The Xperia 5 IV is the direct successor to the Mark III of the same compact line. In terms of upgrades, it mixes things up a bit. Sony has made the phone even smaller, even if it’s only by a millimeter or two here and there, and this has some effects. The Xperia 5 IV has a lot of the same great features as its predecessor.
It has an SD card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack, a great screen that is now even brighter, and stereo speakers on the front. Sony was even able to fit a bigger battery and the coils needed for the wireless charging system into this slightly smaller body, which is a feat in and of itself.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]About the design, the metal frame is now chamfered, so the main side is flat and the sides where it meets the screen and back glass are slightly curved. The change doesn’t make a big difference when you look at the phone, but when you hold it, it feels more compact and high-end. Aside from that, the Xperia is the same as usual.
There is a 3.5mm audio jack on top, a flip-out SIM slot and an SD card slot on the bottom, the left side of the frame is completely empty, and on the right are the double-action shutter button, the power/fingerprint button, and the volume rocker. Three of this new Xperia’s four cameras come from the Xperia 1 IV camera phone: the 12MP front-facing camera (Sony IMX663) and two of the three rear cameras.
The main camera on the back uses a 12MP Sony IMX 557 imager (Xperia 5 III, Xperia 1 IV) with large 1.8m pixels, a 24mm OIS lens, and PDAF. Another Sony IMX 563 imager (Xperia 1 IV) has a 16mm ultrawide-angle lens and autofocus for close-up shots. You will have never seen a phone with a better battery life as the Sony Xperia 5 IV in a long time.
Sony’s smaller phone has a 5,000mAh battery, so you won’t have to charge it as often. The big battery can easily handle social and business tasks, long video playback sessions, and even a decent amount of gaming. Expect the battery to last a full day and then some, unless you use it a lot.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV is a great, small phone. It is one of the best choices for anyone who wants a premium device that is easy to use and has a classic look. Its frosted glass back feels great to the touch and does a great job of keeping fingerprints at bay. The phone’s flat sides also make it easy to hold.