Sony Xperia 5 V: Release date, price, specs, and more

Sony has offered the Xperia 5 series for several years now, bringing a more compact and affordable flagship experience compared to the Xperia 1 range. Xperia 5 phones usually launch in the second half of the year, and the brand-new Xperia 5 V is no different, taking some cues from the earlier Xperia 1 V. Here’s everything you need to know about the new phone.

Sony Xperia 5 V: Release date, price, and availability

Sony launched the Xperia 5 V on September 1, with units shipping from September 21 in the UK and some other regions of Europe. We’re expecting the phone to be available in the US and parts of Asia too.

The Xperia 5 series is typically cheaper than the Xperia 1 range, and this time is no different. Expect to pay €999 (~$1,084) for the Xperia 5 V in Europe, while consumers in the UK will need to pay £849 (~$1,076). In saying so, the Xperia 5 V does make a couple of compromises. So it’s not a total slam dunk here.

Unfortunately, if you’re in the US or Canada, Sony has confirmed that the device will not be offered in these countries in 2023. The company will instead focus on the Xperia 1 V.

Sony Xperia 5 V specs

It isn’t a surprise to hear that the Sony Xperia 5 V brings a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, much like the Xperia 1 V. This is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage, in line with the Xperia 5 IV.

Otherwise, Sony is sticking with the same 6.1-inch screen as last year’s model, bringing an FHD+ OLED panel (21:9). This enables a more pocket-friendly design than typical flagship phones.

The Sony Xperia 5 V also brings a 5,000mAh battery with 30W wired charging speeds and 18W wireless speeds.

Sony Xperia 5 V features

The Xperia 5 series usually offers most of the same features as the Xperia 1 family in a smaller package, and that holds true in 2023 (for the most part).

You’re getting a multimedia-focused proposition from the Xperia 5 V. This is due to features like the Game Enhancer suite, a Video Creator app, one year of unlimited streaming on Bravia Core, and a 3.5mm port.

Speaking of audio, the Xperia 5 V also brings features like dual stereo speakers, LDAC codec support, 360 Reality Audio capabilities, and Sony’s Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE).

Cameras

Sony finally adopted a high-resolution main camera with the Xperia 1 V earlier this year, bringing the handset in line with the best camera phones. That change carries over to the Xperia 5 V, as it packs a 52MP Exmor T main camera (1/1.35-inch, OIS) with an effective 48MP resolution.

You’re also getting a 12MP ultrawide camera here (16mm), but the company has decided to ditch a telephoto camera altogether. Instead, Sony says it offers a 2x zoom option via the main camera. We’re not sure how well this will work, but it certainly brings to mind the cropped 2x zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro range. Otherwise, you’ve got the same 12MP 1/2.9-inch selfie camera as the Xperia 1 V.

The Japanese manufacturer is also bringing its fair share of software-related camera features to the table. These additions include its Creative Look color filter modes, S-Cinetone color profile, a product showcase setting for vloggers, and more. And yes, the phone is equipped with a dedicated camera shutter button too.

In our experience, the Sony Xperia 5 V’s main camera is excellent, although its lack of a telephoto lens leaves the phone’s photographic abilities short. We also felt the selfie camera, while good in modest light, could use a low light boost.

Performance

The Xperia 5 V brings the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, in line with other flagship phones in 2023. You’re also getting 8GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage here.

We thought the Xperia 1 V did a good job in general when it came to performance, adding that it coped well under sustained load too. Compact phones do run the risk of poor sustained performance, but Sony says it’s increased the size of the heat diffusion sheet by 40%. So we’re keen to see how the phone copes under load.

It is worth noting that the Xperia 5 V is running the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 rather than the overclocked version. But you’ll be getting top-flight performance in apps and games nonetheless.

Otherwise, Sony is offering a lackluster software update policy here. Expect just two major Android updates, while the company isn’t firm on security updates. That’s a joke when Apple, Google, Samsung, and others are offering three or four major OS updates and at least five years of security patches.

Display

Those expecting a major display upgrade for the Xperia 5 V will be sorely disappointed. You’ve still got a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED screen here, in line with previous models.

The screen offers a 120Hz refresh rate, but this isn’t truly dynamic as we’ve seen with rival brands. Instead, it only drops down to 60Hz. That’s a real shame when Google, Xiaomi, and others offer LTPO screens capable of dropping down to 10Hz or even 1Hz to eke out more juice.

In any event, the 6.1-inch size means the phone is very pocket-friendly. And we’re definitely glad that Sony resisted the temptation to increase the overall size.

Design and build quality

The new Sony phone brings more of the same as far as design and build quality are concerned — not that this is a bad thing. Expect a glass back here, available in Black, Blue, and Platinum Silver color options.

Sony has also seen it fit to offer Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front, so you should be able to rest easy when it comes to everyday drops. Otherwise, the Xperia 5 V offers an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

Battery

The Xperia 5 V has the same 5,000mAh battery as last year’s model. In saying so, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset touts up to 20% better power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 used in last year’s phone. So you should expect improved battery life nonetheless.

As for charging capabilities, you’re still stuck with 30W wired speeds and 18W wireless speeds. Sony specifically touts the ability to hit 50% after 30 minutes of charging, which isn’t exactly fast by any measure. But those who care about battery degradation will likely be happy with this.

Speaking of degradation, Sony claims this battery should last for up to three years. The battery presumably degrades to 80% of its original capacity thereafter. We’re not quite sure what this means in terms of charging cycles, but we’re guessing 1,000 to 1,200 cycles.

Where can you buy the Sony Xperia 5 V?

Keen on buying a compact Sony flagship phone? Then the Xperia 5 V will be available in the UK and other regions in Europe from Sony and third-party retailers such as Amazon.