Sony’s Xperia Z5 trio were our top picks in the smartphone category at IFA this year, largely because it was impossible to choose between them. The Z5 Premium boasts the first 4K screen in a smartphone, the Z5 is a solid all-rounder, and the Z5 Compact offers cutting edge specs in a smaller package. The three-pronged approach came as a surprise, but Sony needs to do something to reverse its ailing smartphone fortunes.
Sadly, there’s still no word on a U.S. release, but the Z5 family is starting to roll out elsewhere, and there’s plenty to recommend it. All three phones feature the new, conveniently placed, fingerprint scanner in the power button on the side, they each have a lightning fast 23-megapixel camera, and there’s plenty of power under the hood.
As closely related as these phones are, there are still some important differences worth exploring. If you’re having trouble choosing, then this Xperia Z5 Premium vs. Xperia Z5 vs. Xperia Z5 Compact comparison is the place to be.
Xperia Z5 Premium |
Xperia Z5 |
Xperia Z5 Compact |
|
Size | 154.4 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm (6.08 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 in) | 127 x 65 x 8.9 mm (5.0 x 2.56 x 0.35 in) |
Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 154 g (5.43 oz) | 138 g (4.87 oz) |
Screen | 5.5-inch IPS LCD | 5.2-inch IPS LCD | 4.6-inch IPS LCD |
Resolution | 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (806 ppi) | 1,920 x 1,080 pixels (428 ppi) | 1,280 x 720 pixels (323 ppi) |
OS | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop | ||
Storage | 32GB | 32GB | 32GB |
SD Card Slot | Yes (up to 200GB) | Yes (up to 200GB) | Yes (up to 200GB) |
NFC support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Processor | Snapdragon 810 octa-core 2 + 1.5 GHz | Snapdragon 810 octa-core 2 + 1.5 GHz | Snapdragon 810 octa-core 2 + 1.5 GHz |
3GB | 3GB | 2GB | |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 4G, LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ |
Camera | Front 5.1MP, Rear 23MP | Front 5.1MP, Rear 23MP | Front 5.1MP, Rear 23MP |
Video | 2160p |
2160p |
2160p |
Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.1 | Yes, version 4.1 | Yes, version 4.1 |
Fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water Resistant | Yes, IP68 | Yes, IP68 | Yes, IP68 |
Battery | 3,430mAh | 2,900mAh | 2,700mAh |
Charger | Micro USB | Micro USB | Micro USB |
Quick Charging | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Wireless Charging | No | No | No |
Marketplace | Google Play Store | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
Ave. Price | £630 ($953) Unlocked | £550 ($832) Unlocked | £430 ($650) Unlocked |
Color offerings | Chrome, Black, Gold | White, Graphite Black, Gold, Green | White, Graphite Black, Yellow, Coral |
Availability | Nov. in U.K. (U.S. Unknown) | Oct. in U.K. (U.S. Unknown) | Oct. in U.K. (U.S. Unknown) |
DT Review | Hands On | Hands On | Hands On |
Power
All three of Sony’s smartphones are fast and slick when it comes to performance. That’s because each of them has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 chip inside. It’s an octa-core processor comprised of the 1.5GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 and the 2GHz quad-core Cortex-A57. They also sport the same Adreno 430 graphics processor. The only difference crops up when you look at the
In terms of sheer speed, you might reasonably expect the Compact to be the fastest of the lot because it has far fewer pixels to push on the smaller 720p resolution screen. But you might also expect it to be the weakest multitasker because of the reduced
Winner: Tie
Design
Is your Xperia Z5 choice a simple case of small, medium, or large? There’s a bit more to it than that, but the most obvious thing that sets the Z5 family apart is the size. The design language is the same throughout, so they share the nifty new, lozenge-shaped fingerprint sensor in the power button on the right spine.
The Compact sticks out the most because the surround is plastic instead of rounded metal. It’s also the chubbiest of the three, something which is accentuated by its diminutive size. The Premium really just feels like a slightly larger Z5.
All of them have a frosted glass back with the
Winner: Tie
Display
The displays are another major divergence. The Premium boasts the world’s first
The Z5 display is standard 1080p, and a touch smaller at 5.2 inches to the Premium’s 5.5 inches. The Compact has a 4.6-inch display with a 720p resolution. It’s obviously the least sharp of the bunch, but, once again, you’d be hard pressed to tell on a screen this size. It still looks good, and the pixel density is high enough at 323 ppi. The Z5’s display is 428 ppi and the Premium’s is a staggering 806 ppi. To give another point of comparison, the new iPhone 6S has a 326 ppi display.
Winner: Xperia Z5 Premium
Camera
Sony made a big deal out of the 23-megapixel main camera taht adorns each Xperia Z5 model. It claims the autofocus is faster than anything else out there. It certainly feels very speedy indeed, and you can zoom in on shots after capturing them without the usual pixelation. You can also capture
Each of the Z5’s also has a 5.1-megapixel front-facing camera. There’s nothing between them on the camera front.
Winner: Tie
Battery
One area where Sony has really worked hard over the last couple of years is battery life. The Xperia Z range is supposed to offer a couple of days between charges, and you can expect that kind of battery life from all three of these phones, even though they have completely different capacities.
What really accounts for the differences in battery sizes is the displays. The concern is that the
Winner: TBA
Unique features
The fingerprint sensor placement is very smart, because you can unlock your Z5 one-handed as you pick it up. It’s fast, and it feels natural to use your thumb if you’re right handed. It’s exactly the same in each Z5.
The Xperia Z5 family is also water resistant, with an IP68 rating, which means all three phones can be immersed in fresh water at depths of up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes at a time. Sony has recommended that you don’t actually use it underwater, though. It’s a feature that might save you if your phone makes an accidental splash, rather than something that enables underwater photography. Once again, there’s no difference between the three.
Winner: Tie
Availability and price
The Xperia Z5 and the Z5 Compact are rolling out in many countries, including the U.K. this month (October). The Z5 Premium is set for a November release. Unfortunately, there’s no word on any U.S. release or carrier support as yet.
Pricing is inevitably a big divider for these phones, though Sony has already reduced the prices before launch. The Premium will cost you £630 unlocked ($953), the Z5 will cost £550 ($832), and the Compact will cost £430 ($650). These direct conversions to dollar prices probably won’t stand up. Realistically, if and when the Xperia Z5 phones land Stateside, the prices are likely to be a bit lower than this, and carriers will probably offer a standard $200 on two-year contract deal.
Winner: TBA
Conclusion
If you prefer a smaller phone, then the Z5 Compact is an obvious choice. It’s refreshing to see a manufacturer releasing a smaller phone without removing the cutting edge features. The Z5 Compact has the same processor, camera, and fingerprint sensor as its bigger brethren. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another
For people choosing between the Z5 and Z5 Premium, it’s a little tougher. Is it worth splashing out the extra $100 or so to snag a
There’s no doubt that the Xperia Z5 family are the best smartphones Sony has ever made, and the three models will each appeal to different people. Fingers crossed a U.S. carrier picks them up.
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