Intro
How does it compare to the previous model, though? Which one should you buy if you want a compact Xperia, and should you upgrade if you already own the Xperia 1 IV? Today we’re going to answer all those questions, as we’re pitting against each other the Xperia 5 Mark V and the Xperia 5 Mark IV.
Xperia 5 Mark V vs Xperia 5 Mark IV in a nutshell:
- 52MP (48MP effective) main camera vs 12MP on the Xperia 5 IV
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 vs 8 Gen 1 on the previous model
- New camera aisle design (now housing only two cameras)
- New Video Creator app
- New amplifier for the front-facing stereo speakers
- Notification LED is gone
Table of Contents:
Design and Display Quality
Stuck in the 60s
Let’s start with the design. Both phones are unmistakably Sony and follow the same omnibalance design philosophy the company has been pursuing for years and years. The main design difference between the Xperia 5 V and the Xperia 5 IV lies in the camera aisle; the new model has only two lenses, and the bump is more prominent, but it also looks a bit more modern, with separate glass covers for each lens.
Surprisingly, the new phone is thicker and heavier and has a sort of protruding inner frame. It’s not a night and day difference, but the Xperia 5 IV feels better in the hand. Let’s move to the display.
Well, this one’s easy. The display is virtually identical on both phones. It’s a great 6.1-inch OLED, bright and color accurate, and it also supports 120Hz refresh rate but no LTPO magic or dynamic mode. You can toggle the High refresh rate on and get 120Hz or leave it off and settle for 60Hz. And that’s it.
Performance and Software
Fast aplenty!
Performance Benchmarks:
As far as software goes, you get the Sony experience on both of these phones, which is mostly stock Android with Sony’s pro-grade creator’s suite. One new addition to this arsenal is the Video Creator app on the Xperia 5 Mark V. It’s a neat and fast way to stitch cool videos together without the need to export them and work on a PC or laptop.
Camera
Exmor T minus one
The biggest difference between the Xperia 5 V and the previous model lies in the camera system. The new model sports the same 52MP Exmor T sensor found on its bigger brother, the Xperia 1 V. In comparison, the Xperia 5 IV comes with a 12-megapixel main camera. You can always check out the specs and compare the two camera systems, but snapping a bunch of photos and comparing them is, in our opinion, the better test.
Main Camera – Day
Main Camera – Low-light
Zoom Quality
Ultra-wide Camera
Selfies
![Video Thumbnail](https://www.phoneweek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sony-Xperia-5-V-vs-Sony-Xperia-1-V-To.jpg)
![Video Thumbnail](https://www.phoneweek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sony-Xperia-5-V-vs-Sony-Xperia-5-IV-Engineers.jpg)
Audio Quality and Haptics
Xperia phones have a couple of cool features that you won’t find on modern flagships, and one of them is the 3.5mm audio jack. It’s present on both phones, and you can plug your favorite wired headphones in and enjoy quality audio.
There’s a new amplifier driving the loudspeakers on the Xperia 5 V, and it does make a difference. The phone is noticeably louder and clearer than its predecessor. It’s not a huge difference, but if you like to watch movies or listen to music using the main speakers, the Xperia 5 V is clearly the better choice.
As for haptics, the situation is virtually the same between these two. They use the same haptic motor, producing short and snappy vibrations but not overly strong ones.
Battery Life and Charging
More or less the same
Charging speeds are also the same. Here’s a quick charging profile:
15 minutes – 20%
30 minutes – 40%
45 minutes – 50%
Full charge – 110 minutes
Specs Comparison
Here’s a quick specs comparison between the two phones:
Sony Xperia 5 V | Sony Xperia 5 IV | |
---|---|---|
Size and Weight | 6.06 x 2.68 x 0.34 inches (154 x 68 x 8.6 mm) 6.46 oz (183.0 g) |
6.14 x 2.64 x 0.32 inches (156 x 67 x 8.2 mm) 6.07 oz (172.0 g) |
Screen | 6.1 inches, OLED, 2520 x 1080 pixels, 21:9 ratio, 449 PPI | 6.1 inches, OLED, 2520 x 1080 pixels, 21:9 ratio, 449 PPI |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SM8550 (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SM8450 (4 nm) |
RAM, Storage | 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, microSDXC up to 1TB | 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, microSDXC up to 1TB |
Cameras | Main camera: 52 MP Second camera: 12 MP (Ultra-wide) Front camera: 12MP |
Main camera: 12 MP Second camera: 12 MP (Ultra-wide) Third camera: 12 MP (Telephoto) Front camera: 12MP |
Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
Charging | Wired: 30.0W Qi wireless charging, Reverse charging |
Wired: 30.0W Qi wireless charging, Reverse charging |
You can delve deeper and check out the full Xperia 5 V vs Xperia 5 IV specs comparison on our site.