Sony Xperia E5 Review: Affordable 5-Inch Smartphone

Sony Xperia E5 (2016): Budget-Friendly HD Android Smartphone | Full English Details & Specs

Brand: Sony (Sony Mobile Communications)

Category: Entry-level 5-inch HD Android smartphone (Marshmallow), balancing affordability with 13MP camera, 4G LTE, and Sony’s multimedia tuning; targets cost-conscious users seeking reliable daily performance.

Core Value: 5-inch HD IPS LCD, 13MP rear camera with Sony imaging features, 1.5GB RAM/16GB storage (expandable up to 200GB), 2300mAh battery, and 4G connectivity at an accessible price point.

Launch Timeline: Announced May 2016; released June 2016; models: F3311 (single-SIM), F3313 (dual-SIM, dual-standby).

Core Specifications

1. Display & Design

Display: 5.0-inch IPS LCD, HD (1280×720 pixels), 16:9, ~294 ppi, scratch-resistant glass, 16M colors.
Body: 144×69×8.2mm, 147g; rounded square slate, plastic chassis; colors: Graphite Black, White; Nano-SIM (single/dual).
Models: F3311 (single-SIM), F3313 (dual-SIM, dual-standby).

2. Performance & Storage

SoC: MediaTek MT6735 (64-bit, 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A53, Mali-T720 MP2 GPU @450MHz).
RAM/Storage: 1.5GB RAM; 16GB internal (expandable via microSDXC up to 200GB).
OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow (no official OS upgrade); UI: Sony’s custom launcher with ClearAudio+ and TrackID™.

3. Cameras

Rear Camera: 13MP (OmniVision OV13850), f/2.0, autofocus, LED flash, HDR photo, 3x clear image zoom; max image 4128×3096; video 1080p@30fps.
Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.4, 1080p video; features: face detection, smile shutter, touch capture.

4. Battery & Charging

Battery: Non-removable 2300mAh Li-Po; talk time up to 17h (2G)/13h (3G); standby up to 500h (2G)/450h (3G); up to 2 days of mixed usage.
Charging: Micro USB 2.0 (charging/sync); no wireless charging.

5. Connectivity & Extras

Network: 2G (GSM 850/900/1800/1900), 3G (WCDMA 900/2100), 4G LTE Cat4 (FDD-LTE bands 1/3/7/8/20); HSDPA up to 42.2 Mbps, HSUPA up to 5.76 Mbps.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP, aptX), NFC, Micro USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS, USB OTG.
Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, ambient light sensor.
Multimedia: FM radio (with RDS), ClearAudio+, Clear Bass, Clear Phase, loudspeaker, MP3/AAC/MP4 player.
Launch Price: ~€179 (Europe); ~$199 (US).

Key Features & Series Significance

Affordable HD Entry: The E5 was Sony’s 2016 budget HD offering, succeeding the Xperia E4, with a focus on camera quality and daily usability for cost-sensitive users.
Camera-Centric Budget: 13MP rear camera with Sony’s imaging tech (HDR, clear zoom) and 5MP front cam stood out vs. competitors in the sub-$200 segment.
Multimedia Focus: ClearAudio+ and TrackID™ enhanced music experience, aligning with Sony’s audio heritage.
Dual-SIM Flexibility: F3313 variant catered to emerging markets needing dual-standby connectivity.

The Xperia E5 balanced Sony’s design and media strengths with budget-friendly specs, serving as a reliable entry point for users upgrading from feature phones or seeking a secondary device. Its 13MP camera and 4G connectivity made it a solid choice in the mid-range segment of 2016.