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Sony Xperia 5 II review: It’s incredible

The Sony Xperia 5 II (read as “five mark two”) is a smaller, more affordable version of the Sony Xperia 1 II, which impressed us earlier this year with its ability to capture photos and videos like a high-end mirrorless camera. The Xperia 5 II adds new features including a 120Hz high refresh rate display…

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The Sony Xperia 5 II (read as “five mark two”) is a smaller, more affordable version of the Sony Xperia 1 II, which impressed us earlier this year with its ability to capture photos and videos like a high-end mirrorless camera. The Xperia 5 II adds new features including a 120Hz high refresh rate display and the ability to record 4K video at 120 frames per second. The latter of those is a first on any phone.

Over 10 days I tested the Xperia 5 II review unit running final software. I think it’s the best phone Sony has made in years.

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51 Comments

51 Comments

  1. Jonathan Lange

    September 28, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    What slow motion abilities does the phone have? Is there 960fps, 480fps, 240fps? Which resolutions?

  2. Mickey Tuck

    September 28, 2020 at 6:46 pm

    Don’t forget the 5G licensing costs are some $100 or so, it adds up to the price. I heard speculation of 3 years software updates, which also means a lot.

  3. Morrison Conwright

    September 28, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    I use the Google Assistant that much lol

  4. Madeline AHZ

    September 28, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    Sony seem to be back in the game

  5. Trevor Lawless

    September 28, 2020 at 7:20 pm

    3.5mm audio jack 😍

  6. its anna

    September 28, 2020 at 7:20 pm

    Rog 3 can shoot 4k 120fps just mentioning

  7. Aniv Khawaunju

    September 28, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    The tripod thing is concerning because I use a phone holder in my car a lot

  8. ERIZLOVECT CHANNEL

    September 28, 2020 at 7:51 pm

    Sony xperia 5ii make me human back..all in 1, no need to wait new phone every years.

  9. Frank Feng

    September 28, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    Pretty much the perfect and the only phone with all the hardware features I want: FHD+ 120hz OLED, S865, micro-sd, headphone Jack, 4000+ battery, 4k120p, compactness.

  10. Abijeet Krish

    September 28, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    The most important thing is that it has got a NOTIFICATION LED

  11. Albert Chow

    September 28, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    May I know if it is compatible with Canada’s 5G band (n38 and n66)?
    Have been reading about this topic and confuses me a lot, this is such a perfect phone!

  12. Mariachee Bandidos

    September 28, 2020 at 9:02 pm

    the typical sony customer would probably prefer iOS. 
    the sony smartphone dilemma, want the hardware, not so much the software.

  13. Cam

    September 28, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    I’m sorry but I don’t like this commentator….

  14. Solovino Juntoseva

    September 28, 2020 at 9:23 pm

    Did I miss the part about the xperia 5 missing wireless charging and only coming with 128gb internal memory? Think I’ll go with the 1 mark 2 given that.

    • Jerry Berglund

      September 28, 2020 at 11:07 pm

      I think he missed that charging thing. BUt wireless chargning isnt really a dealbreaker, because its not that good anyway. BUt I have seen different number when it comes to internal memory SOm pages says 256GB and other 128GB… some says there are two versions.

  15. Harry Chung

    September 28, 2020 at 10:01 pm

    Yes the Google assistant is extremely useful for those that know how to take advantage of it, and considering how the assistant button is so much faster than activating it through any other means it is definitely welcome. However, it should have been on the other side. Volume, power, and camera is a lot already..

  16. Rui Tavares

    September 28, 2020 at 10:14 pm

    I have the xperia zx premium, Sony always was my favorite brand. The only thing that xperia 5 II was wrong is the Google assistant button. I do use it but not to the point of having a button just for it. Apart from that I would like to have one.

  17. smohan123

    September 28, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    Yes man of course like everyone uses Google assistant. A lot. Obviously.

  18. sriramanan indhu

    September 28, 2020 at 11:00 pm

    Whether sony will again come to India

  19. Jerry Berglund

    September 28, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    To be honest even though I agree that a phone dont need to many buttons, I do think that when it comes to SONY that hardware button for Google assistent is actually kinda smart. Especially for me as a Swede, that still cant wake up google assistent directly from sleep mode or from lock-screen and such as you guys in America can do. Sony do not have knock-2-wake that would make it easier to get into phone while driving and such. Wich this hardware button I as a swede can more easy wake up the phone to use Google assistent. So thanks SONY.

  20. Spo8

    September 28, 2020 at 11:16 pm

    Since you asked, I’m absolutely one of the people who would love a Google Assistant button. If you’re totally bought into the Google ecosystem, and especially if you like to be able to control smart home things with your voice, it’s great to be able to summon it really quickly. I use the squeeze gesture on my Pixel all the time.

  21. Alfredo Castro

    September 29, 2020 at 12:01 am

    I know it has a good refresh rate, but 1080p display?
    I don’t feel like changing my XZ Premium with 4K display for a 1080 display 😔
    And no videos seems to refer to that point

  22. Csa Csa

    September 29, 2020 at 12:09 am

    Hy. this type also overheats ???

  23. Nilesh Rajput

    September 29, 2020 at 12:50 am

    Sony is a great company!

  24. Joe Pup

    September 29, 2020 at 1:22 am

    He’s probably right that this phone is incredible, but if you don’t get adequate carrier support and get the word out, the phone will struggle to get sales. The Wall Street Journal pointed this out a few years back about Sony Xperia, saying ” Sony’s latest smartphones have been winning rave reviews. Too bad few people have even heard of them [i.e., marketing]. In particular, lack of support from major carriers in the U.S. is severely hampering sales.” Fast forward to 2020, and nothing’s really changed at Sony.

  25. UnboxingMania

    September 29, 2020 at 1:23 am

    Amazing phone by Sony 👌

  26. Carlin

    September 29, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    My next phone, simply.

  27. Dookash

    September 29, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    5g?

  28. Naime Shirou

    September 29, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    Wooahh!! 120hz and 4K 120fps!!!!!!!!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

  29. Cambrigde Soundworks

    September 29, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    I love the notchless display, thank you Sony

  30. Antony Antony

    September 29, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    Sony the best

  31. Mehdi Jospi

    September 29, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    My all time favorite..

  32. Salvatore Giusto

    September 29, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    Just for information: is this a phone? A tool to call someone, talk to him, receive calls, allow you to get in touch with your contacts to speak with them etc. , a tool that should have good reception, good audio quality etc. Or should I’d rather buy a camera and video camera and try to use them as a phone? Is it so difficult to judge a phone first and foremost for what is its main raison d’etre? At least mention that!

  33. Prodigious 909

    September 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    I have an Xperia 1 ii but this looks like a great phone as well

  34. Michael

    September 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    8 MP for the front camera!! Honestly, in 2020, an 8 MP camera at the front!!

  35. Louie Fajardo

    September 29, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    But it is not available anywhere in the Middle East, so sad that Sony Marketing sucks

  36. Drag Canz

    September 29, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    Super phone

  37. ничего не знаю

    September 29, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    240hz

  38. Jason Howard

    September 29, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    I’d have it purely on its size. I want smaller phones. Not bigger

  39. Humberto Ramos

    September 29, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    December? WTH.

  40. sunstryder//

    September 29, 2020 at 10:19 pm

    This reviewer is awesome, he thoroughly used all the canara features that you’d be interested in buying it for. Did not expect such a detailed look

  41. Xperia Fan

    September 29, 2020 at 11:04 pm

    Nope a design like that will never impress me or majority of smartphone users while the whole world is going for bezelless screens but Sony is going backwards while every company that exists focuses to make their auto mode perfect, here Sony focuses on manual mode 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ really disappointing why in the world would professional photography buy an smartphone for photography? There are dozen of pro dslr cameras compact small size every type of dslr is there leave manual mode for dslr camera ffs smartphone cannot come close to dslr the camera on new Sony is nowhere close to iPhone 12 or Samsung note 20 ultra.

  42. albocaj

    September 29, 2020 at 11:12 pm

    Did he really mean to say software boosts to 240Hz?

  43. nyfixed

    September 29, 2020 at 11:15 pm

    why only the black color is available in the US? I want to get the dark blue color!

  44. Chris Davis

    September 29, 2020 at 11:18 pm

    But will it work on Verizon!?

  45. Plump Cat

    September 29, 2020 at 11:25 pm

    *FINALLY* a reviewer that looks past it not being an iPhone but rather a phone with the best pro features in the market

  46. bluelion7342

    September 29, 2020 at 11:50 pm

    Sony makes amazing phones yet still has confusing naming conventions.

  47. ronch550

    September 30, 2020 at 12:00 am

    I think I’m fine with Redmi and Realme for now.

  48. ueharaf

    September 30, 2020 at 12:24 am

    how about battery life?

  49. Achmad Nur Hidayat

    September 30, 2020 at 12:30 am

    I would rather uninstall google assistant though.

  50. z Wietnamu

    September 30, 2020 at 1:04 am

    I really like Sony but I often use front camera for Tik Tok content so it’s a big no for me .

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