Sony Xperia 5 V features some nice upgrades, including a new main camera, a new chipset, and an improved pair of speakers, just like its bigger brother. While the Xperia 1 is Sony’s top-of-the-line camera phone, the Xperia 5 Mark V also boasts the same cutting-edge main camera. It uses the new IMX 888 sensor, which has an innovative stack design that enhances light-gathering capabilities and reduces noise. However, unlike the Xperia 1 or last year’s Xperia 5, the Sony Xperia 5 V doesn’t have a telephoto cam, which we’ll explore more in the camera section.

The Xperia 5 V is a smaller and more affordable version of Sony’s flagship camera-centric smartphone, the Xperia 1 Mark V. In this review, we’ll explore whether the Sony Xperia 5 V is the right choice for photography enthusiasts.

Design and Ergonomics

Compared to the Xperia 1, the Xperia 5 Mark V is more compact, and this is noticeable both in hand and on the front. The phone has a full HD display instead of the 4K1 on the Xperia One. The phone’s design is similar to that of the Xperia 1, but there are some differences. Sony Xperia 5 V is a squared-off black rectangle, tall and narrow, as we’ve come to expect from Sony.

One new feature this year is the Gorilla Glass fixed at 2 on the back, with a smooth matte texture that’s different from the rough, grippy one on the Xperia One. Similarly, rather than having a ribbed texture on the aluminum frame, the Xperia 5S is smooth, just like on the Xperia One Mark V.

The phone has a mic on the backside in the camera bump, which picks up the voices of your subjects even better when recording video. As with previous Xperia phones, you get a dedicated two-step shutter button for the cameras, and you also get solid ingress protection, rated at IP65/IP68.

Display and Audio

Sony Xperia 5 V has a 1080p OLED display that measures 6.1 inches, with a tall 21×9 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. Although it doesn’t offer the same definition as a 4K display at 449 PPI, the display is still very sharp. The contrast is excellent, and it supports 10-bit color and HDR10 video, but not Dolby Vision.

The phone provides you with many color options, and you can achieve great color accuracy in the settings. The display is quite bright, although the maximum brightness depends on your color and white balance settings. The most we achieved is around 650 nits with the manual slider, and it boosts to nearly 910 nits in auto-brightness mode in bright light.

High Refresh Rate and Storage

Similar to previous Sony phones, the Xperia 5 V offers only one option for high-refresh-rate, which can be enabled or disabled. Once enabled, the display will switch to a 120Hz refresh rate, even when idle, except for frame rate-specific content and apps. The phone comes with 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded using MicroSD, a rare feature for flagship phones. Another unique feature of the Xperia 5 Mark V is its 3.5-millimeter headphone jack.

Additionally, the phone features a pair of front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support, equipped with a new amplifier that provides higher driving voltage, resulting in good loudness and rich sound quality. You can listen for yourself with the provided link.

Sony Xperia 5 V has a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button, which is quick and accurate. The phone’s interface bears a striking resemblance to stock Android 13 and has a similar layout. However, it has several custom features, such as Side Sense, a handle on the side of the phone that opens a menu of shortcuts to apps and features, most of which are customizable. Another feature is the Multi-window switch, which is essentially two task switchers stacked on top of each other, intended for navigating and opening apps in split-screen mode.

Video Editing and Connectivity

The brand-new Video Creator app allows for basic video editing directly on the phone. It even includes an auto-editing feature where selecting the media in up to 4K resolution automatically stitches the clips together. While the app is primarily tailored for vertical videos, it also works with landscape videos. Another app lets you connect the phone as a monitor for a Sony Alpha camera, and there’s a paid service called Music Pro that enables you to record singing and instruments and upload them to the cloud for professional-level processing.

Gaming and Camera Apps

Sony Xperia 5 V performs excellently in benchmarks, as you’d expect from a flagship phone. It has enough power for multitasking and gaming, but its thermal management is subpar – it displayed heavy thermal throttle during our prolonged stress test. However, Sony claims that the new chipset’s better efficiency and the 40% larger heatsink mean users will no longer experience overheating, unlike on past phones.

Like the Xperia 1, the Xperia 5 features a game enhancer accessible both within a menu and as an in-game overlay. The UI has been updated for the Xperia 5. The phone comes with three separate camera apps: Photo Pro, Video Pro, and Cinema Pro. While not new, these apps offer a few new features this year. If you want to learn more about these apps and their features, keep reading.

New Camera Features and Performance

In addition to what was seen in the Xperia 1, Sony Xperia 5 V introduces a couple of new camera features. In the default Photo Pro app, you can now access all frame rate options, including 120 FPS slow-mo, when recording videos. Another new feature is support for electronic stabilization when recording wide dynamic range videos. The Xperia 5 Mark V features the latest flagship chipset, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 gen 2. It’s both more powerful and more power-efficient than the Snapdragon HN1 and last year’s model, and it comes with LPDDR5X RAM.

Sony Xperia 5 V has two cameras on the back: a new 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. Sony got rid of the telephoto camera, but the new Quad Bayer main sensor provides two times lossless zoom to make up for it. The main camera’s default 12-megapixel photos are excellent, with accurate colors, contrast, and dynamic range, and abundant detail that looks natural. The bokeh mode and portraits are impressive, with the subject well-exposed and detailed, and the background nicely blurred.

Low-Light Photography and Zoom Quality

Although there’s no telephoto camera, the two times lossless digital zoom is great, with high levels of detail and sharpness, and no artifacts. Sony’s low-light photography has been improved with the cutting-edge sensor and newly developed Night View mode. The nighttime photos are superb, with outstanding color saturation, low noise, and a nicely wide dynamic range. However, the Night View mode can’t be controlled and only kicks in if the phone decides the scene is dark enough – and even then, it takes a few extra seconds to process the photo.

Without Night View, one could argue that the darker look is more natural. The photos taken at night with two-times zoom are of high quality. Realistic colors and well-controlled highlights are visible without the night View mode. The night view introduces a bit of noise, but you get a brighter exposure. They are bright and detailed with low noise, good dynamic range, and excellent color saturation. Although they may not be on par with the non-zoomed photos in terms of per-pixel quality, this is not unexpected.

Video Quality and Stabilization

Additionally, the footage is more detailed and sharper. The wide dynamic range mode also supports electronic stabilization, and Steady Shot stabilization is available for all cameras at the high-quality setting. It does an excellent job of smoothing things out without affecting the video quality. At night, the 4K videos from the main camera are good, with realistic exposure and enough detail. The colors and contrast look nice, but the dynamic range could be better.

The 4K video quality of the main camera is good with lively colors, wide dynamic range, and good contrast. The natural look of the video is praiseworthy, but the quality of fine details is slightly subpar. There is also a wide dynamic range mode for video recording that provides more pleasant colors, higher contrast, and better-controlled highlights.

Ultra-Wide Camera Performance and Selfies

Moving on to the ultra-wide camera, it is one of the best. The photos are detailed with natural rendition, spot-on sharpness, and low noise. The colors are true to life, and the dynamic range is wide. The ultra-wide camera also captures excellent photos at night with well-exposed, detailed, and sharp shots with impressively low noise.

The ultra-wide camera’s 4K video quality is similar to the main camera, but with a much wider field of view. The wide dynamic range mode offers excellent detail and sharpness, more contrast, and better processing. Selfies from the 12-megapixel front-facing camera are also very good with good contrast, accurate colors, and natural rendition.

Battery Performance

Like the Xperia 1, Sony Xperia 5 V is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. It performed very well in our battery life tests, with an endurance rating of 130 hours. Although it charges at a maximum of 30 watts, it supports wireless charging. Charging time is not too impressive, and it’s even slower if the phone is slightly warm. Unfortunately, there is no charger or cable included in the box.

Final Thought

Overall, the Sony Xperia 5 V is a great package with a waterproof build, an excellent display and speakers, excellent battery life, a powerful chipset, and killer cameras. It is not a cheap phone, and this year, they have trimmed the zoom camera to avoid eating into the sales of its bigger brother. Some of the features here, like the multiple camera apps, are definitely for a niche audience. Nonetheless, Sony fans and people looking for a cutting-edge compact flagship should be pretty happy with the Sony Xperia 5 V. If you’re looking for alternatives, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 or Asus Zenfone 10 are worth considering.

FAqs

1. What are the key features and specifications of the Sony Xperia 5 V?

The Sony Xperia 5 V, also commonly known as the Xperia 5 IV, is a flagship phone packed with advanced features. One of its primary specifications is its Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset which powers the phone to perform at optimal levels. This smartphone is also 5G enabled, supporting high-speed internet and data transfer. The Xperia 5 V is furnished with an OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz for smoother visuals. It leverages a robust main camera system which combines three 12MP sensors and delivers a zoom feature. Moreover, it has 8GB of RAM for smooth multitasking and 128GB of storage, expandable via the microSD card slot, for ample data storage.

2. What is the battery capacity, and does Sony Xperia 5 V support wireless charging?

The Sony Xperia 5 V has a decent battery life, powered by a 4000mAh battery. It also supports 30W fast charging capability that juices up the device quickly. However, wireless charging is not available in this smartphone, unlike the iPhone 14 Pro and some Samsung Galaxy models.

3. How does the camera of the Sony Xperia 5 V compare with the iPhone 14 and the Samsung Galaxy series?

The Xperia 5 V holds its ground when compared to the iPhone 15 and the Samsung Galaxy counterparts. The main Xperia 5 V camera system leverages three 12MP sensors for different focal lengths, and this versatile camera system definitely holds its own against its competitors. Features like shutter button, white balance, and bokeh effect heighten its camera performance. Despite not carrying as many megapixels as some competitors, the Xperia 5 V delivers photos with good dynamic range and detail.

4. How is the display quality of the Sony Xperia 5 V?

The display quality of the Sony Xperia 5 V is exceptional. It features a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a Full HD+ resolution and HDR support, providing vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles. The display also offers a high refresh rate of 120Hz, making for smooth scrolling and gameplay. Overall, the Xperia 5 Mark V’s display is one of its strongest features, providing a visually stunning experience. So, if you’re someone who values a high-quality display on their smartphone, the Xperia 5 Mark V is definitely worth considering.

Apple has made a surprise announcement of the new Apple Pencil. The third-generation Apple Pencil has some interesting features and is more affordable than previous models. The company released the new device quietly in a press release early in the morning, without launching a new iPad.

Key Features and Differences from Previous Models

Although the new Apple Pencil looks similar to the previous version, there are some significant differences inside. The tip looks the same, despite rumors of a magnetic replaceable tip. However, the back end of the device has a slit or cut, which Apple is highlighting as a more affordable option. Despite the lower price, the new Apple Pencil still maintains the same Pixel Perfect accuracy, low latency, and tilt sensitivity, making it an ideal tool for tasks like taking notes and drawing.

The new Apple Pencil sports the same matte finish as the previous model, which is preferred by many over the original’s glossy finish. Additionally, the flat side of the device allows it to magnetically attach to most newer iPads. The Apple Pencil 3 is also compatible with all iPads that have a USB type-C, including the new low-end iPad 10 that has been recently redesigned.

Works great for that! But even with the 12.9-inch iPad Pros that cost a lot of money, it’s still going to work great, so you don’t have to spend $130 now. The interesting thing is that, even though this does magnetically attach, it will not charge with the magnetic connection like you get with the Apple Pencil 2.

New Apple Pencil 3 Design 

Looking at this next image, you can see that USB Type-C port right there, and this looks super cool with that nice, shiny, metallic finish on the inside. The cap right there where it says Apple Pencil just slides out and stays there, whereas the original Apple Pencil cap came off, and so many people would lose it. You just have a lightning port that can easily break sticking out right there. We lost our cap, but this thing just stays here in the office, so I think this is a really smart design. With that USB-C connection, you can use that to charge up the Apple Pencil, and you also use it to pair it, and that’s great.

They had launched this thing when they launched the iPad 10 refresh, because with that, you had to use a lightning to USB-C cable, and then you needed to use a little adapter which, if you would buy that pencil again, it comes in the box, but most people who already have one, you’d have to go out and buy that adapter separately, which is a pain, and then you would lose it. So that was just a horrible design. Why they didn’t come out with this new one earlier.

Charging and Pairing

Now, any USB-C cable is slid up that cap; it stays there. You plug it in, and you could charge it up. Unfortunately, this thing is not as good in some ways as the Apple Pencil 2 because when you do magnetically attach it, even to an iPad Pro, it will not pair to the iPad. It just uses that magnet to hold it into place, but you don’t get any pairing and you don’t get any charging as well.

If you have a couple of different iPads, you will have to take out a USB-C cable, plug the thing in, just to pair up, unplug it, and then moving to another iPad, you’re going to have to do the same thing instead of just setting it down on your iPad and switching between them, and it just automatically pairs.

Now, it does have one magnetic smart function, and that is when you do set it on top, it will know that you’re not using it, and then it will go into sleep mode instead of being active. I don’t know how much battery that saves compared to just setting it down onto the table, and if it’s worth constantly putting it on top, but it’s nice that at least it’s doing something, even though you don’t get charging or pairing. Apple also put out this little comparison sheet right here, which is cool.

Comparing the New Apple Pencil with its Predecessors

In the year 2023, Apple Pencil 2 costs $129 while the original Apple Pencil costs $99. However, Apple will still sell the original one because some iPads have lightning and people will continue to buy them for a while. A new Apple Pencil is now available at $79, making it the cheapest option. It has a magnetic connection, a better port, and a little more functionality.

All three iPads have Pixel Perfect Precision and low latency, which is great for drawing. Apple Pencils are awesome compared to other tablets with styluses. They all have tilt sensitivity, so the angle you draw at will have a different effect. However, the new USBC Apple Pencil lacks pressure sensitivity, which the first-gen Apple Pencil has. It is strange that the new Apple Pencil doesn’t have this feature, and it may be more beneficial to reduce smart features and have pressure sensitivity instead.

The New Apple Pencil: Pros and Cons

Apple will still encourage people to buy the Apple Pencil 2, especially if they are serious about using it for drawing. The Apple Pencil 2 can magnetically attach to the iPad, which the original one cannot do. Additionally, it supports wireless pairing and charging, which the first-gen Apple Pencil does not. If you have an iPad Pro, it will support hover.

One of the newer Apple Pencil models comes with the P feature, which is pretty cool as it has a built-in sensor. Unfortunately, it does not have the sensor for double-tapping to switch between tools like the eraser, marker, or pencil. Additionally, you do not get free engraving on this pencil unless you pay an extra $50. It’s interesting how Apple has introduced a cheaper option, but it lacks the pressure sensitivity feature that the original one has. I wish they would have replaced the original one or at least given this one the pressure sensitivity feature and kept it at $99 instead of reducing the price to $79 while adding new features like magnetic attachment.

FAQs

1. What is the new Apple Pencil 3 and how is it different from the Apple Pencil 2?

The new Apple Pencil 3 is a highly developed version of Apple’s digital stylus, with a range of new features added. Unlike its predecessor, the Apple Pencil 2nd generation, the Apple Pencil 3 is said to have a USB-C port incorporated rather than a Lightning Connector. This essentially means you could connect it to a wider range of devices, giving it an edge over the previous models. Furthermore, it is rumoured that it will also offer magnetic tips which are interchangeable, making it apt for a variety of different purposes.

2. Can the Apple Pencil 3 be used with the recent iPad models like the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and the iPad mini?

Though Apple has yet to confirm this, there are rumours that the new Apple Pencil 3 is likely to be compatible with the latest iPad models including the new iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air and the iPad mini. The USB-C port integration would make it more universally adaptable.

3. How does the Apple Pencil 3 attach to the iPad?

The Apple Pencil 3 attaches to the iPad magnetically, just like the previous versions. Additionally, when attached, it charges wirelessly via the new USB-C charging solution.

4. What are some of the Apple Pencil 3 new features?

The Apple Pencil 3 is expected to take the creative experience to another level with its new features. Apart from the integrated USB-C port, it is also expected to offer interchangeable magnetic tips which would be suitable for different artistic needs.