Sony Xperia 5 Review: Compact Powerhouse with CinemaWide Display

Sony Xperia 5 (2019): Compact Flagship with 21:9 CinemaWide Display & Triple Camera

The Sony Xperia 5 (model numbers: J8210, J8270, J9210) is a compact flagship Android smartphone unveiled at IFA 2019 (September 5) and released globally in October 2019. It is a smaller, more affordable variant of the Xperia 1, retaining the 21:9 CinemaWide OLED display, triple-camera system with Eye AF, and Snapdragon 855 performance, while targeting one-handed usability and multimedia enthusiasts seeking a balanced flagship experience.

Core Identifiers

Item	Details
Brand & Model	Sony Xperia 5 (J8210/J8270/J9210)
Launch Timeline	Announced: September 5, 2019; Released: October 2019
Positioning	Compact flagship (2019–2020)
Predecessor/Successor	Predecessor: Xperia 1; Successor: Xperia 5 II
Launch Price	~$649 USD / €649 EUR / £599 GBP
Color Options	Black, Blue, Gray, Pink

Key Technical Specifications

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 9.0 Pie (launch); officially upgradable to Android 11
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm)
CPU	Octa-core (1×2.84GHz Kryo 485 + 3×2.42GHz Kryo 485 + 4×1.80GHz Kryo 485)
GPU	Adreno 640
Memory & Storage	6GB LPDDR4X RAM; 128GB UFS 2.1 storage; microSDXC expandable up to 512GB
Display	6.1-inch 21:9 CinemaWide OLED; 2520×1080 (FHD+) resolution; 449 ppi; HDR 10; X1 for mobile engine; 10-bit color; Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Design & Build	Aluminum frame + Gorilla Glass 6 front/back; Dimensions: 158×68×8.2mm; Weight: 164g; IP65/IP68 dust/water resistance

Triple Camera System (Motion Eye)

Component	Details
Rear Cameras	– 12MP main (26mm, f/1.6, 1/2.6″ Exmor RS, PDAF, OIS) – 12MP ultra-wide (16mm, f/2.4, 1/3.4″ Exmor RS, 120° FOV) – 12MP telephoto (52mm, f/2.4, 1/3.4″ Exmor RS, 2x optical zoom, OIS) Features: Eye AF (human/animal), 10fps burst, 30fps AF/AE tracking, 4K@30fps video, 1080p@960fps slow-motion
Front Camera	8MP (24mm, f/2.0, 1/4″ Exmor R, 1080p@30fps video, EIS)

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	3140mAh non-removable Li-Ion; USB PD 2.0 fast charging (55% in 30 mins); Xperia Adaptive Charging; no wireless charging
Network	4G LTE Cat.19 (1600/150 Mbps); 3G HSPA+; 2G GSM; Dual-SIM (J8270/J9210)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC, aptX HD); NFC; USB Type-C 3.1 (DP Alt Mode); 3.5mm headphone jack; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, ambient light, compass, barometer, side-mounted fingerprint (power button), RGBC-IR, heart rate

Core Features & Innovations

21:9 CinemaWide OLED: The 6.1-inch 21:9 display with X1 for mobile and HDR 10 delivers cinematic content with minimal letterboxing, paired with Dolby Atmos for immersive audio.
Eye AF & Triple Camera: Sony’s Eye AF (from α cameras) ensures sharp focus on human/animal eyes; triple lenses cover wide/standard/telephoto for versatile photography.
Compact Flagship Usability: The 68mm width enables comfortable one-handed use, a key differentiator from larger 2019 flagships like the Xperia 1.
Gaming Enhancements: Game Enhancer with Dynamic Vibration System, frame rate boost, and network prioritization for mobile gamers.
Hi-Res Audio: LDAC, aptX HD, DSEE HX, and ClearAudio+ deliver high-fidelity sound for audiophiles.

Market Reception & Legacy

Legacy: The Xperia 5 established Sony’s “compact flagship” niche, spawning successors like the Xperia 5 II/III/IV. It proved that a smaller form factor could retain flagship features, influencing later Android flagships focused on one-handed use.

Strengths: Reviewers praised the compact 21:9 design, Eye AF camera performance, premium build, and water resistance. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner and 3.5mm jack were also well-received.

Criticisms: The FHD+ display was seen as a downgrade from the Xperia 1’s 4K; battery life was average for heavy users; and Android update support was limited to two major versions (Pie → 11).