Sony Xperia Z5 review
The development process of the Sony Xperia Z5 was accompanied by an endless series of rumors that predicted new and imaginable and unimaginable characteristics. However, the official announcement finally clarified everything. Well, now the flagship lineup (Z5, Z5 Compact and Z5 Premium) is available for sale in Russia. Today we look at the central model - Sony Xperia Z5.
Design and construction
It is clear that the assessment of design is a subjective matter, but in the Xperia Z5 it was possible to significantly change the familiar appearance of the line. The dimensions of the flagship remained almost the same as the Xperia Z3 +. The case is very pleasant to the touch: the frame is made of lightweight aluminum, the front and back panels are made of durable tempered glass. The back side underwent a special treatment (frosted glass), so now fingerprints on the case do not remain, and in general, this solution looks more interesting than the previous gloss.
As for the build quality, everything is perfect here. No backlash (and where do they come from in a non-separable case?), No noticeable gaps. The only moving element was a stub for the SIM card slot and microSD, but it became thicker compared to the Xperia Z3, which means it is denser and more reliable.
There is a slightly unusual design solution: the fingerprint scanner is located in the power button, which, in turn, is located on the right side of the case. It turned out very convenient, especially considering the size of the phone (146x72x7.45 mm).
All slots, except the already mentioned memory card slots and SIM cards are now open. The 3.5 mm headset jack is on the top, and the microUSB used to connect to a PC, TV and charger is on the bottom. At the same time, protection against water that meets the IP68 standard has not gone away; a nice bonus in the form of the ability to simultaneously use two SIM-cards and a memory card - too. By the way, this time there is no difference in price between the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Dual.
There is another pleasant solution - the glass of the rear panel is now located in a small depression (literally 0.2 mm) relative to the side frame. The smartphone does not slip on polished surfaces and does not slip out of the hands.
Display
According to the characteristics, the Sony Xperia Z5 display exactly repeats the Xperia Z3: with a diagonal of 5.2 inches, its resolution is 1080x1920 pixels (Full HD). The pixel density (428 ppi) remained unchanged compared to the previous flagship. However, the display now boasts increased brightness and optimized power consumption.
Competing smartphones are already trying on Quad matrix, but many experts insist that with such a diagonal, the human eye is not able to notice the difference between Full HD and Quad HD. Apparently, Sony is also a supporter of this theory, so I ventured to leave my flagship IPS display with Full HD resolution. Well, to demonstrate technical superiority, Sony has an Xperia Z5 Premium with a 4K display.
In general, the Xperia Z5 screen proved to be excellent during use: individual pixels are not visible to the naked eye, the brightness is high, and the screen is well readable in the sun. There is also a traditional proprietary technology X-Reality Engine, which analyzes the image on the screen and optimizes color balance, as well as saturation and contrast. The settings menu has a clear demonstration of how this technology works. And, if desired, it can be turned off.
Performance
The Sony Xperia Z5 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, which, due to problems with overheating, has become one of the main newsmakers this year. But in the Xperia Z5 the problem with the “decoration” of the chipset was solved: high performance remained, overheating - gone. For smartphone users, this chip is no longer a big deal. Practice confirms this: the smartphone behaves calmly even when launching “heavy” toys, but there are still exceptions. Heating is felt even when recording 4K video in benchmarks, but Z5 does not produce errors about overheating even in this case.
The platform itself is equipped with a central processor with four Cortex-A53 cores (operate at a frequency of 1.5 GHz) and four Cortex-A57 cores (2.0 GHz). There is a graphics accelerator Adreno 430, which helps 3 GB of RAM. The amount of internal memory is 32 GB; modifications with other volumes are not provided, so if necessary, you can use the expansion slot. All this business is run by the Android 5.1.1 operating system (Lollipop), which will soon begin to upgrade to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).
Cameras
The Z5 main camera uses a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor. Sony also uses it in other smartphones of the Xperia Z5 line. There is an advanced autofocus system, eight-fold digital zoom and all the usual Sony shooting modes, including augmented reality effects. The pictures are decent, but the main thing is that high resolution allows you to “cut out” a small fragment of the photo and get a picture of high enough quality for publication on the Internet and social networks. Here are some examples of what the main camera is capable of.
The front camera received a 5.1-megapixel sensor and wide-angle optics, which will undoubtedly be enjoyed by selfie lovers.
Fingerprint Sensor
The aforementioned fingerprint scanner pleased with its exceptionally fast and smooth operation. Yes, the location is not quite ordinary (much more often it is located in front, under the screen), but this does not affect usability. The power button in the Xperia Z line has always been located on the right side, so you won’t have to get used to it again.
The main thing is that the percentage of successful fingerprint recognition is very high and the reaction speed is instant.
Battery and autonomy
As noted above, the Sony Xperia Z5 has a non-removable 2,900 mAh battery. The predecessor had the same capacity, but the survivability of the Xperia Z5 was slightly better. Thanks to software optimization, you can fully use the device away from the outlet (in the active mode: with video, games and music) all day. And in economy mode, the battery can withstand two days. With a higher resolution display, autonomy would obviously not be that good.
General impressions
If you compare the Z5 with previous Sony flagships, you can see what a thorough work on the bugs has been done. The case began to look in a new way, and in work it became much more practical, the chipset became more powerful, the battery life increased. The camera also improved, despite the fact that the increase in resolution was insignificant. In Russia, the Xperia Z5 is available in four colors: white (with a silver back panel), dark green, gold and graphite black. In official retail, the device costs 49,990 rubles.
Key Specifications Sony Xperia Z5
Display diagonal : 5,2 inches;
Display Resolution : 1080 x 1920 pixels (density ~ 428 ppi);
Chipset : Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (64 bits, 8 cores);
Memory: 3 GB operational, 32 GB for data storage, microSD memory card slot up to 200 GB;
Main camera : 23 megapixels, LED flash, video recording in 4K resolution;
Front camera : 5.1 megapixel with wide-angle optics;
Battery : Li-ion, 2 900 mAh, non-removable;
SIM card format : nano-SIM;
Additionally : fingerprint sensor, barometer, NFC, dust and moisture protection standard IP68;
Case materials : metal, glass, plastic;
Operating system version : Android 5.1 Lollipop, expected to upgrade to 6.0 Marshmallow;
Dimensions and weight : 146.0 x 72.1 x 7.45 mm, 156.5 g;
Price in Russia : 49 990 rubles
Design and construction
It is clear that the assessment of design is a subjective matter, but in the Xperia Z5 it was possible to significantly change the familiar appearance of the line. The dimensions of the flagship remained almost the same as the Xperia Z3 +. The case is very pleasant to the touch: the frame is made of lightweight aluminum, the front and back panels are made of durable tempered glass. The back side underwent a special treatment (frosted glass), so now fingerprints on the case do not remain, and in general, this solution looks more interesting than the previous gloss.
As for the build quality, everything is perfect here. No backlash (and where do they come from in a non-separable case?), No noticeable gaps. The only moving element was a stub for the SIM card slot and microSD, but it became thicker compared to the Xperia Z3, which means it is denser and more reliable.
There is a slightly unusual design solution: the fingerprint scanner is located in the power button, which, in turn, is located on the right side of the case. It turned out very convenient, especially considering the size of the phone (146x72x7.45 mm).
All slots, except the already mentioned memory card slots and SIM cards are now open. The 3.5 mm headset jack is on the top, and the microUSB used to connect to a PC, TV and charger is on the bottom. At the same time, protection against water that meets the IP68 standard has not gone away; a nice bonus in the form of the ability to simultaneously use two SIM-cards and a memory card - too. By the way, this time there is no difference in price between the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Dual.
There is another pleasant solution - the glass of the rear panel is now located in a small depression (literally 0.2 mm) relative to the side frame. The smartphone does not slip on polished surfaces and does not slip out of the hands.
Display
According to the characteristics, the Sony Xperia Z5 display exactly repeats the Xperia Z3: with a diagonal of 5.2 inches, its resolution is 1080x1920 pixels (Full HD). The pixel density (428 ppi) remained unchanged compared to the previous flagship. However, the display now boasts increased brightness and optimized power consumption.
Competing smartphones are already trying on Quad matrix, but many experts insist that with such a diagonal, the human eye is not able to notice the difference between Full HD and Quad HD. Apparently, Sony is also a supporter of this theory, so I ventured to leave my flagship IPS display with Full HD resolution. Well, to demonstrate technical superiority, Sony has an Xperia Z5 Premium with a 4K display.
In general, the Xperia Z5 screen proved to be excellent during use: individual pixels are not visible to the naked eye, the brightness is high, and the screen is well readable in the sun. There is also a traditional proprietary technology X-Reality Engine, which analyzes the image on the screen and optimizes color balance, as well as saturation and contrast. The settings menu has a clear demonstration of how this technology works. And, if desired, it can be turned off.
Performance
The Sony Xperia Z5 uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, which, due to problems with overheating, has become one of the main newsmakers this year. But in the Xperia Z5 the problem with the “decoration” of the chipset was solved: high performance remained, overheating - gone. For smartphone users, this chip is no longer a big deal. Practice confirms this: the smartphone behaves calmly even when launching “heavy” toys, but there are still exceptions. Heating is felt even when recording 4K video in benchmarks, but Z5 does not produce errors about overheating even in this case.
The platform itself is equipped with a central processor with four Cortex-A53 cores (operate at a frequency of 1.5 GHz) and four Cortex-A57 cores (2.0 GHz). There is a graphics accelerator Adreno 430, which helps 3 GB of RAM. The amount of internal memory is 32 GB; modifications with other volumes are not provided, so if necessary, you can use the expansion slot. All this business is run by the Android 5.1.1 operating system (Lollipop), which will soon begin to upgrade to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow).
Cameras
The Z5 main camera uses a 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor. Sony also uses it in other smartphones of the Xperia Z5 line. There is an advanced autofocus system, eight-fold digital zoom and all the usual Sony shooting modes, including augmented reality effects. The pictures are decent, but the main thing is that high resolution allows you to “cut out” a small fragment of the photo and get a picture of high enough quality for publication on the Internet and social networks. Here are some examples of what the main camera is capable of.
The front camera received a 5.1-megapixel sensor and wide-angle optics, which will undoubtedly be enjoyed by selfie lovers.
Fingerprint Sensor
The aforementioned fingerprint scanner pleased with its exceptionally fast and smooth operation. Yes, the location is not quite ordinary (much more often it is located in front, under the screen), but this does not affect usability. The power button in the Xperia Z line has always been located on the right side, so you won’t have to get used to it again.
The main thing is that the percentage of successful fingerprint recognition is very high and the reaction speed is instant.
Battery and autonomy
As noted above, the Sony Xperia Z5 has a non-removable 2,900 mAh battery. The predecessor had the same capacity, but the survivability of the Xperia Z5 was slightly better. Thanks to software optimization, you can fully use the device away from the outlet (in the active mode: with video, games and music) all day. And in economy mode, the battery can withstand two days. With a higher resolution display, autonomy would obviously not be that good.
General impressions
If you compare the Z5 with previous Sony flagships, you can see what a thorough work on the bugs has been done. The case began to look in a new way, and in work it became much more practical, the chipset became more powerful, the battery life increased. The camera also improved, despite the fact that the increase in resolution was insignificant. In Russia, the Xperia Z5 is available in four colors: white (with a silver back panel), dark green, gold and graphite black. In official retail, the device costs 49,990 rubles.
Key Specifications Sony Xperia Z5
Display diagonal : 5,2 inches;
Display Resolution : 1080 x 1920 pixels (density ~ 428 ppi);
Chipset : Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (64 bits, 8 cores);
Memory: 3 GB operational, 32 GB for data storage, microSD memory card slot up to 200 GB;
Main camera : 23 megapixels, LED flash, video recording in 4K resolution;
Front camera : 5.1 megapixel with wide-angle optics;
Battery : Li-ion, 2 900 mAh, non-removable;
SIM card format : nano-SIM;
Additionally : fingerprint sensor, barometer, NFC, dust and moisture protection standard IP68;
Case materials : metal, glass, plastic;
Operating system version : Android 5.1 Lollipop, expected to upgrade to 6.0 Marshmallow;
Dimensions and weight : 146.0 x 72.1 x 7.45 mm, 156.5 g;
Price in Russia : 49 990 rubles