Sony Xperia 5 IV Smartphone Review

The Sony Xperia 5 IV updates the Sony Xperia 5 III and the improvements are shaped to improve image quality as well as bring a better user experience in terms of use and how the smartphone feels in the hand. So, just over a year after we put the Xperia 5 III through its paces, we're testing the Xperia 5 IV to find out if it's worth upgrading for. 

Sony Xperia 5 IV Features

The Sony Xperia 5 IV is unmistakenly a Sony Xperia smartphone with its long design but it's not quite as big as some other Xperia smartphones we've reviewed, keeping with the Xperia III's slightly more compact design that fits the hand better. You also get the same 6.1-inch display but it's brighter. 

3 of the 4 cameras found on the Xperia 5 IV are from the Sony Xperia 1 IV which includes a 12MP selfie camera, a 12MP main camera (also seen on the Xperia III) and the same ultra-wide camera. The telephoto camera is different from both the Xperia 1 IV and the Xperia III with the lens now offering 2.5x optical zoom instead of the continuous zoom found on the Xperia I IV and the separate static telephoto lenses found on the Xperia III. 

Another area the Xperia IV improves over the Xperia III is the battery with it been upgraded from 4500mAh to 5000mAh. 

As with the rest of the Xperia smartphones, this one will withstand a dip in water and it's also dust-proof. You also get a headphone jack, expandable memory, 3 colour options and pro camera/video mode. 

Sony Xperia 5 IV Key Features:

• Triple Rear Camera: 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide) with Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 12 MP, f/2.4, 60mm (telephoto) with PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS, 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide) with Dual Pixel PDAF
• Front Camera: 12MP f/2.0 24mm Wide Angle Lens
• Display: 6.1" OLED display
• Zoom: 2.5X optical zoom
• Optical Image Stabilisation
• Phase-Detection Autofocus
• Pro video and camera modes 
• Video: 4K 24/25/30/60/120fps and HDR,1080p (5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS)
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Type-C USB
• 5000mAh battery
• 128GB/8GB RAM or 256GB/8GB RAM (microSDXC slot for expanded storage)
• Dimensions: 156 x 67 x 8.2mm
• Weight: 172g

Sony Xperia 5 IV Handling

The Sony Xperia range stands out from the crowd thanks to its quirky design where it's long and thin rather than wide and sometimes, these devices can feel a little too long but the Xperia 5 IV, as the Xperia 5 III started, has a more compact size so even though it's still a 21:9 aspect ratio display, it fits the hand better. The display ratio does mean you get a decent-sized screen, though, sharing the same 6.1" OLED display as found on the Xperia 5 III. The glass is now Gorilla Glass Victus front/back with a smooth aluminium frame surrounding both panels which are a lovely matt black (as seen on the Xperia 1 III). The matt finish also makes the smartphone less of a fingerprint magnet and it doesn't slide off objects quite as easily as it's less slippery. 

The rounded edges/corners remain which makes the smartphone comfortable to hold and there's still a chin as well as a slight bezel where the selfie camera sits at the top but along the sides, it's pretty thin.

On the right side of the smartphone, there are volume controls, a power button and a shutter button for when you're taking photos in a landscape orientation. On the bottom, you find a USB-C port and on top is a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can charge your smartphone and use your headphones at the same time. 

It's good to see an official IP rating which means the smartphone will survive a dunking up to 1.5m for 30 minutes and the 5000mAh battery is impressive, providing plenty of power for a day's use and improving on the 4500mAh battery found in the Xperia 5 III.

Turn the Xperia 5 IV over and you'll find the camera housing top left where the three rear shooters sit neatly. The three rear cameras on the Xperia 5 IV share similarities with both the Xperia 5 III and Xperia 1 III (we explain this in more detail in the features section above) and as we've come to expect from Sony, you get some nice camera features built-in including Phase Detection Auto Focus, Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), ZEISS optics and eye-tracking. 

Sony Xperia 5 IV Camera Features:

• 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide) with Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS
• 12 MP, f/2.4, 60mm (telephoto) with PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS
• 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide) with Dual Pixel PDAF
• Front Camera: 12MP f/2.0 24mm Wide Angle Lens
• Zoom: 2.5X optical 
• Optical Image Stabilisation
• Phase-Detection Autofocus
• 20fps burst mode
• Pro video and camera modes 

The camera app hasn't changed since the Xperia 5 III with round buttons to switch to the different lenses, modes found across the top of the screen and a big shutter button. You can click the screen to adjust the focus and there's a separate option for adjusting exposure. For those capturing action shots, you can select various continuous shooting modes and when capturing portraits, you can introduce bokeh. You'll occasionally see a symbol pop up which is the AI looking at the scene in front and ensuring the optimal settings are selected to capture the best photo. Digital filters are available in abundance and there are also modes such as panorama available under 'More'. 

To access the many Pro modes that are built-in you have to click the 'basic' wording that's found top right. When you do, a wheel with various options such as P, S, M and Auto will appear along with explanations of what they're used for. The tools on offer are in abundance and it can take some time to get used to how they all work but if you have the patience to harness their power, your photos will improve. The only mode you can't access is aperture priority (there isn't one) and you won't find a dedicated night mode either. 

When you turn the smartphone to a landscape orientation the camera app's tools do take up quite a bit of the screen which is slightly annoying and if you happen to be someone who wants to hit the shutter with your left hand and have all of the controls on the left side, they will appear upside down as the app doesn't flip how the tools appear.

The Pro modes will be a great feature for some but for most, they'll prob just stick with the Basic mode as you can capture good images without too much effort. 

Video is captured in 4K at 24/25/30/60/120fps and HDR,1080p with 5-axis gyro-EIS and OIS to keep footage steady and you get access to a Pro video mode should you want more control over the settings used. 

Battery life - The 5000mAh battery improves on the 4500mAh battery found in the Xperia IV III and it easily lasts a full day of use.