Xperia 5 IV is a phone from the past. Perfect on paper, but Sony can no longer missteps

The product is there, and it is useless to go around it. Someone wonders why Sony still makes phones, yet if we look around it is really difficult to find a phone capable of rivaling, as well as specifications, with this new Xperia 5 IV.

A phone, however, is not just hardware, and as we have recently seen the lack of attention and some too much zeal in the software part, then partially offset by an update that has solved the overheating problems, have damaged the launch of Xperia 1 IV.

The hope is that the Xperia 1 misstep can be corrected by the Xperia 5, which also seems a much more framed product in what are the needs of users today, therefore small size, the screen is 6.1 “, and even lower price. Xperia 5 is offered at 1,049 euros.

Even if it is called Xperia 5 in fact we are in front of the smaller version of Xperia 1, without the 4K screen (fortunately) and without the zoom lens (fortunately, given the performance).

In a world where all the Chinese manufacturers are doing the numbers to mask the price increase, and taking the aluminum off the shells and the cameras to keep an acceptable margin, Sony is not taking a single step back.

Xperia 5 IV has three real cameras, has wireless charging, has a quality stereo sound system with the addition of the audio jack, has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and is also waterproof. Sony has also succeeded in the miracle of making us fit a large battery in such a small body. We said, the product is there, the possible buyers are there, now everything is in Sony’s hands.

But let’s go into the details of Xperia 5 IV: Sony has revised the camera in the software, slightly modifying the interface and also adding functionality to the “Basic” mode.

Object tracking, precise autofocus and other small improvements that were previously only relegated to advanced modes now work on all modes automatically.

The use of the Snapdragon processor allows for equal management of the rooms: all three sensors have fast readings and are therefore capable of recording 4K video at 120 fps.

The ultrawide lens has a 16mm equivalent focal length, 12 megapixel 1 / 2.5 ”sensor and F2.2 lens. It has no autofocus, and it is not stabilized but it is not even needed. Telephoto and wide are stabilized: the first adopts a 12 megapixel 1 / 3.5 “sensor with a 60 mm F2.4 lens of equivalent focal length, while the second, the main camera, a 1 / 1.7” sensor with F1.7 lens with 24mm equivalent focal length. Zeiss signed all the lenses.

Compared to the previous model, the front camera also improves: 1 / 2.9 “sensor, 12 megapixel resolution. Sony does not give in to the “binned” sensors it sells to other partners: four real cameras, four cameras that are very fast in reading data and four 12 megapixel cameras. Japanese consistency.

Revised audio system: i two stereo speakers obtained in the upper and lower part of the frame have been encapsulated in a small box to prevent body vibrations from interfering with the audio in any way. It is still “low fi” audio, but Sony still wants to try to give the best it can.

There is 360 reality audio, there is the 3.5 mm jack for those who want to connect headphones to wires, eliminating latency and we are faced with one of the first smartphones ready for the bluetooth of the future, the Audio LE standard. With compatible headphones you can have very high quality wireless audio with almost zero latency, but it will take a few more months.

There remains, as on the Xperia 1 IV model, the ability to record audio using the excellent condenser microphone by uploading it to the cloud for remote “studio” processing. This option is designed for musicians who want to record arrangements but require a subscription.

The screen is an OLED from 6.1 “to 120 Hz, the format is always the 21: 9 very tight Sony and does not even change the design, Sony manages to differentiate itself from the crowd. The aluminum body is IP68 protected against water and dust.

The battery is a little miracle: Sony has managed to put a 5000 mAh in a still compact and light body, and for the first time on the 5 Series it added wireless charging. Cable and charger are not in the box, but the phone supports fast charging with standard Type C Power Delivery up to 30 watts.

Other noteworthy features include the ability to use it as an external monitor for Sony Alfa and as a platform to upload content from cameras, using the integrated 5G connection. The processor is Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage expandable via SDXC memory in micro format. 176 grams for weight, 156 x 67 x 8.2 mm for dimensions.