Sony Xperia 5 in 2021! By Damien Wilde

Sony Sony Sony: what happened you could have had it all, but your recent reboot of the Xperia series, I will say it- does show a sign of promise and potential. The Xperia 5 in 2019 was one of those devices. It looked really solid, but how is it aged, and where does it stand in 2021? Well, let's find out together, let's quickly, break that fourth wall, though, as 97 of you out there watching are not subscribers. So, let's be sure to subscribe for more long-term, looks at hardware like the Xperia 5 and much more on top over the coming year, and then, if you want to take the conversation yet further still be sure to join the official channel discord where you find all sorts of wallpapers snippets behind the scenes, q, a's and more on top. So a little of background first on the Xperia 5, as despite the fact that this is effectively a slightly smaller version of the Xperia 1, with its 21x9 display size, it isn't a real actual reboot of the Xperia compact series, which we're really hoping for in 2021 and onwards. I actually managed to get some time with the Xperia 5 when it launched at IFA 2019 in Berlin, and I really, really wanted to get hold of one.

It felt fresh and interesting in a sea of massive 18x9 displays on other comparable smartphones. I think that Sony wants the Xperia 5 series to be seen as a compact option, but is 6.1 inches really compact. I personally don't think so, especially when smaller phones of a similar age, like the Galaxy S10e, are available. If you want something properly compact, though the iPhone 12 mini or the iPhone SE, both of which I've taken a look at recently are tiny phones, I'd suggest taking a closer look at. Unfortunately, there are just not that many small android phones out there for you to choose from.

I will say that Sony really has a panache for high-end finishes and design. It's inherently within the DNA of the company, and even Steve Jobs saw Sony as a major influence upon apple products. Granted. There are absolutely no comparisons to be made between apple and Sony's design languages. Here, though, I think, if you care about having a unique shape and size of a device in general, the Xperia 5 is simultaneously a unique size and shape in a sea of glass slabs it's tall and thin, which poses its own problems, but it's definitely an interesting form factor to say the least, but one that is big but easier to hold.

Owing to that shorter width, Sony added a pretty neat side, sense, feature that helps with reachability and a little double tap at the side of the display. It doesn't work every single time, but it is pretty accurate. It's kind of like Samsung's side panel thing on one UI, I'm surprised at how well it works plus it still lets you activate the one-handed mode with relative ease. The one-handed mode is perfect too, although I would suggest scaling up UI and text. If you do use this feature a lot, then there's a split screen mode, which, on a long tall display, is absolutely awesome.

Apart from some folding displays. I think this is the best way to experience two apps at once on an android phone 21x9. As an aspect, ratio is perfect, as you get in that little of vertical space to say, run, chrome and YouTube with room for your keyboard. If you want to type in the browser, you can probably tell that. I quite like the 21x9 aspect ratio phone from the very get-go.

The balance is also oddly attractive, too. Sony has managed to more or less balance out that elongated shape and narrow width. I'm still surprised at how boxy the Xperia 5 is in terms of its frame, but I really like it. Thankfully, those corners are nice and soft, and the phone itself is not heavy enough to dig into your hands, especially when you're clasping it grasping it and moving it around in your palm. I can't personally say that a Sony smartphone today has ever really felt poorly made, especially towards the high-end price brackets the Xperia 5.

I think it retains the classic feel of a Sony TV in that piano black colorway. It's almost ageless and a classic Sony color scheme. It helps with the foreheading chin and with tiny, tiny bezels becoming more and more common. Furthermore, it's actually nice to see these I'll level with you, though, I like having somewhere to put my hands when clasping at my smartphone and especially when I'm watching videos in landscape. The biggest shame is that the lack of a dual front-facing speaker setup.

I think it would have been a lovely addition to almost any smartphone, especially here with the 21x9 aspect ratio, especially if you're watching a lot of movies. The side mounted fingerprint scanner on the opera. Five is a real audit team. When I found the device I found it simply didn't work, half the time plus being on the right side of the phone means that you're only really going to register your right thumb, or maybe your left index finger at a stretch. I thought it would have been better, but it has improved a ton with the last few updates to the point that I've actually is pretty spot on, and I've registered my thumb a few times to make sure it's perfect and since then my issues have more or less disappeared.

Your mileage may vary. But for me this is a pretty accurate, fingerprint scanner, albeit in a bit of an awkward place. I'll also admit that I was actually worried about the long-term durability of the Xperia 5 after scuffing it within the first few weeks, uh on that back glass. I caught a button on my jeans, and it left a pretty nasty gash. Luckily, with some moderate usage in the interim, things have held up pretty well, I've not used a case, and, while I honestly can't say, I've used the Xperia 5 every single day over the past few years.

I do like it for the modest mobile game, and I do every now and again, but since Stadia has launched, I've played more streamed games than native android games. Anyway, there are a few that support 21x9, including asphalt 9. But beyond that, I don't know if there's that many out there that will really truly support this stretched aspect ratio. I have to say, though this is a smartphone with powerful internals to match the Qualcomm. Snapdragon 855 is no slouch and I probably argue it's more than most people need, even at this stage of 2021 put it.

This way I haven't had any issues firing up any intense apps or 3d games and playing them at any kind of settings. You'd want to at this point in time the six gigabytes of ram inside seems pretty small, but overall, it's probably enough, at least for the foreseeable future, especially as now that this device has android 11 um, there are tons of memory, management boosts and enhancements. It's no longer a major issue on android hardware anyway, and the Xperia 5 should undoubtedly not falter here, either, at least in the short term. Hopefully, in the long term, it won't make too much difference. Sony, though, has faltered by putting in a really poor, haptic motor in the Xperia 5.

Maybe it just needs some more tuning, but the rumbles feel like there is a bit of body but still managed to feel really hollow and cheap disable haptic feedback. For the best experience, I would say, although I would say, enable haptic feedback on youtube for the extra audio experience and as well. Also, there is a micro SD card slot. If you're worried about running out of storage here too something, I think people who hold on to their device for a long time really like to have at least as an option for expand storage long term, I can't 100 says for certain that a used mobile will survive as well in the battery stakes, though, because the Sony Xperia 5 only comes with a one hundred and forty million power battery, and while that's been okay, considering how small it is, I can't imagine it would be great. After two years of usage and battery wear and tear day today, I always find this portion of a video tough.

Those batteries do wear over time, and it's hard to know just what you'll end up with after a suspense sustained period. The Xperia 5 from new with moderate to low usage, is still smashing around five plus hours of screen on time regularly, at least for me, your mileage may vary depending on the condition of your device or one that you pick up. It's its important to note, though, that there is no wireless charging here. The 18 watt fast charging is pretty good, and you'll probably go from zero to 100 in under an hour. For the most part, I've left the camera to the very end, as there is a lot to dive into here, Sony did work with their team at their alpha series.

Camera labs to develop this refreshed, Xperia lineup. This does mean that in the right hands the camera is pretty awesome, but as someone with a dedicated video camera, which I'm speaking to you on right now, I'd actually never fire up the pro mode on any smartphone. I must admit being honest, while the Sony cine alter video app as well looks pretty amazing, I just don't like editing or shooting video on my mobile phones. If I can help it, it's almost pro grade 2 with extra controls to match, but I can't really give much input as I feel like it might be a bit disingenuous on my part. I think the average person out as well, it might be a bit too much, but for people who want ridiculously precise controls, the Xperia series is the phone to be out there.

Picking up it is worth noting, though, that in video modes, especially using this pro ultra cine mate, you won't have any is or as, so you're going to have to have some steady hands. The 12 megapixel triple camera. Setup, though, is its overall pretty solid. I'm I'm never outright wowed. Although the Sony alpha team was supposedly utilized to develop the setup here, things just feel: okay, sharpness, contrast, dynamic range and highlight control are all just good.

Nowhere near exceptional sure it hammers most mid-ranges out there, but overall the Xperia produces what I'd call c, plus stills, with a b plus camera setup and an plus team behind it, which is a little disappointing. All things considered, I do really like that hardware shutter button, though it's a little redundant, if you don't take many photos, but it's nice to have a well-placed camera button to initiate the camera shutter, and it means that you should get some more stable results. I also have to note that at 2x the telephoto zoom lens, the autofocus, is a little off in the main camera app. I don't know if this is just a software issue, but it is something I noticed throughout my time with Xperia 5 even since launch. In reality, I've got to say this is a decent little triple camera setup that is still pretty or plenty impressive.

It doesn't quite live up to the hype of that alpha tag associated with it. I'm sure there are Guam builds out there that really help elevate things, but overall, I'm not too dissatisfied with what the camera can do. So the Xperia 5, at least in my opinion, might be one of the most overlooked smartphones released in 2019 at just shy of two years old. There are no areas that majorly disappoint or feel majorly lacking. Maybe now that it's scored a major discount, though it's probably due a resurgence, so there we have it the Xperia 5.

Let me know how it's treating you if you held on, but that's it. That's the video remember to sub. If you enjoyed this look back at the smaller Sony, no problems, if not I'll, still be here, plugging away, but until next time, I'll catch you in a bit. You.

Source : Damien Wilde