Xperia Z5 A comprehensive review

Sony Xperia Z5 review:

When it first launched, the Sony Xperia Z5 represented the culmination of 18 months of incremental improvements for Sony's range of Xperia smartphones, and a year on, it remains one of our favourite smartphones.

That's despite the appearance of two other versions of the Z5: thediminutive Z5 Compact, and the slightly larger Z5 Premium, which is almost identical, the somewhat superfluous 4K screen aside. And then there's the more recent Sony Xperia X and Sony Xperia XA, two phones that would seem to signify a move away from the Z series as the firm’s smartphone standard bearer.

All four phones offer a variation on the Xperia theme, but none of them quite manages to match the Xperia Z5's combination of superb design and all-round competence.

 So today we will do a review of this wonderful phone Sony Xperia Z5

Sony Xperia Z5 review: Hardware

Unlike its predecessors, the Xperia Z5's body design consists of an aluminum frame with a frosted glass backing to reduce fingerprints appearing on the back of the phone. The device carries an IP rating of IP65 and IP68, making it dust and water resistant. The device features a 5.15 inches (13.1 cm) (marketed as 5.2-in) 1080p display with a density of 424 ppi, featuring Sony's "Triluminos" technology. The device also features a 64-bit 2.0 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 system-on-chip with 3 GB of RAM. The device also has 32 GB internal storage with microSD card expansion up to 200 GB. The device also includes a non-removable 2900 mAh battery.

The rear-facing camera of the Xperia Z5 is 23 megapixels with sensor size of 1/2.3 inch and an aperture of f/2.0, featuring a newerSony Exmor RS image sensor, instead of the 20.7 megapixels image sensor which was used in all of its predecessors, starting from the Xperia Z1. Similarly found in the Xperia M5, the devices also features hybrid autofocus that utilizes phase detection autofocus that can focus the object within 0.03 seconds.

Xperia Z5 also features a redesigned power button located on the right side of the device with a fingerprint recognition system which can be used to unlock the phone. However, the fingerprint sensor is disabled in the US version of the phone due to a "business decision", although it can be reenabled by modifying the firmware.

Sony Xperia Z5 review: Software

The Xperia Z5 is preinstalled with Android 5.1 Lollipop with Sony's custom interface and software. Pre-loaded applications on the Z5 provide access to Google’s various services, including Google Play, which can be used to download and purchase apps, music, movies, and e-books.

On first week of March 2016, Sony released the Android 6.0 Marshmallow software update for the Xperia Z5.

On August 23, 2016, Sony announced that the Xperia Z5 would receive an upgrade to Android 7.0 Nougat.

Sony Xperia Z5 review: Design

That's why, for me, it's the Xperia Z5 that deserves its place at the head of Sony's smartphone range, and it all starts with that gorgeous, almost-all-glass design. Although Sony has stuck with the design language that has stood it in such good stead over the past few years (so the phone keeps the trademark Xperia glass-slabbed front and back and squared-off profile, and it remains both water- and dust-resistant to IP68), it is different and chock full of refinements that really make a difference.

The aesthetic alterations are the most subtle: there's a new engraved Xperia logo on the left edge; the Xperia Z5's metal frame has been squared off ever so slightly; and Sony has swapped the glossy glass rear for a smooth-to-the-touch frosted glass plate. Surrounding the screen at the very edge is a slightly raised lip, a design feature intended to prevent the phone slipping off inclined surfaces. And in each of the white, “Graphite Black”, gold and green colour options, it looks simply gorgeous.

As with all glass-backed phones, however, if you buy one of these, you'll need to be careful how you handle it. I dropped my review sample from the height of around 30cm onto some gravel, and it shattered the rear into thousands of tiny shards. That wouldn't have happened to a phone with a plastic or metal rear casing. I'd advise using a case, or at the very least a screen protector applied to the rear, just to be on the safe side.

The biggest departure in design terms, however, is the look of the power button. Sony’s trademark protruding chrome-effect circle, which has been around for years, has now been replaced by an elongated lozenge, slightly inset from the edge to prevent you accidentally pressing it.

This seems a frivolous change on the surface, but there’s considerably more substance to it than first meets the eye, since  the button hides one of the Z5’s big new features: a fingerprint reader.

So far, most smartphones with one of these components have opted to pop it beneath the home button, or on the rear, both approaches that have their problems. The front reader can be difficult to reach with a one-handed grip, and you run the risk of dropping the phone because you're holding it right near the bottom edge. Rear readers are better for one-handed use, but you can't use them to unlock a phone while it's sitting on a desk.

The Sony Xperia Z5's is the best compromise I've come across so far. It can be used on a desk or in your hand, and its positioning is such that it naturally falls under your finger or thumb when you pick it up. It works reliably and quickly, too. It's the best-thought-out fingerprint reader yet.

The one design change I’m not entirely sold, however, on is the repositioning of the volume rocker from just next to the power button to lower on the right edge, right above the camera shutter. It's a baffling design decision and makes it tricky to adjust the volume one-handed with your thumb. 

Sony Xperia Z5 Review: specifications

Processor                 Octacore (quad 2GHz and quad 1.5GHz), Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 

RAM                       3GB

Screen size               5.2in

Screen resolution     1,080 x 1,920, 428ppi

Screen type              IPS

Front camera            5.1MP

Rear camera             23MP (f/2, phase detect autofocus, OIS)

Flash                        LED

GPS                         Yes

Compass                  Yes

Storage                     32GB

Memory card slot     MicroSD

Wi-Fi                        802.11ac

Bluetooth                  Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, apt-X

NFC                         Yes

Wireless data             4G

Size (WDH)             76 x 7.8 x 154mm

Weight                      180g

Operating system      Android 5.1.1 Lollipop

Battery size               2,900mAh

Sony Xperia Z5 Review: CAMERA

This is an area where Sony really should crush its competitors - given

 how it makes the sensors for some of the best mobile cameras around.

The Xperia Z5 is equipped with a Sony Exmor sensor and its the first 

of this line to come packing 23-megapixels. It's also exclusive to the Z5,

 though I would not be surprised to see it pop up on other phones next year.

While Sony classes it as a 23-megapixel camera, you need to manually 

enable the resolution in the phone's settings. If you just start shooting out of the box,

it'll only capture 8MP stills. That's odd, and slightly misleading, as I doubt 

the majority of people will delve into the settings to alter the resolution.

But, what really counts is how the pictures look and shots do look really good.

 It's an adaptable camera too, that takes fantastic pictures that are not dependant

 on you being in perfectly lit surroundings.

Daylight shots are, predictably the best. Detail is immense - just look at the delectable

picture of the sweet potato fries - colours are vivid and accurate and dynamic range is on point.

Macro shots produce lovely looking blurry backgrounds, while skin tones in portraits 

are reproduced with exceptional quality.

The auto-focus is fantastic too, locking onto target in a matter of milliseconds. 

Again, it does not struggle to find focus even when the lights are turned off. 

Sony uses a mixture of phase detection and contrast detection (it calls this a hybrid focusing system), 

instead of the laser focusing system employed by LG and a few others, to achieve these speeds.

Sony Xperia Z5 review: BATTERY LIFE

Sony tends to make lofty claims about its phones' battery lives, that ring true to begin with and then slowly decrease over time. Take the Z3 for example, it lasts a strong two days for about a year and then drops off to the point it barely gets through a day.

For the Z5, Sony has again claimed you’ll be able to be go two days without reaching for the charger. I haven’t managed to get this much life out of the Z5 once.

Unplugging the Z5 at 8.30am and using it constantly throughout the day for pulling emails, browsing the web and all the other bits we do on our phones it’ll comfortably make it past the working day and on average be at about 30% when you go to bed. That’s ok, and if you left it unplugged all night it would make it too just after lunch before it conks out.

Resources: wikipedia, trustedreviews.com and google image