Sony Xperia 5 V review: specs, battery & used prices

Summary

The Sony Xperia 5 V is Sony's 2023 compact flagship: a 6.1-inch 120 Hz OLED, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and a two-lens camera built around a stabilised 48 MP main sensor. It listed at $899; 8/128 GB units now sell for around $438 with a five-sale sample — a rare compact with current-generation silicon and Sony's video tools.

Display and design

The 6.1-inch OLED runs at 120 Hz with a 750-nit peak — screen quality 60/100 on our axis — in a 182 g flat body with compactness at 90/100 and IP68 sealing. The headphone jack remains, a signature Sony holdover.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the best-behaved chip of its generation, and our gaming score of 40/100 keeps modern titles comfortable; everyday responsiveness scores 82/100. Sustained video recording — the Xperia use case — benefits directly from that efficiency.

Camera

Sony dropped the telephoto this generation: a stabilised 48 MP main sensor with pixel-binning and a 12 MP ultrawide carry the system, with video to 4K at 120 fps. Our camera score of 32/100 prices in the missing third lens; the main sensor's stills and the manual video controls are the retained strengths.

Battery and charging

The 5,000 mAh battery scores 40/100 on battery life — the largest cell Sony put in a 5-series — while 30 W charging scores 12/100, the brand's standing compromise.

Verdict

At around $438 used, the Xperia 5 V is for compact-phone loyalists who still want flagship silicon and serious video controls, with resale confidence at 100/100 confirming durable niche demand. No telephoto and slow charging are the honest gaps. The Xperia 5 IV is the cheaper prior formula; the Xperia 1 VI shows the line's current direction.