You know that feeling when you find a perfect tool that everyone else seems to be ignoring? That's basically the vibe of the Sony Xperia 5 IV. It's a weird, skinny, incredibly powerful little slab of glass that feels like it was designed by a group of engineers who don't care about TikTok trends. Most people walk into a carrier store and walk out with an iPhone or a Samsung. They don't even look at the Sony shelf. Honestly, that’s a shame because this thing is a beast.
It’s small. Not "mini" small like the old iPhones, but narrow. Really narrow. This makes it one of the few flagship-tier phones you can actually wrap your hand around without feeling like you’re palming a dinner plate. But being small doesn't mean it's weak. Sony crammed a 5,000mAh battery into this chassis, which, if you know anything about internal hardware, is a borderline miracle of spatial engineering.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV exists in this strange middle ground. It's not the ultra-expensive Xperia 1 series, but it’s definitely not a budget phone. It’s for the person who wants pro-level camera controls but doesn't want a brick in their pocket. Let's get into why this phone is a cult classic for some and a total mystery to everyone else.
The Screen That Feels Like a Movie Theater (Sorta)
Sony loves their 21:9 aspect ratio. It's long. Like, really long. When you hold the Sony Xperia 5 IV, it feels more like a TV remote than a standard smartphone. This is intentional. Most movies are shot in CinemaScope, and on this 6.1-inch OLED panel, those movies fill the entire screen. No black bars. No notch. No "island" floating at the top.
Sony refuses to punch a hole in their screens. They put the selfie camera in the top bezel instead. It makes the phone slightly taller, but the trade-off is a completely unobstructed view. If you’re a purist about your media, you’ll love it. The 120Hz refresh rate makes everything fluid, though it's worth noting that it doesn't have the fancy LTPO tech that drops the refresh rate down to 1Hz to save battery. It's either 60 or 120. Simple, if a bit old-school.
Sunlight and Squinting
One gripe people had with the older Xperia 5 III was the brightness. It was... dim. Sony actually listened. The Sony Xperia 5 IV is significantly brighter—about 50% brighter according to their own white papers. In the real world, this means you can actually see your viewfinder when you're taking photos at the beach. It’s not quite "searing your retinas" bright like a Galaxy S24 Ultra, but it’s plenty for most humans.
Why the Sony Xperia 5 IV Camera is Stressful (and Great)
If you want a phone that does all the work for you, buy a Pixel. Seriously. The Sony Xperia 5 IV is not for "point and shoot" people who want the AI to fake a sunset for them. Sony’s camera app looks exactly like the interface on their Alpha mirrorless cameras. It’s intimidating. You see terms like ISO, Shutter Speed, and EV Compensation everywhere.
There are three 12MP lenses on the back:
- A 16mm ultra-wide.
- A 24mm main wide lens.
- A 60mm portrait/telephoto lens.
Notice something? The resolution is the same across all three. This is for consistency. Sony wants the color science to match perfectly when you're switching between lenses while filming. Speaking of filming, all three rear cameras can do 4K HDR at 120fps. That is insane for a phone this size. You can get buttery smooth slow-motion footage that looks like it came off a professional rig.
But here’s the kicker: the telephoto lens is actually a bit of a "downgrade" on paper compared to the previous model. The III had a variable periscope lens; this one is fixed at 60mm. It’s better for portraits, but worse for spying on birds across the park. Some reviewers, like those over at GSMArena, noted that while the hardware changed, the processing got a bit smarter.
The Heat in the Room
We have to talk about the processor. The Sony Xperia 5 IV runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. If you follow tech news, you know that chip had a bit of a "fever." It runs hot. Because the Xperia is so thin, there isn't a lot of places for that heat to go.
If you’re recording 4K video for 20 minutes in the sun, the phone might give you a warning and shut down the camera app. It’s frustrating. Sony has released several software updates to throttle the performance and keep the heat down, but the physical reality of a high-powered chip in a small glass box remains. For day-to-day scrolling, it’s fine. For hardcore gaming or long-form filmmaking? You’ll feel the warmth.
The Features Everyone Else Deleted
This is where the Sony Xperia 5 IV becomes a hero for a certain type of user. It has things that Apple and Samsung decided were "obsolete" years ago.
- The Headphone Jack: Yes, it’s there. At the top. No dongles. No Bluetooth latency. Just plug in your high-end Sennheisers and go.
- MicroSD Expansion: You can pop the SIM tray with your fingernail (no tool needed!) and slide in a 1TB microSD card. This is huge for people who take a lot of 4K video.
- A Physical Shutter Button: It’s a two-stage button. Half-press to focus, full-press to snap the shot. It feels like a real camera.
- Notification LED: A tiny little light that blinks when you have a message. No need to wake the whole screen.
It’s almost like Sony is making a phone for people who hate modern phone trends.
Battery Life That Defies Physics
Usually, small phones have terrible battery life. The iPhone 13 Mini was notorious for it. But the Sony Xperia 5 IV is a marathon runner. They managed to fit a 5,000mAh cell in here, which is the same size as the one in the massive S24 Ultra.
Because the screen is smaller and "only" 1080p+ resolution, it doesn't draw as much power. Most users can easily get through a full day, even with heavy use. It also supports wireless charging—a first for the 5-series.
Charging Speed Realities
Don't expect 100W "warp" charging. Sony is conservative here because they want the battery to last for three years, not burn out in one. It supports 30W PD charging. It’s fine. It’s not fast, but it’s safe. And heads up: there is no charger in the box. There isn't even a cable. Sony claims it's for the environment, but let's be real—it’s also a cost-saving measure.
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The Software Situation
Sony’s version of Android is very clean. It feels almost like "Stock" Android on a Pixel, but with a few Sony-specific apps for the camera and audio. One cool feature is "Side Sense," which lets you tap the edge of the screen to open a mini-menu of apps. Since the phone is so tall, this is a lifesaver for one-handed use.
The downside? Support. Sony usually only promises two major Android OS updates and maybe three years of security patches. Compared to Samsung or Google’s 7-year promises, this is weak. If you’re the type of person who keeps a phone until it literally falls apart, the Sony Xperia 5 IV might feel "old" software-wise sooner than its rivals.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Xperia 5 IV
A lot of people think this is a "compact" phone. It isn't. It's a "narrow" phone. If you have small hands, you still won't be able to reach the top of the screen easily because it’s so tall. But you can wrap your fingers all the way around it, which gives you a much more secure grip.
Another misconception is that it’s a "worse" version of the Xperia 1 IV. In some ways, it's actually better. The screen is sharper to the human eye because it's smaller, and the battery life is objectively superior because it isn't pushing a 4K resolution that nobody can actually see on a 6-inch screen anyway.
The Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy This?
The Sony Xperia 5 IV is a niche device. It’s for the person who owns a mirrorless camera and knows what "shutter priority" means. It’s for the person who still buys wired headphones because they care about audio fidelity. It’s for the person who wants a high-end phone that doesn't look like every other glass rectangle at the coffee shop.
Is it perfect? No.
The thermal issues are real if you push it hard. The telephoto lens isn't as "pro" as some would like. The price at launch was a bit steep for what most people perceive as a "small" phone.
But is it unique? Absolutely.
There is nothing else on the market that offers this specific combination of size, battery capacity, and legacy features like the jack and SD slot.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers:
- Check the Price: Don't buy this at its original MSRP. It’s been out long enough that you can find incredible deals on the used or refurbished market.
- Verify Your Carrier: Sony phones sometimes have weird compatibility issues with specific 5G bands on certain carriers (especially in the US). Check the model number (e.g., XQ-CQ62) against your carrier's whitelist.
- Invest in a Case: The Gorilla Glass Victus is tough, but the phone is "soap-bar" slippery. Because it's so narrow, it can slide out of pockets easily.
- Learn the Manual Mode: If you buy this and only use the "Basic" camera mode, you're wasting your money. Watch a few tutorials on Sony Alpha camera settings; they apply directly to this phone.
- Manage Your Heat: If you plan on filming a lot, look into the "Endurance Mode" settings or consider a small phone cooling clip for long sessions.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV isn't just a smartphone; it's a statement that says you value utility over trends. It’s the last of a dying breed. And for the right person, that makes it the only phone worth owning.