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The Sony Xperia 5 IV is a smartphone with a 120 Hz OLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, and three rear cameras, all of which can capture 4K video at up to 120 frames per second.
Sony refers to the phone as a “compact” device… and I suppose that’s at a time when phone screens are getting bigger and bigger. But with a 6.1 inch display, the Sony Xperia 5 IV isn’t exactly what I’d call a small phone.
It is, however, smaller than the 6.5 inch Sony Xperia 1 IV that launched earlier this year, while packing the same processor and similar camera capabilities, among other things.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV measures 156 x 67 x 8.2mm and weighs 172 grams and features a 6.1 inch, 2520 x 1080 pixel display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate.
It has a 5,000 mAh battery, which is rather large for a phone in this size range. Other features include 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, IP68 water resistance, and support for Qi wireless charging.
The phone also has a microSDXC card reader with support for cards up to 1TB, dual SIM support (nano SIM + eSIM), and a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB 3.2 Type-C port with support for video output, plus a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
Wireless capabilities include WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and 5G.
But the phone’s most distinctive feature is probably the camera system. On the back of the phone there are three 12MP cameras with Sony Exmor RS image sensors.
- 24mm equivalent primary with a 1/1.7 inch sensor and f/1.7 aperture and 82 degree FoV
- 16mm equivalent ultra-wide with a 1/2.5 inch sensor and f/2.2 aperture and 124 degree FoV
- 60mm equivalent telephoto with a 1/3.5 inch sensor and f/2.4 aperture and 40 degree FoV
There’s also a 12MP front-facing camera with a 1/2.9″ Sony Exmor RS image sensor, 83 degree field of view, and F2.0 aperture.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV is available for pre-order now for $998 and should be available starting October 27th, 2022.
I’m still using an iPhone SE I got from 2016. Still getting bug/security updates. Still fast enough for the apps I use.
Although, with bigger screens being standard or “small” now, I’m finding some apps expecting more screen space. For example, Google Maps is cluttered with icons and other things. Not enough space to pinch zoom nor even double tap, hold and drag to zoom. Not much of the actual map is visible too. Even when you try to swipe away some of the clutter. Other apps are similar.
Really like the general idea of this phone. But Sony typically only does 2 years of software support. That is a crime against the environment in this day and age. And you are then supposed to pay $1,000 for the privilege?
And to add to that, you don’t get warranty either. Sony have pulled out of the phone market in most countries, that you would have to resort to a Grey Import.
I think there’s a lucrative spot in the market, for a pro-consumer/friendly device and manufacturer to take a lot of the revenue from most of the competitors.
Sounds great! Still not spending anywhere near $1,000 for a phone.
This.
Got a Pixel 6a a month ago. Next year, Apple is rumoured to release an SE in the form of the XR. When that happens, virtually nobody will have a genuine need to spend more than $500 on a phone.