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Sony Xperia Z5 review

7.9/10 AVG.
RATING
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Sony Xperia Z5
Sony Xperia Z5
Sony Xperia Z5
Sony Xperia Z5
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7.9/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia Z5 currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 31 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Incredibly fast autofocus
  • Camera offers excellent color and contrast in all lighting situations
  • Good processor performance
  • Sleek design
  • Display has excellent color vibrancy and viewing angles

What's bad

  • Occasional pauses when loading apps
  • Phone heats up even during basic use
  • Sharp edges makes it uncomfortable to hold

After only a few months on the market, Sony replaced the Z3+ with the Z5. Although there are some new features on the Z5, critics were not surprised to see that there wasn't any huge innovation with this iteration of Sony's flagship phone. Like its predecessors, the Z5 is a mostly glass and metal affair with plastic on the corners. Unlike earlier Z-series phones, reviewers point out the back glass of the Z5 has a frosted finish, which not only helped prevent scratches and smudges but also gave it what they call a more "refined" appearance. While it looks good, they warn the sides of the phone stick out from the glass giving it a sharp feel. Still, they add it still has a premium look and feel and has the added bonus of being dust and waterproof. Perhaps the biggest change design-wise is the oblong power button along the side. This change is due to the new fingerprint scanner which, according to reviewers, works perfectly regardless of which hand they used.

Not much has changed from the Z3+ to the Z5 in terms of the display. It comes with the same 5.2-inch full HD (1,080 x 1,920) IPS display topped with glass. While not game changing, experts still consider it "perfectly good" with deep blacks and punchy color without being too over-saturated. They also appreciated the brightness levels and viewing angles as they were able to read the screen even in sunny conditions. Still, experts agree it can't stand against the contrast and accurate colors of the Samsung's or Apple's display though Alphr adds, "…it’s the match of anything else on the market right now."

The octa-core processor comes with four 2.0GHz processors that kick in for more intense tasks and four 1.5GHz ones for more basic tasks all backed up with 3GB of RAM. In practice, reviewers didn't experience any lag when multi-tasking or playing even the most processor intensive games though there was the occasional long pause when opening apps. They did, however, notice it got quite warm even during simple tasks. Other internal specs include 32GB of internal storage backed up with a micoSD card for additional storage. A 2,900mAh battery kept the Z5 running for about 2 days when critics used it lightly.

Sony has not only upgraded its rear camera to a 23MP snapper they also have what they consider the fastest autofocus on the market at 0.03 seconds. While experts did not time it to the exact millisecond, they do agree that it is the fastest they have seen so far and offered clear and in-focus pictures every time. The image they captured came out vibrant with excellent details and contrast in bright, low and every other lighting situation in between thanks to the fast autofocus and optical image stabilization.

The Sony Xperia Z5 garnered high praise and recommendations from reviewers. Recombu states, "Sony's Xperia Z5 is one of the most desirable and feature-packed phone of 2015…" PC Advisor states, "There's no doubt that the Xperia Z5 is a solid flagship smartphone from Sony…"


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
5.2"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5.2"
20+ MP
Camera
Camera
20+ MP
2900 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Reviewed
Reviewed

The Xperia Z5 is a powerful smartphone that gets the job done in a no-nonsense, business-like manner. It also happens to be equipped with a jaw-droppingly good camera and a relatively affordable price tag, which goes a long way in making up for its cumbersome software and physical design. Unfortunat...

- Michael Desjardin, Reviewed
Android Guys
Android Guys

If you are looking for a well-designed phone that can take a beating, flies through performance, takes mostly good photos, and looks stunning doing it, there are not many other phones out there that fit this description better than the Xperia Z5. Couple all of that with a near stock experience and r...

- Henry Wiygul, Android Guys
PC Magazine
PC Magazine

The unlocked Sony Xperia Z5 is an attractive Android phone with solid performance, but there are better options available for the price.

- Ajay Kumar, PC Magazine
Android Community
Android Community

If you've been looking for a good phone rocking a fantastic camera, then you should definitely take a look at the Sony Xperia Z5. It's got a beautiful display, a long-lasting battery, and a design that's easy on the eyes — even if it doesn't always feel solid in your hand. The processor should...

- Jen Karner, Android Community
Gearburn
Gearburn

There will always be things we don’t like about a phone, but overall the Sony Xperia Z5 is a quality phone that performs well and looks good. It takes great photos and the battery life is substantial. So if you need a workhorse with a decent amount of processing power, the Z5 is a good choice.

- Pippa Tshabalala, Gearburn


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia Z5 user manual here.


Sony backs up the Xperia Z5 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia Z5 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
5.2"

The Sony Xperia Z5's screen size is 5.2 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat) operating system (OS).

Camera
20+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 20+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2900mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2900 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 1020 minutes, 875 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Xperia Z5 Specs

Overview
Release Date October 31, 2015
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 5.1 Lollipop (Update Available: 7.0 Nougat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.55 W/kg
Body: 0.64 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX, LDAC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
20+ Megapixels
Zoom
8x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Panorama, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, ASF, DivX, XviD, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
ISO, Night mode
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 424 pixels
Size 5.2 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating Yes
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2900 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 522 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 875 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1020 minutes
Standby Time Up to 22.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Graphite Black, White, Gold, Green
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.6 x 7.2 x 0.7 cm (5.8 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 154 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony E6603, E6653

Also available in a dual-SIM model.

Additional Sensors
- Finger Print Sensor
- Pedometer

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia Z5 Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia Z5
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