Weekly poll: the Sony Xperia 5 II seems to be exactly what many have been asking for, or is it?

20 September 2020
It checks most boxes for many people but will those people put their money where their mouth is?

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  • D
  • Dometalican
  • 7BB
  • 20 Sep 2020

For those who want a smaller flagship with all the hardware one can muster, this one's good...like...really good. Much better than the Galaxy S20 (I prefer natural photos than blotched colors), much better than the P40, and better than the iPhone 11 Pro all because of the hardware those other 3 refuse to put in their phones (headphone jack, FRONT-FACING stereo speakers, etc).

Shame the US has to wait for the mark iii before Sony bothers to put in 5G for us. Otherwise, global users, y'all should get this one.

    • D
    • Dometalican
    • 7BB
    • 20 Sep 2020

    Prototype, 20 Sep 2020How to love Sony when they offer 400 $ discount in USA and ... moreYou know why? Because Sony pulled the same dumb stunt in that the 5 mark ii is only a 4G phone in the US (global has 5G bands of 1, 3, 7, 20, 41, 77, 78 and 79...only one is usable here but Sony thought it was better to just disable 5G and charge the same price here). 4G phone like this for $550 seems fair but with 5G evolving out here, it all depends on if one thinks it's worth it.

      Tann Hauser, 20 Sep 2020Do users get any dongles with integrated DACs alomg with ja... moreYou are arguing buying external DAC that cost 5-30$ when you are getting what ... 1000-1400€ phone?
      Ofc. it's crazy not to include headphone jack, it does not have no meaningful drawbacks.

        • W
        • Windfeuer
        • nM@
        • 20 Sep 2020

        44alexsmith, 20 Sep 2020Have to see how the camera reviews go as well as screen vis... moreFor the wireless charging i'm reading on different sites that it's present. It's a mistake?

        for the scrolling screen capture i'm already using a dedicated app i don't think it's change too much from a system one. It also can create a shortcut on the top bar.

          • W
          • Windfeuer
          • nM@
          • 20 Sep 2020

          Hardware Hypervisor, 20 Sep 2020I don't understand the excitement around this phone wh... morecompact? the A20 it's only 6.3mm shorter, 1mm wider and 0.1mm thinner than the xzperia 5 ii
          also there are some differences like the lack of 3.5mm jack and i'm sure S20 will cost more than the X5 ii

            AnonD-909757, 20 Sep 2020Do you talk about those things which never last and aren�... moreEvery USB DAC is compatible with every device, no matter if it runs Android, iOS, Windows, Linux or MacOS.

              Shanti Dope, 20 Sep 2020Well, duh? The DAC isn't hindered by any size limitati... moreYou clearly have a problem with understanding how this even works .... even crap like Apple dongle sounds better than 90% of phones having 3.5 mm jack.
              And that's crap by Apple with Tempotec that costs like 30$ you get superior audio output to any phone with 3,5 mm jack.
              Best tier headphones use XLR or 2,5mm jack...
              I want my phone to have a headphone jack ofc., but trying to prove some B$ of yours is another topic.

                • S
                • Schaden
                • nM@
                • 20 Sep 2020

                I would say Yes
                for me:
                - waterpfoof (a lot of actual model are lacking this feature)
                - side finegerprint with built in on/off (like the xz1c)
                - big storage with sd slot
                - 3.5mm jack
                - good cameras (at least for what i've read/seen)
                - no notch or other strange solution
                - good battery size
                Also there could be some nice bonuses as softwares (optimizations, customizations that are lacking on my old xz1c) and if will be confirmed: the possibility to customize the extra button (the one for google assistant that Idefinitively doen't use)

                I would not use the wireless charge, it's so inefficent *for me* also it require to buy bases when i can use only three cable around my house and I can use them for other devices too.

                The only perplexity is the 5g, it's seems lack a lot of frequencies i'm hoping is because are circulating specs of asian version.
                I would prefer a more "brick" shape model, but for those specs and perhaps a better ergonomy i'm willing to pass over it.

                it will be expensive but other models put me in front of too many compromises, so i will wait and i'll put my savings for it. If I were a person that use less (much much less) the phone could have sense thinking about cheaper models with some compromises.

                  • M
                  • MrGrumpy
                  • nHA
                  • 20 Sep 2020

                  Yes, I wish it was smaller and went back to its roots of a proper flagship compact. This phone is trying to be too many things to all people.

                  XZ1 Compact was the last proper compact made, Sony should have just made the exact same form factor with flagship specs and dual SIM.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-909757
                    • pZQ
                    • 20 Sep 2020

                    Fearghast, 20 Sep 2020What an B$ - almost any USB dongle - the real one, the real... moreDo you talk about those things which never last and aren't compatible from one brand to another ?
                    Yeah, sure, what about all the non audio features that the 3.5mm Jack also provide ?
                    From extra light, camera, even Paypal dongles and others.
                    https://www.dignited.com/46800/3-5mm-headphone-jack-vs-usb-c-audio-vs-bluetooth-audio/

                    It would almost make more senses to keep the 3.5mm Jack and ditch the integrated Bluetooth and give an USB-C Bluetooth adapter than removing the Jack and giving a dongle, but in reality there isn't any reasons to do any of those.

                      Fearghast, 20 Sep 2020What an B$ - almost any USB dongle - the real one, the real... moreDo users get any dongles with integrated DACs alomg with jackless phones? No.
                      So dont BS about pricey extra dongles with DACs people can buy, as it is of no subject here.

                        Boggy-Stefy, 20 Sep 2020Except the high refresh rate and IP rating, that is all the... moreSimilar featured Xiaomi would be Mi10 Ultra, for even more, the 930 price, not 500...

                        Xiaomi Mi10 Ultra has more cameras and zoom, and wireless charge, but has GG5 only on front, waeaker puncholed screen, USB 2.0 only, no SD card, no 3,5 mm jack, no IP rating, and no balanced front speakers...

                        So people can choose on their preference which one they get...
                        This more featured expensive Sony, or that even more expensive only camera centered Xiaomi.

                          • D
                          • AnonD-909757
                          • pZQ
                          • 20 Sep 2020

                          Shanti Dope, 20 Sep 2020Your requirements in a phone are ridiculously absurd. I don... moreThat THIS, ladies and gentlemans, this is what's exactly what happen when you talk shit without knowing better.
                          Firstly, I don't care about refresh rate and I was actually part of those defending the choice of a cheaper 60Hz display on the K30 Pro over a higher refreshing rate one.
                          The Poco F2 Pro is actually the almost ideal phone with realistic expectations, and I only wait to see if something better come out the time that I save up to buy it, otherwise I'll buy one.

                          Ideally I have extremely high expectations and I would LIKE to have a phone that meet those, I also have realistic expectations, which are exactly what I wrote here :
                          *A possibility to take portrait shots, like, a regular feature of modern smartphones that can EASILY be incorporated into a telephoto, I didn't even asked for periscope.
                          *Dedicated SD slot, because it doesn't cost much to add and it is only a question of internal space, easily fixed by making a thicker phone which allow better and more confortable grip and bigger battery while reducing the cost caused by densely packed internal.
                          *Radio through Jack, this is like a feature that cost so little it isn't even worth justifying.
                          *Dual band sat nav, that many phones, including the twice as cheap Poco F2 Pro have, and for anyone using things like Waze and other car nav app, it is extremely useful.
                          *Wireless charging, which also cost near nothing and is quite handy.

                          In which way any of those are unrealistic ?
                          Did I said *This phone is worthless without a 1000 dynamic core photonic processor working with quantum polarisation, a 42 gigapixel camera sensor with a 3 billion time optical zoom and a low light sensitivity enough to catch Hawking radiations* or stuff like that ?

                          I WANT a phone without constantly looking front camera, regardless if it mean pop up, no front camera, flip up, second display on the back, slider etc, and I didn't even mentioned it about this phone, but here are someone like you saying "I have ridiculously absurd requirements" while I mention quite easy to add and ultra cheap little things that are practicals and that many smartphones already have.

                          I am not looking for complaining at everything, I even agreed that this smartphone was spot on except for few details, while you on the other hand, you are looking to find comments to complain about, that's pure hypocrisies right here.

                            • D
                            • AnonD-834088
                            • mHe
                            • 20 Sep 2020

                            Shanti Dope, 20 Sep 2020Like what? There are phones below $950 that can record 4K H... moreYou need stop throwing your toys out your pram,for starters I don't waste money on top over priced flagship's that your going to replace in 18 to 24 months time,just to do it all over again,there is alternatives out there,but if you got money to burn then fair play,still only a phone at the end of day,so chill fella !

                              Fearghast, 20 Sep 2020What an B$ - almost any USB dongle - the real one, the real... moreWell, duh? The DAC isn't hindered by any size limitations, so the components are at an advantage in terms of size and quality, but they would never be as good as proper 3.5mm DACs of the same size and caliber.

                              You know what, the best-sounding headphones in the world are connected by the good old 3.5mm jack. Analog is still superior, and the best USB DACs, at the very best, are just as good as lower tier 3.5mm DACs. That's a fact.

                                44alexsmith, 20 Sep 2020Have to see how the camera reviews go as well as screen vis... more1) Face unlock hardware would need the top bezel to be enlarged, and would make the device more expensive. Sony doesn’t have the expertise and resources in the mobile department to create a secure 3D face scanning unlock feature. I would never trust the stock Android face unlock which is not secure.
                                2) There’s apps for that
                                3) I agree, that’s an omission and I’m waiting for the 5 III for that, even though I’d very rarely use it. I just want a future-proofed all-rounder phone that I can use for 3 years.
                                4) True, but there’s a bundle deal in the US and there should be one in Europe. “Those who pre-order Xperia 5 II by November 29 will get a gaming bundle worth over $400 including a gaming headset, a 10,000mAh power bank and 21,600 Call of Duty Mobile Points.”

                                  Prototype, 20 Sep 2020How to love Sony when they offer 400 $ discount in USA and ... moreBecause taxes differ per country, and it's not US's nor Sony's fault that taxes are lower in that country.
                                  I also wish to have such discounts in all countries, but even the SRP of this phone is more than good enough for what it is and what it truly offers, at the very least in comparison to other more premium brands that are offering less features and are costing more because of brand recognition rather than the quality of the products themselves.

                                    Tann Hauser, 20 Sep 2020Any wireless or USB dongled is inferior in quality to actua... moreWhat an B$ - almost any USB dongle - the real one, the real DAC, sounds way better than any integrated phone solution. Even cheapo stuff like Sonata HD Pro sounds better than LG with their implementation.

                                      Have to see how the camera reviews go as well as screen visibility in direct sunlight.
                                      So far I dislike the following:
                                      1) Lack of a Face Unlock feature
                                      2) No scrolling screen capture
                                      3) No wireless charging
                                      4) No trade-in discounts

                                        Shanti Dope, 20 Sep 2020It's just those stubborn manufacturers' absurd ex... moreAny wireless or USB dongled is inferior in quality to actuall 3,5 mm.
                                        Tried it, confirmed it.
                                        And the difference is nothing short of big to my ears.

                                        People valueing their sound experience on a smartphone should not settle for less than a phone with 3,5 mm.
                                        And there are very few flagships with that one out there.

                                        Fortunately, Xp 5 II also has best setup soundstage stereo speakers added to the equation, while Xp 5 I missed on that too.
                                        So again, a no brainer for me here.