an excellent device … not very “general public”

Launched in November 2020 at 899 €, we now find this Sony Xperia 5 II for less than 800 € (it is currently on sale at Rakuten at 599 €). With its muscular configuration, it competes directly with the Xiaomi Mi 10 T Pro or the OnePlus 8T, which is much cheaper.

But let’s do the introductions first… The Xperia 5 II keeps the elongated shape dear to Sony with its excellent handling and its 21: 9 “cinema wide” screen. On the right side, we will find the volume buttons, the fingerprint reader which acts as an ON / OFF button, a photo trigger and a button for the Google Assistant (reprogrammable). It’s a bit much and it will take a little practice to get used to it: why not have left the choice between the trigger and the wizard?

In terms of finishes, it is impeccable as usual on high-end Sony. Sealing is also essential. There is a jack and dual-SIM functionality. On the other hand, you will have to choose between putting two SIM cards or expanding the memory via micro SD card. Fortunately, it is possible to choose between a storage of 125 or 256 GB. Note that the sound side is very good: with or without earphones. The stereo speakers are above the rest.

Top screen and performance

While the Xperia 1 II displayed a 4K 3840 x 1644 pixel screen was deemed a bit “too much”, the Xperia 5 II reverts to FHD + (1080 x 2520 pixels and 449 DPI resolution), but this time at 120 Hz instead of the 60Hz of its predecessor. Of course, as we announced to you above, the 21: 9 aspect ratio is back: a ratio for the cinema which also allows the screen to be split in two in the width to display two compatible apps at the same time. The colors are blue, but we can adjust all that in the display settings.

Small disappointment with the 120 Hz mode since it is activated all the time, even when the device does not need it. With an “evolutionary” mode, we could perhaps have saved a little more the battery. It is a perfect OLED screen for playing videos, a real success. There was not too much suspense in 2020 on the chips of high-end devices and it is still a Snapdragon 865 which is at the helm. Here with 8 GB of RAM, it is the winning combo of the moment while waiting for the next devices equipped with the Snapdragon 888. A sure bet.

The photo part may be too elitist …

On the photo side, we will find the same 3 lenses as that of the Xperia 1 II (with very minimal differences) and nothing has changed regarding the handling. The device is not very intuitive and to get the most out of it, you will need to know some photo basics. This is where Sony cuts itself off from the general public, because despite good results (let’s not forget that Sony manufactures very good reflex and mirrorless cameras), it is sometimes difficult to take a good snapshot “hard”. If you already have a camera that you take almost everywhere, this Xperia is not too appealing.

On the other hand, if you have the soul of a photographer, but you don’t want to take out 5kg of gear for each ride, it’s a good compromise. If you want to know more you can see the photo / video part of our test on the Xperia 1 II.

18W … it’s not much

As with the Xperia 1 II (definitely), this model offers a 4000 mAh battery that will last the day, or even two if you do not use it too much. It is little, but sufficient. For example, the battery lost 10% in 35 minutes from Netflix and 12% in 30 minutes from Call of Duty. What is a shame on the other hand is the lack of fast charging: 18W is not much and it will take 1h30 to go from 6% to 100%.

Our verdict:

Sony continues to produce smartphones that are unlike any other. In our opinion, this is a very good thing, but by turning its back on the general public, the firm is isolating itself. Side sound, look and image is always exceptional, but the Japanese firm could make concessions on the photo with why not a “novice” mode and an “expert” mode … The curious who could move from Samsung or OnePlus to Sony will be probably cooled by so much austerity at this level and by the high price. Still a better and cheaper smartphone than the Sony Xperia 1 II and it’s already not bad.

Tests taken