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;