Release date, price, specs, rumors, what we want to see

Replace: August 25, 2023 (5:51 AM ET): We’ve up to date the Xperia 5 V hub with the official launch date for the telephone.

Authentic article: August 7, 2023 (2 PM ET): Sony’s Xperia 5 collection contains extra reasonably priced and compact telephones in comparison with the Xperia 1 flagship lineup. Yearly, a brand new smartphone within the Xperia 5 portfolio comes after Sony releases an ultra-premium Xperia 1 gadget. Since we’ve already seen the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered Xperia 1 V this yr, it’s time now to look ahead to the Xperia 5 V.

Sony did an important job on the Xperia 5 IV. It completely impressed us with its versatile multimedia {hardware}, sturdy construct high quality, and long-lasting battery life. Nonetheless, the corporate’s disappointing replace dedication and some efficiency points on the handset held it again from reaching its full potential. Will the Xperia 5 V lastly add the lacking components and make for an unbeatable compact Android telephone? Right here’s the whole lot we all know concerning the telephone and what we wish to see.

Nothing means that Sony received’t launch a refreshed Xperia 5 mannequin this yr. The Japanese electronics large has launched a brand new smartphone within the collection like clockwork because the launch of the unique Xperia 5 in 2019. In truth, an alleged video of the Xperia 5 V leaked lately (extra on that later), suggesting that the telephone is able to step out into the world, probably sooner than its predecessors.

• Sony Xperia 5: September 5, 2019
• Sony Xperia 5 II: September 17, 2020
• Sony Xperia 5 III: April 14, 2021
• Sony Xperia 5 IV: September 1, 2022

Sony historically launches the Xperia 5 telephones within the second half of the yr. The Xperia 5 III was an exception with its April announcement. Nonetheless, the gadget solely went on sale in October 2021.

Sony has introduced an Xperia product launch occasion for September 1 and it’s all however confirmed that the corporate will unveil the Xperia 5 V on the day. We anticipate Sony to comply with the launch with an October availability date.

Sony’s Xperia 5 fashions may be barely cheaper and far smaller than its Xperia 1 gadgets, however they sport top-shelf specs nonetheless. Whereas official data is but to floor, we will make a couple of educated guesses concerning the upgrades the telephone would provide.

For starters, the Xperia 5 V ought to characteristic the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor because the Xperia 5 IV earlier than it housed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Not solely are you able to anticipate the brand new Qualcomm chip to convey pace enhancements to the telephone, nevertheless it also needs to have the ability to eradicate a number of the heating points that plagued Sony’s earlier gadget.

The pictures setup is maybe probably the most talked about side of Sony telephones. It seems to be just like the Xperia 5 V is altering issues up this yr with a dual-cam setup on the again (see leaked video above). We don’t know the sensor configuration, however this is able to be the primary time within the collection that we received’t see a triple digicam telephone.

Sony might be ditching the telephoto shooter altogether and sticking with a important + ultrawide combo. The downgraded zoom setup on the Xperia 5 IV was disappointing, however no less than the 60mm focal size served effectively for portrait photographs. We’re wanting to see how Sony makes up for the lack of the zoom digicam on the Xperia 5 V. The leaked video exhibits two massive digicam lenses on the again, so it’s attainable Sony is lastly switching out the 12MP sensors for higher-resolution cameras.

The entrance of the telephone pictured within the leaked video seems to have thick bezels on the prime and backside. The highest bezel homes a selfie digicam as a substitute of a punch-hole cutout. We anticipate the show to stay a 6.1-inch OLED with a 120Hz refresh price.

The battery and charging specs of the Xperia 5 V additionally stay beneath wraps, nevertheless it’s our reckon that the telephone will get no less than a 5,000mAh capability, like its predecessor — and 30W wired charging also needs to make a return since Sony hasn’t even upped the charging pace on the extra premium Xperia 1 V this yr.

Elsewhere, we additionally see the fan-favorite 3.5mm headphone jack within the leaked video, and we totally anticipate the telephone to characteristic IP65/IP68 scores.

Colours parsed from the leak embrace black, white, and blue/grey choices.

• Sony Xperia 5: $799
• Sony Xperia 5 II: $949
• Sony Xperia 5 III: $999
• Sony Xperia 5 IV: $999

The Sony Xperia 5 IV was not precisely low cost at $999. In truth, it was dearer than the Xperia 5 III in some markets. The collection has proven a pattern of getting pricier with every passing yr, so we wouldn’t be stunned if the Xperia 5 V crosses the $1,000 mark. Though, that may actually restrict the attain of the handset with many different, extra fashionable, and cheaper flagship telephones already in the marketplace.

The reply to this query relies on how loyal a Sony fan you’re. The Xperia 5 IV remains to be a strong gadget, however its value has barely dropped since its launch. There are numerous extra highly effective options with succesful cameras in the marketplace proper now, together with the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely ($1199.99 at Samsung), Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus ($999.99 at Samsung), the Google Pixel 7 Professional ($589.98 at Amazon), and the Zenfone 10 ($699.99 at Amazon). Even the Apple iPhone 14 Professional ($999.99 at Finest Purchase) is a worthy contender in the event you don’t thoughts iOS.

Relying in your desire, you may select from any of those choices in the event you’re trying to purchase a brand new telephone imminently. In truth, even after the Xperia 5 V launches, many of those gadgets would possibly make for higher purchases than the Sony telephone. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless look forward to the Xperia 5 V to see what it’s all about after which make your choice. It’s going to most probably include nice multimedia {hardware}, however it might be overpriced, and Sony’s replace dedication may not be on par with different gadgets.

A extra fashionable design

The Xperia 5 IV is unquestionably a sturdy and compact gadget, however its ubiquitous design doesn’t do it any favors. Sony hasn’t modified a lot for a couple of generations now and it’s time the corporate shakes issues up a bit. Going by the leaked video, it doesn’t appear like a lot is altering apart from the pill-shaped digicam housing. Some would possibly argue that Sony’s design language breeds familiarity, nevertheless it can be a bit boring to see the identical aesthetics yr after yr, particularly when Android telephone makers are always toying with new supplies, numerous kinds of digicam islands, and different such design parts.

A variable refresh price show

We actually hope Sony adopts a variable refresh price show this time round. The shortage of it on the Xperia 5 IV means you both expertise the added battery drain of the 120Hz refresh price or the not-so-smooth really feel of the 60Hz possibility. There isn’t any in-between and no choice to additional optimize show energy consumption. If the Xperia 5 V additionally inherits this flaw from its predecessor, it should lose out to telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 collection and even newer, cheaper gadgets just like the Nothing Telephone 2 that provides an adaptive refresh price show.

Higher updates

For the value that Sony expenses, its replace coverage of solely two new Android variations and three years of safety patches is a giant disappointment for the present Xperia 5 collection. Nearly all high-end telephones and even many mid-range telephones provide no less than three years of Android updates lately. We don’t anticipate Sony to match Samsung’s four-year replace dedication, however two years just isn’t practically sufficient for a premium handset.