By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
TechgoonduTechgoondu
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
    • Software
    • Cybersecurity
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
    • Cellphones
    • Tablets
  • PC
  • Telecom
Search
© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Sony Xperia 5 IV review: Great interface, camera make it worth checking out
Share
Aa
TechgoonduTechgoondu
Aa
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
  • PC
  • Telecom
Search
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
    • Software
    • Cybersecurity
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
    • Cellphones
    • Tablets
  • PC
  • Telecom
Follow US
© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Techgoondu > Blog > Mobile > Cellphones > Sony Xperia 5 IV review: Great interface, camera make it worth checking out
CellphonesMobile

Sony Xperia 5 IV review: Great interface, camera make it worth checking out

Esmond Xu
Last updated: February 19, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Esmond Xu Published February 16, 2023
16 Min Read
SHARE
The Sony Xperia 5 IV. PHOTO: Esmond Xu

In the Xperia 5 IV, Sony has returned with the fourth update to its Xperia 5 range, thus the “IV” moniker. Yes, logical but somewhat hard to remember and awkward to pronounce.

For those needing a recap, in the Xperia universe, the 1 series is the Japanese company’s “ultra” flagship, the 5 series in essence a “vanilla” flagship – a more pocketable 1 series with a few cutbacks, and the Xperia 10 a mid-range or “value” flagship.

The Xperia 5 IV retails for a recommended retail price of S$1,599 in Singapore. Here, we are only getting one variant, with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

Design

PHOTO: Esmond Xu

For better or worse, little has changed in the design department, like most Sony smartphones in recent times.

You get flat screens, straight bezels, lightly rounded corners, and a pronounced 45-degree angled lip all around the front and back of the device so the screen does not cut into the flesh of your palms.

The Xperia 5 IV opts for matte edges rather than a gloss finish. An excellent choice, in my opinion, to avoid the micro-scratches that are bound to surface despite the use of a case.

These tiny imperfections, annoyingly, often impact the trade-in price with eagle-eyed dealers.

The Xperia 5 IV is, for all practical purposes, the same size as the Xperia 5 III, measuring 156 x 67 x 8.2mm (the latter is 1mm taller), and ever so slightly weightier at 172g.

To be sure, 172g compares favourably to many 6.1-inch devices, including the 204g iPhone 14 Pro. As someone used to large phablets, I find the Xperia 5 IV nice and light in my hands.

The soft matte finish all round the device is also premium looking, fingerprint resistant and very comfortable to hold, as it has been with recent Xperia phones.

PHOTO: Esmond Xu
PHOTO: Esmond Xu

Sony users will be happy to find that some hallmark features remain. The hardware shutter button is where one expects it to be, on the bottom-right. The microSD (up to 1TB – nice) and SIM card tray can be opened without a tool, just like the Xperia 1 IV.

Sony has not gotten rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack either, kudos. And the same IP68 water and dust resistance as its siblings carry over to the Xperia 5 IV.

Screen

PHOTO: Esmond Xu

The display on offer here is a 6.1-inch, Full HD+ 2,520 x 1,800 pixel OLED panel, with 120Hz refresh rate and 21:9 aspect ratio. This is similar to what is on the Xperia 5 III, but Sony claims it to be 50 per cent brighter. And it does get quite bright indeed – I measured maximum brightness of 1,420 nits.

At the same time, Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus provides drop and scratch protection on the Xperia 5 IV’s front and rear glass panels.

Viewing angles, clarity and colour saturation are excellent. The blue shift I experienced with earlier devices have, thankfully, become even less pronounced.

The Xperia 5 IV’s display can become brighter with adaptive brightness on, improving sunlight legibility on a rather reflective screen.

However, the device can run hot quickly when that happens, though. There is a warning that appears when one fires up the camera app.

Interestingly, 120Hz support for the screen is turned off by default on our review unit. It may be activated via the High Refresh Rate sub-menu under the Display settings page.

Unfortunately, the Xperia 5 IV follows its predecessors’ habit of generally locking on to 120Hz, except when watching videos and while playing games. A flagship device should dial down its refresh rates more dynamically, so this is disappointing.

I have previously shared my views on a 21:9 aspect ratio, and will not repeat it here. Suffice to say, it appears to me Sony has decided to make it a hallmark of the Xperia smartphone line.

Performance

PHOTO: Esmond Xu

The Xperia 1 IV packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. This is an octa-core chip with one 3GHz Cortex-X2 burst core, three 2.5GHz Cortex-A710 performance cores, and four 1.8GHz Cortex-A510 lower-powered cores. An Adreno 730 graphics core accompanies the set-up.

The Sony skin is clean and quick, faithfully retaining the majority of vanilla Android 12 interface features and eschewing duplicative Calendar, Gallery, and other apps. Per Xperia tradition, the Xperia 5 IV also seeks permission to install additional apps instead of pre-installing them.

I put the Xperia 5 IV through its paces on the PCMark 10 for Android’s Work 3.0 Performance benchmark. It covers productivity workloads like Web browsing, photo and video editing, as well as Word and Excel processing. The score is about 12,800 over three tests.

To test out the graphics, I fired up Asphalt 9: Legends. Cutscenes jittered a little but gameplay is smooth, and anti-aliasing is good. 3DMark for Android (Wild Life), which tests the performance of commonly-used game rendering engines on the device, threw up a score of about 8,000 over three tests.

PHOTO: Esmond Xu

The fingerprint sensor is built onto the power button on the right side of the device. Unlike the Xperia 1 IV, I found the position of the sensor on the Xperia 5 IV just right.

The fingerprint reader is speedy. I did not encounter failed reads, and the device was quick to unlock with a satisfying vibration when I as much as glided my finger over the power button. Registration is fast.

Multi-app experience

The Xperia 5 IV can deliver a multi-window experience, activated by entering the Recent Apps menu (where one switches windows) and selecting the multi-window switch or pop-up window option.

I personally found Sony’s implementation of the feature better than Samsung’s, especially in floating window mode.

Both allow re-sizing of windows, but the controls to do so on the Sony device are clear, basically a diagonal arrow on the top left of the pop-up window. With Samsung, you need to drag the corners of the window. Other than being less obvious, they scale less flexibly than Sony’s.

Sony keeps the floating window open when I use the home gesture, minimising only the full-screen app. Samsung, on the other hand, will close both the full-screen and floating app.

The same applies even if I were to switch to on-screen buttons. The latter is less intuitive, especially as floating windows typically run in the background for music, video, or navigation.

I have also encountered the YouTube app freezing on Samsung’s pop-up window mode, when I try to bring the app back after it closes on a customised window size.

Battery Life

The Xperia 5 IV has a 5,000mAh cell, 10 per cent larger than on the Xperia 5 III. Like most Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 devices, battery life appears to have taken a hit, which the newer Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and 8 Gen 2 devices are addressing.

I calibrated the screen to 200 nits brightness, and ran the PCMark 10 for Android’s Work 3.0 Battery Life test with Wi-Fi running throughout. At 60Hz screen refresh rate (as Sony intended), the score came up to 13 hours and 31 minutes.

Feel free to check out the UL Benchmarks site to make your own comparisons.

Proud to be green! No plastic, no charger, and no cable for you! PHOTO: Esmond Xu

The Xperia 5 IV supports the same 30W USB-Power Delivery standard as the Xperia 5 III, and brings wireless charging for the first time to the Xperia 5 range. Like its siblings, the Xperia 5 IV ships with neither the charger nor cable.

Cameras

PHOTO: Esmond Xu

The camera system on the Sony Xperia 5 IV uses familiar Zeiss glasses, but loses the variable focal 70mm and 105mm telephoto focal lengths for a single 60mm (2.5x equivalent) unit.

Otherwise, the camera system is largely similar to the Xperia 1 IV.

  • Wide: 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.7″, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
  • Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.4, 60mm, 1/3.5″, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
  • Ultrawide: 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm, 1/2.5″, Dual Pixel PDAF
  • Selfie: 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm, 1/2.9″, 1.25µm

Overall, image quality is competitive with other flagships, but the inconsistent brightness balance in low-light shots persists.

Good news is, Sony has a trademark natural-but-not-muted, true-to-life look in its images. The dynamic range in daytime shots on the wide and ultrawide shooters are amazing, and the skies and foreground are often both beautifully rendered.

The brightness balance, however, can be finicky. Some of my shots are inexplicably brighter or darker.

The Night Mode does its magic with the wide lens and the end result is beautiful, but that does not seem to quite explain the inconsistencies.

Video stabilisation remains better than competition when shot with the Video Pro app, even (or especially) in the hands of a novice like me.

Wide: It is rainy when I visited the gardens, and this was a challenging backlit shot. The shot was a little dark overall and the shrubs surrounding the lone tree looked a little soft. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Ultrawide: Similar performance to the wide shot with fewer details, but paradoxically a little brighter? PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Telephoto: The apartment blocks behind look to be in focus, but the detail on shrubbery remain challenged. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
I quite like this shot, it may be a little dark, but nothing too blown out, nothing too dark, good detail and overall sharpness. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Ultrawide PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Telephoto: I appreciate that this shot is brighter, but there is a warm tint. Details are crisp. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Wide: The yellow tint returns, but I like the overall detail and clarity. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Ultrawide: This shot is inexplicably brighter. There is some loss of detail among the grassy outcrop bordering the water’s edge on the bottom right of the picture, but a good shot overall. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Telephoto: This brightness went up even further, but I like the pop and detail. Pity the yellow tint. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Wide: Shot with night mode, this is an excellent rendition of a night shot. No blown highlights, no dark nothingness, overall clarity is there. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Ultrawide: The sharpness of the shot is acceptable, but the brightness, probably isn’t. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Telephoto: The camera prioritised bringing out the details of the lit interiors behind the grilles and windows. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Wide: Good colour balance and clarity. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Ultrawide: Colour and details are more washed-out. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Telephoto: Some washing out of colour is apparent. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Wide: There is a yellow tint on this challenging shot, and highlights in the lit atrium are blown out. If I had chosen to not blow out the brightness in the atrium, the shot might look darker. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Ultrawide. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
Telephoto: Shot 1 taken seconds apart, with different metering. PHOTO: Esmond Xu
PHOTO: Esmond Xu

Conclusion

PHOTO: Esmond Xu

The Xperia 5 IV, despite being a “vanilla” (or a “non-ultra”) flagship, delivers a comfortably premium experience, with good battery life and a top-end camera set up without the slightly limited variable zoom set up on the Xperia 1 IV.

The camera experience remains largely similar to its princelier ultra-flagship sibling, including a natural-but-wide colour profile, and inconsistent brightness especially in low-light shots.

There is probably insufficient difference between the Xperia 5 IV and Xperia 1 IV to justify the few hundred more dollars for the pricier model. The Xperia 5 IV delivers what it offers without the gimmicks.

For me, there is no need for a Quad HD or 4K resolution screen, and the camera system is similar to what is on Xperia 1, less variable zoom that is rather minimal in usage to many users, anyway. Sony’s multi-window experience is also good.

The Xperia 1 IV is a phone worth recommending, if you are able to find it for maybe slightly less than its recommended retail price.

That said, now that it is early 2023, do also look out for more power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 devices hitting the market as part of your decision making.

You Might Also Like

Sony Playstation VR2 review: An immersive experience awaits

Debate on computational photography misses what’s real, what’s lived outside a frame

How mirrorless cameras can attract users in era of computational photography

Hogwarts Legacy review: Defying gravity

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review: Impressive flagship design, performance

TAGGED: review, Singapore price and availability, Sony, Xperia 5 IV

Sign up for the TG newsletter

Never miss anything again. Get the latest news and analysis in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Esmond Xu February 16, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Keysight’s 2023 technology predictions: Insights from a test and measurement leader
Next Article Sensing strong demand, Tata Comms pitches “hyperconnected” ecosystems
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow

Latest News

As TikTok faces a possible ban in the US, should users elsewhere be worried?
Cybersecurity Internet March 24, 2023
Foodpanda to use Gogoro electric scooters in battery swapping trial with Cycle & Carriage
Enterprise Internet March 23, 2023
RedCap: A new cellular IoT technology for the 5G era
Enterprise Software Telecom March 23, 2023
Sony Playstation VR2 review: An immersive experience awaits
Gaming March 21, 2023
//

Techgoondu.com is published by Goondu Media Pte Ltd, a company registered and based in Singapore.

.

Started in June 2008 by technology journalists and ex-journalists in Singapore who share a common love for all things geeky and digital, the site now includes segments on personal computing, enterprise IT and Internet culture.

banner banner
Everyday DIY
PC needs fixing? Get your hands on with the latest tech tips
READ ON
banner banner
Leaders Q&A
What tomorrow looks like to those at the leading edge today
FIND OUT
banner banner
Advertise with us
Discover unique access and impact with TG custom content
SHOW ME

 

 

POWERED BY READYSPACE
The Techgoondu website is powered by and managed by Readyspace Web Hosting.

TechgoonduTechgoondu
Follow US

© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Terms of Use | Advertise | About Us | Contact

Join Us!

Never miss anything again. Get the latest news and analysis in your inbox.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Lost your password?