After Sony pulled out all the stops for the Xperia 1 II, this phone is evidence that dialling things back a notch can make for a more well-rounded device. Ditching the 4K display was always going to have the biggest impact, but elsewhere only the most minor of compromises have been made to reach a more mainstream price point. You still get superb performance, a brilliantly flexible camera and a gorgeous screen, made all the more better by a high refresh rate. A sensible resolution helps give battery life a boost, too. There are more affordable alternatives, sure, but few can match the Xperia 5 II as a whole package. If you were considering a OnePlus 8 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, you should definitely at least try one of these before hitting that buy button.

Flagship hardware, sensibly priced; Pro-grade camera apps; Gorgeous high-refresh rate screen;

No wireless charging; Fingerprint sensor tricky for left-handers;

The Xperia 5 II is a great, small-form-factor handset that will be more than good enough for most buyers. The only downside is that it feels a little expensive when compared to its closest Samsung and OnePlus rivals which now have more affordable options.

Small form factor design; Decent screen; Solid performance; Decent portfolio of entertainment and gaming features;

Expensive when compared to rivals; Focus and shutter speeds a little slow;

The Xperia 5 II's 21:9 notchless display and 3.5mm headphone jack mean it instantly stands out from the competition, but other phones around this price point offer more value for money for most people.

Beautiful 120Hz display; Stellar performance; Great battery life;

Hit-and-miss cameras; Frustrating bloatware; No wireless charging;

Long and slim. Like the Xperia 1 II, the Xperia 5 II is a consistent further development of the previous year's models. In our review of the Sony Xperia 5 II, we clarify what else has changed besides the inclusion of 5G hardware and enhanced photo software.

Sony is consistently developing the Xperia 5 II further. Old strengths are retained and extended wit...

slim design; 5G support; professional camera software; good battery life; IP65/68 certified;

slow memory card reader; standard camera app works slowly; somewhat inaccurate positioning; comparative slow storage; old security patches;

Given that this is a powerful but compact handset the Sony Xperia 5 II retains much that's appealing - with a good build, lots of power and a great display. Certainly, it has more appeal then the costly Xperia 1 II, but once again, it faces strong competition - espeically in the camera department.

Great display; Good build quality; Power and performance; Sound quality;

Camera setup is messy; Fingerprint scanner not great;

The Xperia 5 II is a solid flagship phone from Sony with excellent build quality, very nice cameras with pro photography and cinematography features, and fast performance. At $949.99, it's also priced quite high, especially considering it lacks 5G, doesn't support wireless charging, and has poorer battery life than some less expensive phones. For most people, the $700 Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a much better bet.Slim and Sleek With an Incredible Display The Xperia 5 II sports the traditional Sony aesthetic: It's long and thin, with sleek edges. It measures 6.2 by 2.7 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 5.8 ounces. The 6.1-inch, 2,520-by-1,080 OLED display is crisp and has excellent color accuracy, and its 120Hz refresh rate makes it good for watching videos and gaming. The back of the phone is a glossy black glass that looks sleek but quickly attracts fingerprints and smudges. There’s a vertical camera stack in the upper left corner, with Sony and Xperia branding at the middle and bott...

The Sony Xperia 5 II is an attractive Android phone with excellent build quality and capable cameras, but without 5G and wireless charging, it feels instantly out of date and not worth its high price.

Excellent build quality; Solid camera performance; Headphone jack

Expensive; No 5G; No wireless charging

The Sony Xperia 5 II is the compact flagship smartphone many have been hankering for, but to get the best from this desirable high-spec/small-package combination, you will have to work hard and pay a substantial price. I’ve been living with the phone for a couple of weeks now, and this is what it’s really like. Glossy, glassy, and slippery like a well-oiled fish. That’s the best way to describe the Xperia 5 II, outside of its modest dimensions and low weight. It’s truly compact, due to the 8mm thickness and taller-not-wider shape enabled by the 21:9 aspect ratio screen. It weighs only 163 grams, and the slim build means even those with small hands will be able to reach the other side of the screen with their thumb. It easily slips into pockets and bags, and unfortunately, off of nearly every surface it touches as well. The Xperia 5 II is made from glass with an aluminum frame, and it slides around with a mind of its own on anything that’s not a perfectly flat surface. You also have to ...

Compact, lightweight design; Beautiful OLED screen; Powerful processor; Long battery life;

No wireless charging; No 5G in the U.S.; Camera quirks are frustrating;

Flagship hardware, sensibly priced; Pro-grade camera apps; Gorgeous high-refresh rate screen;

No wireless charging; Fingerprint sensor tricky for left-handers;