While Sony doesn’t like to set a specific date for when it releases its newest phones, it has proven consistent with its release lineup for the last few years, with the Sony Xperia 1 V and Xperia 10 V having been announced back in May this, arriving late the following month. Fast-forward to September and it’s now the turn of the pocketable but powerful Sony Xperia 5 V.
Yes, that does mean Sony’s newest phone is technically called the ‘five mark five’ but don’t hold that against it, it has a wealth of powerful features within its compact from, not least of which is the same impressive Exmor T for Mobile lead camera sensor the company introduced on the Xperia 1 V, now set into a phone with a more compact 6.1-inch display.
Sony bills the Xperia 5 V as being “for creative younger audiences who shoot, post and consume content heavily on their smartphone,” which in our minds means it goes up against everything from the Samsung Galaxy A54 to the iPhone 14 and beyond.
Aside from its noteworthy main camera tech, like previous Xperia 5 entries, the Mark 5 sets itself apart from its fellow 6.1-inch-screen sibling – the Xperia 10 V – by packing Qualcomm’s flaghsip-class silicon at its heart. Does this combination mean it has what it takes to join the best Sony phones? Read on to get some indication ahead of our full review.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The next compact flagship from SonyWhen is it out? Launching late September in select marketsHow much does it cost? £849 / €999
Sony Xperia 5 V: release date and price
Launching regionally in “late September”Price at £849 / €999 (approximately $1,075 / AU$1,665)
After a little leak here and a light tease by Sony there, the Sony Xperia 5 V officially broke cover on September 1. Sony has a habit of keeping its on-sale dates intentionally vague and as with its predecessor, that’s no different here, with the company promising the Xperia 5 V’s purchase availability kicking off sometime in “late September.”
While that isn’t much a surprise, what is a welcome surprise is that pricing has fallen between generations – in the UK, at least – with the phone now priced at £849, while its predecessor clocked in at £949. While we also have European pricing, we’ll return to update this with US and Australian pricing if and when it becomes available.
Regardless, at this price it comes up against the standard Samsung Galaxy S23, the aforementioned iPhone 14 and the Google Pixel 7 Pro – a trio of the most high-profile and competent mainstream rivals currently on the market. Sony’s hope seems to be that the Xperia 5 V’s unique blend of features offers niche appeal to those after an… alternative alternative.
Sony Xperia 5 V: design
The Sony Xperia 5 V in black with the company’s WF-1000XM5 true-wireless earbuds. (Image credit: Sony)
Slightly thicker and heavier than Xperia 5 IVGorilla Glass Victus 2, aluminum frameIP65/68-certified against dust and water
The general hardware layout hasn’t changed all that much between generations, with a little thickness and weight gained, like as a result of the new lead camera hardware.
Sony chose to keep the divisive surface finish changes made to the Xperia 1 V – like its ridged metal surround and textured glass back – away from the Xperia 5 V, which sports a more conventional look as a result, available in three colors: black, blue and Platinum Silver.
Durability is still a key factor in this more compact flagship with IP65/68 certification against dust and water, plus the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protecting the phone’s display.
Even with the added bulk, the design of the Xperia 5 V sets to offer what its predecessors have too; the same key features as the Xperia 1 V flagship in a more compact package.
Sony Xperia 5 V: display and audio
(Image credit: Sony)
A 6.1-inch 21:9 Full HD+ 120Hz OLED displayFull-stage stereo speakers + 3.5mm headphone jack
The more compact proportions of the Xperia 5 V, compared to the 1 V come as a result of the move from a 6.5 to 6.1-inch display. This HDR-capable OLED panel doesn’t boast the same outlandish 4K resolution of the 5 V’s larger sibling but still promises great Full HD+ visuals, from a panel that brighter than last year’s model, while retaining the same tall 21:9 aspect ratio and 120Hz refresh rate (it’s unclear whether this is a dynamic addition, however).
Sony is one of the last bastions for smartphone audio fans, with improved stereo speakers promising higher driving voltage and lower noise floor compared to Xperia 5 IV, as well as an actual 3.5mm headphone jack. The company’s usual run of both first and third-party audio-enhancing technologies also features for creating richer listening experiences or upscaling lower-fidelity audio, such as 360 Reality Audio, Dolby Atmos, DSEE Ultimate and Qualcomm aptX Adaptive.
Sony Xperia 5 V: cameras and battery
(Image credit: Sony)
48MP + 12MP rear cameras12MP selfie camera5,000mAh battery with 30W wired charging
While the formula seems so familiar compared to the Sony Xperia 5 IV, there is one notable omission on the Mark 5’s back – a telephoto camera. In order to transpose its fancy new ‘Exmor T for Mobile’ lead sensor over from the Xperia 1 V, while also keeping costs in check, it would seem that Sony decided to axe the third rear sensor that the Xperia 5 line has sported for generations.
To combat this, the company still describes the camera hardware as delivering “3 in 2,” by which it means the two sensors can still hit three focal lengths. 16mm from the 12MP ultra-wide, while the main 52MP sensor (with its effective 48MP resolution) is responsible for 12MP (pixel-binned) 24mm stills, as well as 48mm 2x zoom shots, which it’s presumable able to achieve by cropping on the large sensor, similarly to how the iPhone 14 Pro achieves its 2x zoom.
This technically means the Xperia 5 V’s 2x zoom (ideal for portrait shooting) is achieved without digital quality degradation and thus technically counts as optical zoom through the phone’s main sensor. Sony also promises – thanks in-part to improved AI image processing – that portrait shooting yields better quality bokeh (background blur) in scenes.
The Creative Looks found on the 1 V persist here too, letting you grab shots with added interest and dynamism added at capture, while S-Cinetone, addition slow-motion recording and stereo mic audio capture all help support the video recording experience.
An additional app, called Video Creator is also on-hand, with its Auto Edit feature design to help users create engaging videos from their stills and videos, complete with music, in a matter of seconds.
As for battery, Sony has been a pioneer with regards to some of its battery protection and life-extension technologies, all of which remain present and correct on the Xperia 5 V to the point where Sony brands the phone as having a ‘three years long life’ battery. The company has gone as far as to say that the Xperia 5 V will last through a full day’s use and onto the following morning with up to 50% charge still left in the tank, which is impressive, if true.
The 5,000mAh cell (the same as the Xperia 5 IV) also supports 30W wired fast charging, plus up to 18W wireless charging.
Sony Xperia 5 V: specs and features
Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset8GB RAM, 128GB storage and microSD expansion up to 1TBTwo years OS updates, three years security updates
Part of the Xperia 5 V’s impressive battery claims come as a result of promised improved thermal efficiency, with 40% better heat diffusion and the use of Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset leading to a 20% improvement in power consumption.
That silicon also means the phone is well-suited to handling the most demanding apps and games (provided Sony’s thermal management can keep up) and is also what supports the phone’s impressively-rich suite of new camera features.
As before, you’ll only find the Xperia 5 V in a single variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is on the lower-end in 2023, until you learn that the phone does at least allow for microSD expandability up to an additional 1TB; like the headphone jack, another rarity in this day and age.
As for software, Sony’s clean take on Android persists, with the phone launching on Android 13, with the promise of two years of OS updates and three years of security updates – among the shortest support roadmap in the industry and a key buying consideration if you tend to hold onto your device for a long time.
Stay tuned for a full review of the Sony Xperia 5 V very soon.
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