Sony Xperia 5 IV Black
Be creative. Go compact. The Xperia 5 IV combines unlimited creativity with compact design. It features 4K HDR recording at 120 bps and a 5,000 mAh battery. So it can be used wherever inspiration takes you. From image processing to gaming to sharing recordings - no problem with the Xperia 5 IV. It also boasts a bright 15.5 cm (6.1 inch) FHD+ HDR OLED display in a wide 21:9 format with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The Xperia 5 IV was developed together with the engineers of the α series cameras and offers the same AF functions on all lenses. Make the best memories with the triple camera of 12 megapixels each (16 mm ultra-wide angle / 24 mm wide angle / 60 mm telephoto) and 12 megapixel front camera (83° angle of view). And thanks to 128 GB of internal memory and up to 1 TB of memory expansion with microSD, they are also well stored.
Be creative. Go compact. The Xperia 5 IV combines unlimited creativity with compact design. It features 4K HDR recording at 120 bps and a 5,000 mAh battery. So it can be used wherever inspiration takes you. From image processing to gaming to sharing recordings - no problem with the Xperia 5 IV. It also boasts a bright 15.5 cm (6.1 inch) FHD+ HDR OLED display in a wide 21:9 format with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The Xperia 5 IV was developed together with the engineers of the α series cameras and offers the same AF functions on all lenses. Make the best memories with the triple camera of 12 megapixels each (16 mm ultra-wide angle / 24 mm wide angle / 60 mm telephoto) and 12 megapixel front camera (83° angle of view). And thanks to 128 GB of internal memory and up to 1 TB of memory expansion with microSD, they are also well stored.
Be creative. Go compact. The Xperia 5 IV combines unlimited creativity with compact design. It features 4K HDR recording at 120 bps and a 5,000 mAh battery. So it can be used wherever inspiration takes you. From image processing to gaming to sharing recordings - no problem with the Xperia 5 IV. It also boasts a bright 15.5 cm (6.1 inch) FHD+ HDR OLED display in a wide 21:9 format with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The Xperia 5 IV was developed together with the engineers of the α series cameras and offers the same AF functions on all lenses. Make the best memories with the triple camera of 12 megapixels each (16 mm ultra-wide angle / 24 mm wide angle / 60 mm telephoto) and 12 megapixel front camera (83° angle of view). And thanks to 128 GB of internal memory and up to 1 TB of memory expansion with microSD, they are also well stored.
Be creative. Go compact. The Xperia 5 IV combines unlimited creativity with compact design. It features 4K HDR recording at 120 bps and a 5,000 mAh battery. So it can be used wherever inspiration takes you. From image processing to gaming to sharing recordings - no problem with the Xperia 5 IV. It also boasts a bright 15.5 cm (6.1 inch) FHD+ HDR OLED display in a wide 21:9 format with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The Xperia 5 IV was developed together with the engineers of the α series cameras and offers the same AF functions on all lenses. Make the best memories with the triple camera of 12 megapixels each (16 mm ultra-wide angle / 24 mm wide angle / 60 mm telephoto) and 12 megapixel front camera (83° angle of view). And thanks to 128 GB of internal memory and up to 1 TB of memory expansion with microSD, they are also well stored.
in 23 offers
The lowest price for Sony Xperia 5 IV Black right now is $285.32 at FoneZone.me, compared across 7 retailers.
The all-time low was $192.12 on 16 Feb 2026 — today's price is 49% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 4 Nov 2026.
Last updated at 04/11/2026 17:56:34
Sony Xperia 5 IV 128GB Factory Unlocked Smartphone [US Official ]
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Sony Xperia 5 Iv Os Android 12 2022 6.1 Rom 128 Gb Ram 8 Gb 5000m Ah (So 54 C(docomo), )
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originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I'm really enjoying this phone. It's a great form factor and has the legacy touches that I miss on new phones such as the notification light, not under the screen finger print reader, and dedicated camera button. The additional storage option and headphone jack are nice touches, but not something I need. The phone is snappy and is not overly bloated with junkware. The camera takes very nice pictures and quite adjustable, although I wish the basic camera point-and-shoot was up to standards of others; still very good though. I haven't had the overheating problems that others speak of and during normal use and casual gaming, I don't notice any heat at all. The camera warnings do make it clear that it's a possibility. This phone stands out from the rest of the pack and ... MoreI'm really enjoying this phone. It's a great form factor and has the legacy touches that I miss on new phones such as the notification light, not under the screen finger print reader, and dedicated camera button. The additional storage option and headphone jack are nice touches, but not something I need. The phone is snappy and is not overly bloated with junkware. The camera takes very nice pictures and quite adjustable, although I wish the basic camera point-and-shoot was up to standards of others; still very good though. I haven't had the overheating problems that others speak of and during normal use and casual gaming, I don't notice any heat at all. The camera warnings do make it clear that it's a possibility. This phone stands out from the rest of the pack and I have no real complaints.
originally posted on sony.co.uk
Had this phone for around 4 months now and I love it. It's my 6th or 7th Xperia and so far it's the best. It feels great in the hand and the battery lasts all day. The camera is excellent as is the call quality and reception. The audio is one of the main reasons I buy from Sony (apart from the build quality and screen aspect) and it doesn't disappoint again. My only gripe is Sony will you please re-introduce a method of downloading album art as I have had to stop using the stock music app. You used to do this but it disappeared some time ago. Strike a deal with gracenote or take a leaf out of Poweramps book please. The wireless charging is a real bonus but could be a bit quicker. On the whole a cracking phone, buy it now.
originally posted on sony.co.uk
I brought the phone in Ecru White colour, as I did not want the usual black coloured slab (and I cannot stand green).I wanted a compact, lightweight high-end spec phone and a good camera and this phone did not disappoint.Battery life for me is extremely good, I’m not an ultra heavy user and so I can get by a day before I have to recharge.The camera is very good, it has point and shoot or if your more experienced you can spend more time setting up to capture that great shot and video.Sound quality is top notch and I love the Dynamic vibration system.Screen quality is bright and sharp and I have had no issues with the screen display outside.Despite this phone having “Corning Gorilla Glass Victus” I would recommend a screen protector and a case (I opted for ... MoreI brought the phone in Ecru White colour, as I did not want the usual black coloured slab (and I cannot stand green).I wanted a compact, lightweight high-end spec phone and a good camera and this phone did not disappoint.Battery life for me is extremely good, I’m not an ultra heavy user and so I can get by a day before I have to recharge.The camera is very good, it has point and shoot or if your more experienced you can spend more time setting up to capture that great shot and video.Sound quality is top notch and I love the Dynamic vibration system.Screen quality is bright and sharp and I have had no issues with the screen display outside.Despite this phone having “Corning Gorilla Glass Victus” I would recommend a screen protector and a case (I opted for the Sony Style Cover with Stand).The phone can get warm/hot when recharging, using the camera for long periods, software update, when playing games such as PUBG, however Sony is not to blame as many phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 appear to run hot under certain user conditions.For me all in all a great compact phone with high end spec features, great camera, great sound, great display and great battery life.The phone getting warm/hot prevents me from giving a full 5 stars, if I could I would give 4.75 stars.
| Brand | Sony |
| Operating System | Android |
| Carrier | Unlocked |
| Smartphone | Yes |
| SIM Slots | Dual SIM |
Sony Xperia 5 IV 128GB Factory Unlocked Smartphone [US Official ]
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Sony Xperia 5 mark 4 128GB 8GB Ram Black
Free delivery between 11–14 Nov
96% New Sony Xperia 5 IV JP Version 5G 6.1' OLED 8GB+128GB Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 1080 X 2520 Pixel
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Sony Xperia 5 Iv A204so 128gb 8gb Black Sim Free Unlocked Tested From
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Sony Xperia 5 Iv Os Android 12 2022 6.1 Rom 128 Gb Ram 8 Gb 5000m Ah (So 54 C(docomo), )
Delivery between 11–14 Nov $29
I'm really enjoying this phone. It's a great form factor and has the legacy touches that I miss on new phones such as the notification light, not under the screen finger print reader, and dedicated camera button. The additional storage option and headphone jack are nice touches, but not something I need. The phone is snappy and is not overly bloated with junkware. The camera takes very nice pictures and quite adjustable, although I wish the basic camera point-and-shoot was up to standards of others; still very good though. I haven't had the overheating problems that others speak of and during normal use and casual gaming, I don't notice any heat at all. The camera warnings do make it clear that it's a possibility. This phone stands out from the rest of the pack and ... MoreI'm really enjoying this phone. It's a great form factor and has the legacy touches that I miss on new phones such as the notification light, not under the screen finger print reader, and dedicated camera button. The additional storage option and headphone jack are nice touches, but not something I need. The phone is snappy and is not overly bloated with junkware. The camera takes very nice pictures and quite adjustable, although I wish the basic camera point-and-shoot was up to standards of others; still very good though. I haven't had the overheating problems that others speak of and during normal use and casual gaming, I don't notice any heat at all. The camera warnings do make it clear that it's a possibility. This phone stands out from the rest of the pack and I have no real complaints.
Had this phone for around 4 months now and I love it. It's my 6th or 7th Xperia and so far it's the best. It feels great in the hand and the battery lasts all day. The camera is excellent as is the call quality and reception. The audio is one of the main reasons I buy from Sony (apart from the build quality and screen aspect) and it doesn't disappoint again. My only gripe is Sony will you please re-introduce a method of downloading album art as I have had to stop using the stock music app. You used to do this but it disappeared some time ago. Strike a deal with gracenote or take a leaf out of Poweramps book please. The wireless charging is a real bonus but could be a bit quicker. On the whole a cracking phone, buy it now.
I brought the phone in Ecru White colour, as I did not want the usual black coloured slab (and I cannot stand green).I wanted a compact, lightweight high-end spec phone and a good camera and this phone did not disappoint.Battery life for me is extremely good, I’m not an ultra heavy user and so I can get by a day before I have to recharge.The camera is very good, it has point and shoot or if your more experienced you can spend more time setting up to capture that great shot and video.Sound quality is top notch and I love the Dynamic vibration system.Screen quality is bright and sharp and I have had no issues with the screen display outside.Despite this phone having “Corning Gorilla Glass Victus” I would recommend a screen protector and a case (I opted for ... MoreI brought the phone in Ecru White colour, as I did not want the usual black coloured slab (and I cannot stand green).I wanted a compact, lightweight high-end spec phone and a good camera and this phone did not disappoint.Battery life for me is extremely good, I’m not an ultra heavy user and so I can get by a day before I have to recharge.The camera is very good, it has point and shoot or if your more experienced you can spend more time setting up to capture that great shot and video.Sound quality is top notch and I love the Dynamic vibration system.Screen quality is bright and sharp and I have had no issues with the screen display outside.Despite this phone having “Corning Gorilla Glass Victus” I would recommend a screen protector and a case (I opted for the Sony Style Cover with Stand).The phone can get warm/hot when recharging, using the camera for long periods, software update, when playing games such as PUBG, however Sony is not to blame as many phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 appear to run hot under certain user conditions.For me all in all a great compact phone with high end spec features, great camera, great sound, great display and great battery life.The phone getting warm/hot prevents me from giving a full 5 stars, if I could I would give 4.75 stars.
Let's be honest, Sony. The main reason we are interested in this phone is because it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro-SD slot for expandable storage. If Sony removes either of those two features in future releases, then I wouldn't buy this phone. The irony is that if you bought this phone around Black Friday of 2022 from B&H Photo, it came with free Sony wireless earbuds, which were a nice gift, but I want the ability to plug-in my old-school headphones without any adapters.It's also ironic that this phone is priced as a flagship device, but most of us buy the Xperia for its legacy features like the headphone jack. Xperia's do NOT include the latest and greatest bells and whistles (more on that later), but one blast-from-the-past feature that I love is the ... MoreLet's be honest, Sony. The main reason we are interested in this phone is because it has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro-SD slot for expandable storage. If Sony removes either of those two features in future releases, then I wouldn't buy this phone. The irony is that if you bought this phone around Black Friday of 2022 from B&H Photo, it came with free Sony wireless earbuds, which were a nice gift, but I want the ability to plug-in my old-school headphones without any adapters.It's also ironic that this phone is priced as a flagship device, but most of us buy the Xperia for its legacy features like the headphone jack. Xperia's do NOT include the latest and greatest bells and whistles (more on that later), but one blast-from-the-past feature that I love is the notification LED on the front of the phone, which blinks when you step away from your phone and have missed calls or texts. No, I don't want to use the "always-on displays" that other phones offer, which kills battery life. The selfie cam and LED are on the top edge of the phone, clearly above and separated from the screen, which is much better than the iPhone's idiotic "Dynamic Island", which takes a chunk of screen real estate and literally leaves a black hole blocking your view of certain apps and games. Credit Sony for proper selfie camera placement.Let's address the Xperia flaws and workarounds I've discovered:1) No WiFi Calling for Verizon in the US. I almost returned this phone because it lacked this feature and I live in a dead zone. However, here's the fix that worked for me. Call Verizon and ask them to ship you an LTE Network Extender. It's like a cable modem that must sit close to a window (for a satellite signal) and plug into your wireless router with an ethernet cable. After I got it, I have no more dropped or choppy calls with the Xperia and I have 5 full bars throughout my home. Other Android phones have a feature called "HD Voice" where you can enable it to connect to the Network Extender, but with the Xperia, the feature can't be enabled or disabled. It's always on and will work great. Another tip is Verizon tried to force me to pay for the Network Extender, but when I refused and threatened to cancel my service, they agreed to ship it to me for free as loaner device as long as I continue to have service with them. Problem 1 solved.2) Another problem with the Xperia is that my face would frequently and accidentally hit the mute or "end call" buttons when I was talking on the phone. No other reviewers complained about this issue, and I've never had any problems with any older Android phones. The fix: I bought a 3rd party app from Google Play called "True Phone." It is a custom dialer (another reason I choose Android over Apple), which allows users to customize the location and size of the mute and "end call" buttons, among other very useful features. It was a one time $10 cost for the app to remove all ads. I configured the ongoing call buttons to be much smaller and lower on the screen now, and I no longer mute myself by accident.3) Sony already updated the Xperia 5 IV to Android 13 in December 2022. However, they thought it would be a good idea to make the default accent color a pastel pink, which looked truly disgusting compared to the colors of Android 12. To change the color back, go to Android Settings Wallpaper Wallpaper & style Basic Colors Blue. Now, other Android phones will give you a dozen color options or so to choose from, which is called "Material You", which is not available on the Xperia. Sony only allows you to pick light blue or cotton-candy barf pink. This leads me to the next topic.The Xperia offers bare bones Android 13, which is good and bad. It's good because there isn't really much bloatware. I don't want to be forced to use Bixby, like on Samsung devices. The Xperia has a few preinstalled apps like Facebook and LinkedIn that can be uninstalled or disabled. However, Sony refuses to implement a lot of advanced features that I previously thought automatically come with Android, such as:a) No ability to pick a custom volume level for each app.b) No ability to control the intensity of haptic feedback. It's either on or off.c) No ability to change the default volume settings. The default volume (if you press the volume buttons on the phone) is always "Media volume", so if you want to change the "Ring volume", you have to press the physical volume button, then press the three dots on the screen to show other volume options, then adjust the "Ring Volume" using a slider.d) No Face Unlock.However, I really like the Xperia fingerprint reader on the side of the phone. It's fast and accurate, especially if you find the Android setting "Remove Animations", which makes the phone fade in from black when it's unlocked. My girlfriend got an iPhone 14 Pro, and I think it's a joke Apple no longer includes fingerprint readers. On the Xperia, you may lightly touch the fingerprint reader to unlock the phone, or it may be used as a dual-purpose button. There's a setting that allows you to use the fingerprint button with your Google Assistant as well, if you press the button a little harder, it makes a click and invokes the Google Assistant, which is really nice.I wish the dedicated physical camera button could be repurposed, but it can't be done as far as I know. Come on, Sony! Let the user decide what happens with that button. Different actions could be setup for a quick click, click & hold, or double click. Currently, its only purpose is to take a phone (which is nice), or long-hold to open the camera app (also nice, but I want more configuration options).That said, some people like the Xperia camera because of its software configuration options, but I haven't had time to learn everything yet. I'm not overly impressed with the "basic" mode. I want to just point and click and let Sony create the best possible picture for me. The basic mode results are just OK.The 5,000 mAh battery seems fantastic, and I often have 30% - 40% remaining by the end of the day despite that I spend too much time playing games on the toilet. That said, any new phone probably seems like an improvement when replacing a 3-year-old phone. Xperia wired charging seems fast. Wireless charging is slow by design to prolong the battery life, but I believe you can change the settings.After I fixed the issue with drop calls, hearing my phone calls are crisp and clear, including the speakerphone. No one has complained they can't hear me well since my fix.I haven't had any issues with the phone overheating, but I kept the default display settings at 60Hz instead of 120Hz, preferring battery life over visual display.The waterproof feature of the Xperia is a huge plus, and I wouldn't buy a phone that lacks this often-overlooked benefit.I have also not been impressed with my first experience with 5G on the Xperia. When I travel and find a 5G zone, it doesn't seem any faster than standard 4G LTE. I think 5G is overhyped.Sony will only support the Xperia 5 IV through Android 15, which seems like a shorter time span than other flagship phones. As of December 2022, the Xperia runs Android 13.The Xperia screen is made from Gorilla Glass Victus, which is supposed to be a more durable upgrade from my previous phone that had Gorilla Glass 5. However, the screen feels soft, which seemed nice as first, but I've already noticed minor scratches that wouldn't have happened with my previous phone.My final tip is to buy a Spigen case for the Xperia phone, which I've used on this phone and others for years. I've never cracked a phone screen even though I've dropped my phones hundreds of times. I've tried other cases, but Spigen is the only case that gives the satisfying "clicks" when you press the phone's physical buttons. It fits the Xperia like a glove. The only drawback is Spigen cases only come in the color black for niche phones like the Xperia.Finally, I want to give a shout out to B&H Photo. I almost returned this phone because it lacked WiFi calling, but I discovered the fix that I mentioned above. B&H customer service was easy to contact, and they would have accepted my returned my phone with free shipping for a full refund. In the end, I'm glad I kept this phone and will continue to shop on B&H.
I switched from a OnePlus 10 Pro to this device (I was impacted by the storage bug). With that in mind the first thing I noticed was this phone felt small, I could reach across the entire width without issue using on hand. I'm using it without a case and the flat screen + beveled sides make this feel really nice.I was somewhat nervous about the heating issues some reviews and users mentioned, but outside of knowing that this could run hot it seems like a lot of those reports are for specific use cases (and everyone's setup is unique). With that in mind I've had no heat warnings, and outside of first setup I've only noticed the device getting warm enough to take notice once - there was a rogue app running in the background that was stuck and a restart resolved ... MoreI switched from a OnePlus 10 Pro to this device (I was impacted by the storage bug). With that in mind the first thing I noticed was this phone felt small, I could reach across the entire width without issue using on hand. I'm using it without a case and the flat screen + beveled sides make this feel really nice.I was somewhat nervous about the heating issues some reviews and users mentioned, but outside of knowing that this could run hot it seems like a lot of those reports are for specific use cases (and everyone's setup is unique). With that in mind I've had no heat warnings, and outside of first setup I've only noticed the device getting warm enough to take notice once - there was a rogue app running in the background that was stuck and a restart resolved it.Jumping back to coming from a OnePlus 10 Pro for a minute, the software experience on the Xperia really feels bare bones. There is a noticeable lack in customization. An example would be the vibration motor, which is definitely stronger than the one from the 10 Pro but isn't as tight feeling and has no way by default to change the length/pattern.The camera is taking some getting used to, but I really began to appreciate how similar it is to my point and shoot regarding color accuracy and options available. Video has been smooth, and I love being able to control the audio level (though it was easier to do on the LG G8 and LG V60).Battery life sees me through a day easily, ymmv depending on the setup but this can be a two day phone for me if I wanted it to be. I've left the 120hz enabled for what it's worth.I've watched some media on the phone, and it's really nice when the content fills the screen - no complaints about that being 1080p, and the sound experience has been great (speakers, Bluetooth audio and headphone jack).Flashlight is just a dim as the complaints from past Sony phones, and for some reason after startup my device didn't have a Calculator app installed by default.Overall I'd like more customization options and not as bare bones of an experience (more software updates being promised would be great too). No other issues for me so far, if you're curious about the phone it may be a sign it's for you.
After using the device for around 7 months, it is very similar to previous Xperia devices, the headphone jack is still present and welcome, as is SD card support and a good camera. The speakers are much better than the likes of the XZ1 Compact and Z3 Compact which has been a long standing downside to the previous models.The biggest challenge has been getting used to the form factor - a compact line no longer exists and the 21:9 aspect ratio has ballooned the size of the device with little upside. The top of the screen is too far away to reach with one hand, so the phone has features to try and mitigate with side sense or double tapping home, however it's a clunky experience compared to being able to reach the top of the phone. Most video content is still formatted ... MoreAfter using the device for around 7 months, it is very similar to previous Xperia devices, the headphone jack is still present and welcome, as is SD card support and a good camera. The speakers are much better than the likes of the XZ1 Compact and Z3 Compact which has been a long standing downside to the previous models.The biggest challenge has been getting used to the form factor - a compact line no longer exists and the 21:9 aspect ratio has ballooned the size of the device with little upside. The top of the screen is too far away to reach with one hand, so the phone has features to try and mitigate with side sense or double tapping home, however it's a clunky experience compared to being able to reach the top of the phone. Most video content is still formatted 16:9 so the space is often wasted, and in portrait the aspect ratio at 16:9 was already comfortable for reading.The screen scratches much more easily compared to previous Xpedia devices (Z3 Compact and XZ1 Compact)The software support is very short, with the devices easily outliving the software provided. Based on when you purchase the device you may be seeing well under 2 years support which is abysmal before all security updates stop.Overall it has retained the features I look for, however for the price and the size you have a lot more options that will likely come up cheaper for the features you care about without the clunky 21:9 aspect ratio and better software support duration.
Purchased this 4 months ago after using a Xperia 1 for almost 3 years and so far very impressed with the Xperia 5 mark 4. This phone is lightning fast, The everyday operation of this phone is smooth and lag free, I can open multiple apps watch YouTube videos and this phone doesn't slow down. The processor and combined ram is impressive. What makes this stand out is the impressive 21.9 OLED display, the 21,9 form factor gives you bigger display but without being too big to hold in one hand, this phone is very comfortable to hold I can take selfies with one hand because off its slim screen, something others phones you would struggle with. The display is vibrant and colour accurate, it has 120hz fresh rate but I have turned this off, because it gives me more battery ... MorePurchased this 4 months ago after using a Xperia 1 for almost 3 years and so far very impressed with the Xperia 5 mark 4. This phone is lightning fast, The everyday operation of this phone is smooth and lag free, I can open multiple apps watch YouTube videos and this phone doesn't slow down. The processor and combined ram is impressive. What makes this stand out is the impressive 21.9 OLED display, the 21,9 form factor gives you bigger display but without being too big to hold in one hand, this phone is very comfortable to hold I can take selfies with one hand because off its slim screen, something others phones you would struggle with. The display is vibrant and colour accurate, it has 120hz fresh rate but I have turned this off, because it gives me more battery life.The Camera is excellent there are many manual options and with 3 lenses you can get some really creative photos. The battery life performance is one the best I have used this lasts me all day with about 30 percent battery left at the end of the day.The build quality is excellent the phones feels durable and well made. The android OS is clean the software has no bloatware its runs so smooth its very close to stock android, my phone just got the android 13 update, it now has the latest features from Google.The best things I like about the mark 4 is the option for a SD card, a 3.5 jack, stereo speakers and a dedicated shutter button.Overall a quality phone that's performs like a sports cars running on 400bhp.
I've been using Sony smartphones since summer 2008 when I bought myself an SE K810i model. That one had served me really well for 11 years to the moment when I got my first Xperia - XZ1 Compact (cool little guy). In October 2022 I decided to try 5 IV of Xperias. And I'm amazed by this one!It's not big (I like smaller phones), great design, no fingerprint spots on glass and metal frame, three main cameras with AI zoom (which works like magic) do their job great in low light conditions (it's my first phone with such good looking night shots) and every day photos look amazing too (I'm not even sure if it was really needed to buy myself an Alpha 7 III camera since I'm still using my phone in the streets most of the time), magnificent stabilization for video shooting, ... MoreI've been using Sony smartphones since summer 2008 when I bought myself an SE K810i model. That one had served me really well for 11 years to the moment when I got my first Xperia - XZ1 Compact (cool little guy). In October 2022 I decided to try 5 IV of Xperias. And I'm amazed by this one!It's not big (I like smaller phones), great design, no fingerprint spots on glass and metal frame, three main cameras with AI zoom (which works like magic) do their job great in low light conditions (it's my first phone with such good looking night shots) and every day photos look amazing too (I'm not even sure if it was really needed to buy myself an Alpha 7 III camera since I'm still using my phone in the streets most of the time), magnificent stabilization for video shooting, awesome screen colors (including night mode), the sound from the body speakers is not the loudest but one of the most clear and pleasant (eg., if you watch some movie on BRAVIA CORE service, which is available for this Xperia model as well, you don't really need additional sound system - the built-in one gives you enough immersion in a quiet room) and there are different creative technologies available in this model to tweak the sound for your ears if needed.I won't be telling much about the responsiveness and speed of Xperia 5 IV - this beast works blazing fast.All in all, as you could have noticed, I love Sony products and this creation is not an exclusion. Totally recommend!
I'm a freelance photographer, so know my way around cameras, mostly DSLRs.I had been wanting to get a small pocket camera for street photography and capturing casual family memories. I wanted something on the higer end, like the Sony RX series or simialr from other brands but cost always detered me having already expenses in FF gear.As my phone was on its last legs thought perhaps for now, I could water two plants with one hose. Research lead me to the 1IV and 5IV, they seemed promising and it had been a while with a Sony phone where I've had a few, far back as the SE T610!They both felt great in the hand, a design that has served them well, but wanted the more pocketable one, and didn't require 4K as I watch most of my good content on a Sony A95K. This was ... MoreI'm a freelance photographer, so know my way around cameras, mostly DSLRs.I had been wanting to get a small pocket camera for street photography and capturing casual family memories. I wanted something on the higer end, like the Sony RX series or simialr from other brands but cost always detered me having already expenses in FF gear.As my phone was on its last legs thought perhaps for now, I could water two plants with one hose. Research lead me to the 1IV and 5IV, they seemed promising and it had been a while with a Sony phone where I've had a few, far back as the SE T610!They both felt great in the hand, a design that has served them well, but wanted the more pocketable one, and didn't require 4K as I watch most of my good content on a Sony A95K. This was all about camera and your usual phone features and apps, so got the 5IVFirstly, personally I think we've reached a point where most top end phones are fast as each other, similar base specs including the display, even mid tier phones do a very good job for many consumers.What seperates the phones are involvement and software experience, done efficiently plus cameras that can capture in the purist form. This is where the 5IV excels.Although the base software is very similar to many brands, each have their own "secret sauce" and though the 5IV is not jumping at you with all kinds of fancy, sometimes gimmicky options, the sofware experince is more refined, sophisticated and has options and tweaks for real world logical use, especially as the phone is slim and tall with a unique aspect ration. It does feel truly fantastic to use and hold, snappy response and fantastic colour reproduction. As a photographer who calibrates my monitors and TV's too, I appreciate a high quality display. The few movies I played back looked truly amazing, although honestly and comically very small for me, more so when sitting in the same room as a 65" TV, but watching general social content its great.I can especially be confident in the colours when takling images and editing, although knowing me, I'd probably want to tweak further if possible ha.Now to the cameras, the reason for the phone. When I had the phone it was on Android 12, but was prompted to upgrade to 13 and did so. I did take some test shots under Android 12, but could not tell any perceivable difference in image quality with Android 13.Whether the Sony specific apps were also upgraded, I dont know.The images themselves, wow! Someone has finally moved away from the ridiculous highly saturated/unnatural colours of many many other phones, producing nicely balanced, true to life images. I understand such colours and saturation appeases peoples minds but the reality is, this idea has been pushed making consumers think this is the best/truest way.It's akin to TV's in showrooms being on Vivid or high bright to attract but no where near accurate or intended by the artist. So, I'm glad this dramna has been reigned back though I think only Sony will do this. Hence, this phone is more suited to photographers or those who understand and appreciate artisitry and intent.Thus, the apps for capturing images are mainly geared towards people who are willing to slow down and just like a DSLR/Mirrorless, dial in their settings and take images.All the apps have a automode but it will produce images very similar to the manual setup not the 'pop' style rainbow images. Its still a fantastic setting for quick snaps but for the best of the best with honours, manual control is best and plus it's a great involving process.Now, the images are truly beautiful, low noise and clear and some of the best I've seen but I know somewhat they are held back. I suppose this done as not to cannibalise their "real" cameras which is a shame because I feel either the sensors or apps are not extracting their best potential or perhaps they crippled in hardware, which still makes sense.Hence, why so many other phone makers, who simply makes only phones have non of such issues so push to the extreme.Never the less, in my opinion, the 5IV has probably one of the best, if not best cameras around currently for anyone who wants to capture pure images and is the ONLY phone that enables that in such a methodical and involving manner, leading to a wonderful experience.Just to add, battery life is amazing! Not surprised considering how well Sony create tweaks and algorithms for battery longevity, I remember Stamina.Overall, my best phone camera in the last few years, obviously we progress but Sony is carving its own path and not following (SDCARD & keeping the 3.5mm jack).I guess that's one issue, the 3.5mm output is very weak and the sound not too clean, could do with a better/more powerful DAC, especially for those who listen using £200+ headphones. I guess that's a another purposeful decision to not stifle their Walkman player market, oh dear.
I was looking for a small phone like the s23 but with micro sd and aux capabilities. They are similar but have certain trade offs. For one, i prefer the shape of the s23, this phone is a bit skinny which shrinks the keyboard. As for the os, it lacks certain features such as the ability to adjust notification and ringtone volumes separately. I also wish there was a true rugged case for this but i understand the difficulty due to the fingerprint sensor placement on the side. Fingerprint sensor is very nice once you get used to it. Camera seems to be of excellent quality. As for the reception it's hard for me to judge but i think i may have had slightly better signal on my s23 in certain areas. Music is wonderful to listen to on this thanks to my 1 tb sd card and aux ... MoreI was looking for a small phone like the s23 but with micro sd and aux capabilities. They are similar but have certain trade offs. For one, i prefer the shape of the s23, this phone is a bit skinny which shrinks the keyboard. As for the os, it lacks certain features such as the ability to adjust notification and ringtone volumes separately. I also wish there was a true rugged case for this but i understand the difficulty due to the fingerprint sensor placement on the side. Fingerprint sensor is very nice once you get used to it. Camera seems to be of excellent quality. As for the reception it's hard for me to judge but i think i may have had slightly better signal on my s23 in certain areas. Music is wonderful to listen to on this thanks to my 1 tb sd card and aux port. Overall this phone does everything i need and i hope Sony continues making great quality phones like this with sd card slots and aux ports.
| Brand | Sony |
| Operating System | Android |
| Carrier | Unlocked |
| Smartphone | Yes |
| SIM Slots | Dual SIM |
