Buzz
Sony has always been distinctive in the way it crafts and markets its phones. When you look at Sony phones, you can somewhat envision the Japanese ethos – somewhat conservative yet brimming with confidence in the products they create. The Xperia 5 IV is one such product. In a smartphone world seemingly polarized between Apple-Samsung and Chinese phones, Sony still manages to exhibit its unique essence, albeit facing challenges in competition.Unlike LG or HTC, Sony is still in the game and doing well. They sell phones to those who genuinely want them, and these phones serve them well. The Xperia 5 IV is an intriguing device, released in the latter half of 2022, yet it carries a lot of timeless value.Design
Sony's OmniBalance language once captivated many, and perhaps at its peak, only the Apple iPhone stood parallel; everything else fell short of Sony's level of finesse. The Xperia 5 IV, compact and ergonomically sound, evokes memories of their Compact phone series. It wouldn't be wrong to deem this the latest iteration of Sony's Compact line, despite not bearing the Compact moniker.
Both the front and rear of the device are fortified with Gorilla Glass Victus, the latest generation of toughened glass at the time of release, truly befitting of a premium smartphone.
Color is also a standout feature on the Xperia 5 IV. Sony has always been renowned for its elegant color schemes, which exude sophistication without being overly flashy, yet still manage to turn heads. This shade of blue is truly exquisite, refined, and classy.
The flat, sturdy aluminum frame with the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack—a rarity in today's smartphone world. The microSD card slot is almost extinct in current Android flagships. Additionally, Sony's use of a pull-out SIM tray, foregoing the need for a SIM tool, is noteworthy. The symmetrical design, with equally thick top and bottom bezels, consistent camera module design, and quick-launch camera button—all reflect the conservative nature of the Japanese, yet imbue the device with a distinct character and admirable spirit.
Display
Almost every cutting-edge display technology found in today's smartphones is equipped by Sony in the Xperia 5 IV. Apart from the resolution being capped at FHD+ instead of 4K like the Xperia 1 IV, the device boasts an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 240Hz Motion blur, real-time HDR, 10-bit color depth, and utilizes the HDR BT.2020 color gamut (Creator mode) calibrated to align with color standards akin to Sony's professional CineAlta camera lineup.
In addition to the Creator mode display setting, Sony also offers a Standard mode with color calibration algorithms for true-to-life color reproduction, a technology Sony refers to as X1 for Mobile, akin to the legacy Bravia Engine.
The 6.1' size falls into the compact category within the realm of Android devices. In fact, besides the Xperia 5 IV, ASUS Zenfone 9 is one of the few devices smaller in size.
The 21:9 aspect ratio brings a novel user experience, making the device narrow in width yet relatively long. When placed next to the 6.1' iPhone 13 Pro, it's clear that the Xperia 5 IV is considerably longer and more compact.Specifications
Sony equips the Xperia 5 IV with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 4nm platform, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. Sony's decision to opt for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 instead of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is because, according to them, the processor released earlier in the year by Qualcomm is more than capable of handling all tasks assigned to the Xperia 5 IV. Therefore, there was no need to upgrade the SoC, despite the Xperia 5 IV being unveiled at IFA 2022 in September.
Every swipe and touch gesture on the Xperia 5 IV delivers smooth performance. While I haven't had the chance to experience gaming firsthand to ascertain whether it heats up or not, opening the camera to capture photos and record 4K@120fps videos for about 5 minutes noticeably warms up the rear panel. Sony also warns that if the device gets too hot, the camera app may crash.
However, that's not all when it comes to the Xperia 5 IV's hardware gaming support. Sony allows users to livestream their gaming sessions to social media platforms, adjust gamma for better visibility in dark areas, record screen videos at 120fps, utilize the Game Enhancer software, and notably manage temperature and battery life during gaming sessions.Battery
The Xperia 5 IV boasts a 5000mAh battery capacity, an upgrade from the 4500mAh of last year's model. It supports 30W PD fast charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes. Additionally, it features battery-saving Stamina mode, Battery Care for optimal battery lifespan, and the ability to draw power directly from the charging adapter rather than relying solely on the battery.
This feature prevents the device from heating up too quickly while charging and gaming simultaneously, ensuring the safety and longevity of the device's battery. According to Sony, after 3 years, the 5000mAh battery of the Xperia 5 IV will still retain about 80% of its original capacity.Camera
The rear camera setup of the Xperia 5 IV consists of:- Main camera with a focal length equivalent to 24mm, 12MP, aperture f/1.7, FOV 82 degrees, equipped with a 1/1.7' Exmor RS mobile sensor.
- Telephoto camera with a focal length equivalent to 60mm, 12MP, aperture f/2.4, FOV 40 degrees, equipped with a 1/3.5' Exmor RS mobile sensor.
- Ultra-wide-angle camera with a focal length equivalent to 12MP, aperture f/2.2, FOV 124 degrees, equipped with a 1/2.5' Exmor RS mobile sensor.
What's crucial with the Xperia 5 IV is Sony's addition of three essential software tools for professional users: Photo Pro, Video Pro, and Cinema Pro. These three applications offer the best support for creative professionals in their daily work. For regular users like us, we may not utilize or fully exploit what Sony has to offer. This clearly illustrates Sony's clear customer segmentation strategy.
The camera hardware is robust, supported by equally powerful software, and it's crucial to know how to leverage it.Operating System
The Sony Xperia 5 IV runs on Android 12, maintaining a close adherence to Google's standard while featuring some of Sony's proprietary apps, albeit fewer compared to Chinese brands, with less customization. Sony provides a 2-year OS update and a 3-year security update policy for its devices, including the Xperia 5 IV.
Sony's software also includes the Music Pro app, catering to content creators in sound recording and audio creation endeavors.
The Xperia 5 IV still retains modern wireless connectivity technologies like its elder sibling, the Xperia 1 IV, such as Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, 5G sub-6 (lacking mmWave), premium audio codecs like aptX, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, and 360 Reality Audio...Conclusion
With such remarkable features, why does Sony fail to garner widespread user acceptance? In my view, there are two reasons. Firstly, it's the price point Sony sets. At $999, users might find more 'mainstream' options appealing, ones with fewer specialized features and technologies they might never need, but simply a good automatic camera, smooth software, and more 'mainstream' features... then iPhones or Samsung Galaxies, Oppos, Xiaomis will grab more attention.
Secondly, it's also because of the customer segment Sony targets. They still sell phones, and even profit from it, so they don't focus on satisfying all current users. They choose niche markets, with fewer users, but they serve that user group very well, or simply the loyal fans of Sony.
Thanks to THEPHONESHOP for lending Mytour the device for hands-on experience. Those interested can check it out.
