s newest Pixel gadgets, with the Pixel 8 undercutting it at £699, whereas the Pixel 8 Professional isn’t far off at £999.
Construct
If it wasn’t for the marginally redesigned digital camera module on this unit, we’d discover it unimaginable to distinguish this new Xperia 5 from the 2022 model. Its premium metallic and glass development feels nice within the hand and appears modern too within the matte black end, however the Xperia 1 V is extra thrilling and feels safer within the hand with its grippy textured again and aspect rails.
You might have three finishes to select from on the Xperia 5 V; Black, Platinum Silver and Blue. If we had to decide on, we’d take the pleasingly delicate blue hue that has a touch of purple to it – in keeping with Pantone it will be classed as “mild periwinkle”.
Sony Xperia 5 V tech specs
Display dimension 6.1 inches
Display kind OLED
Display decision 1080 x 2520 (449 ppi)
Finishes x 4 (Black, Platinum Silver, Blue)
Working system Android 13
Storage 128GB
RAM 8GB
The 5 V’s 6.1-inch 21:9 facet ratio display makes dealing with the cellphone simpler than its larger sibling, though swiping from the highest of the tall show nonetheless requires some manoeuvring when utilizing the cellphone one-handed. That being mentioned, the smaller show is simpler to navigate than the bigger 1 V, and it is the identical dimension because the cheaper Xperia 10 V.
Flipping over to the rear of the cellphone, you’ll discover the digital camera housing tucked into the highest left-hand nook. It’s extra compact than the 5 IV, now sporting simply two lenses, whereas the microphone and flash have been built-in into the digital camera housing, giving it a a lot neater look in comparison with final yr’s mannequin.
Across the edges of the cellphone you’ll discover a USB-C and “no instrument required” SIM tray on the underside, on the right-hand aspect are the entire buttons together with a digital camera shutter button, quantity controls and an influence/lock/fingerprint sensor mixture button. On the highest of the system is the place, pleasingly, you’ll discover a 3.5mm headphone jack, when each different smartphone producer appears to have deserted it many moons in the past.
Options
We’re reluctant to name the Xperia 5 V a mid-range cellphone as a result of its value and have set are on par with most flagship telephones. Nonetheless, it’s actually in the midst of the present Sony vary, that means it isn’t fairly as excessive spec because the Xperia 1, however it’s received extra to supply than the Xperia 10 V.
That being mentioned, it shares loads of display specs with its smaller and cheaper sibling. It makes use of an OLED panel, with a decision of 1080 x 2520 and a pixel density of 449ppi, similar to the ten V. Though, it does function the next refresh charge at 120Hz, and it has entry to Sony’s glorious Creator Mode display setting which makes use of picture processing and color tuning to permit for content material with “trustworthy copy of the creator’s meant imaginative and prescient”. The show additionally helps HDR through the HDR10 commonplace.
Sound options are additionally similar to the opposite two fashions within the lineup, with front-facing stereo loudspeakers, hi-res wired audio and loads of Bluetooth 5.3 audio codecs together with A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive, in addition to immersive audio codecs within the type of Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Actuality Audio.
Internally, we’re comfortable to report that the Xperia 5 V extra intently resembles the flagship 1 V, sharing the identical highly effective Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor which ensures the 5 V is buttery easy in every day operation. Pair that with 8GB of RAM and 128GB and we’ve got a near-enough-flagship set of internals. This cellphone additionally has the identical 5000mAh battery as its costlier sibling, though you’ll have to produce your individual charger (wired or wi-fi) as one doesn’t come within the field.
The Xperia 5 V is arguably closest to the flagship grade in its digital camera. It has dropped the telephoto lens this yr, that means you’ll need to depend on digital zoom, however it does get the Xperia 1’s Exmoor T for Cellular main digital camera sensor. The 48MP important shooter and 12MP ultra-wide mixture present a fairly glorious digital camera expertise, creating sharp and detailed photos that ought to be ok for self-proclaimed smartphone photographers and Instagrammers. Sony additionally contains its Pictures Professional app for customers who wish to delve into the extra complicated areas of pictures.
Image
In the event you’ve learn any of our Sony cellphone opinions earlier than, you shouldn’t be stunned to search out that the Xperia 5 V is critically proficient within the image division. Whereas we favor the larger display of the 1 V for watching films, the 5 V positive factors many of the finest image qualities from its costlier counterpart.
Beginning with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney Plus, the opening shot of pitch black house perforated by lots of of miniature stars and the planet Lah’mu seems to be hanging and clear, with every star bursting with loads of brightness in opposition to the expanse of house, which seems to be convincingly deep black because of the OLED show.
Because the shot transitions to the Imperial shuttle getting into the planet’s environment, we do discover a slight wobble within the movement, though this appears to resolve itself within the subsequent monitoring shot of the spaceship hovering over the seaside. Not solely this, we’re shortly distracted by the solidity and depth of the picture, which ensures even the mountains within the background of the shot seem structured and three-dimensional. We will really admire this as a shot lingers on a service droid, as its define is sharp but not overly etched, leading to a strong depth impact with out verging into the unnatural “cardboard cutout” look.
Transferring onto John Wick: Chapter 4 on Amazon Prime Video, we bounce into the thrilling sequence set within the Osaka department of the Continental Lodge. It’s a visible feast on the Xperia 5, with punchy, dramatic crimson neon lights juxtaposed with a pitch black night time sky that appears appropriately cinematic on this smartphone display. It’s additionally value noting right here that the movie is uninterrupted by a notch or black bars, taking over the entire 21:9 show in a modern and cinematic vogue.
Whereas it might do brighter and bolder colors, the Sony can also be adept at dealing with pores and skin tones, with a pure heat on everybody from the titular hero to the henchmen he swiftly dispatches and lodge proprietor Shimazu Koji alike. Particular person wrinkles and pores and skin textures are sharp and outlined, in addition to finer particulars on clothes and even the huge array of weapons seen within the shot.
The show can also be pleasingly vivid, as whereas we’ve got it cranked as much as most brightness for full impact, it provides to the spotlights and lens flare seen all through the sequence. Particularly because the lights exit and the motion kicks into excessive gear, the neon lights and flashes of gunfire pop with vibrancy.
The one challenge we are able to discover with the Xperia 5 V’s show is that content material not within the 21:9 facet ratio, reminiscent of Peep Present on Netflix is topic to hefty black pillars flanking the left and proper of the image. When you can zoom in to fill out the complete show, it does minimize off a good quantity of the highest and backside of the image in consequence.
Sound
It’s seemingly, although not shocking, that Sony’s newest smartphone could be equally proficient within the audio division – in spite of everything, who places a headphone jack on a cellphone in 2023 with out contemplating sonic efficiency? Plugging straight into that seldom-seen port affords a wealthy and textured rendition of James Blake’s Restrict To Your Lovewith the piano and vocals sounding genuine and interesting. Dynamics are notably sturdy, with Blake’s vibrato vocals punching by means of the moments of silence earlier than the warbling bass kicks in.
Transferring onto the 5 V’s audio system, they’re in no way game-changing and we’d nonetheless suggest plugging in some correct cans to hearken to music on this system, however they’re respectable for watching an episode of a TV present or perhaps a film right here and there. Listening to a fast clip from John Wick: Chapter 4 we discover the dialogue to be clear, and there’s even a semblance of low degree dynamics that provides element to voices. That being mentioned, they might supply a contact extra weight, as punchy gunshots and the cinematic rating fail to muster the power to offer a lot influence.
Verdict
Sony nails the cinematic expertise on a cellphone as soon as once more, one thing it’s getting excellent at. It’s exhausting to choose faults in its image, and the smaller display and cheaper price tag will more than likely be a draw for a lot of who don’t need or want every little thing the flagship Xperia 1 V affords.
If we’re being frank, the Xperia 5 V is the most effective probability that Sony has to distract individuals from the iPhones, Galaxys and Pixels of the world, and it actually shouldn’t be ignored.
SCORES
- Image 5
- Sound 4
- Options 5
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