Sony Xperia Z5 Premium screen test: A (really) close look

21 November, 2015
We just got our hands on a retail unit of the Xperia Z5 Premium, but before we started our review routine, we spent some time marveling its 4K screen. Marveling quickly turned into examining and before you know it, we set out on a mission to find out whether we would readily spot the difference to other 5.5-inch smartphones with lower resolution.

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  • R
  • Ravi_111
  • 7tW
  • 23 Nov 2015

Don't wasted your money no 4k display I watched 4k videos in lg g4 z5p same no different z5p take 60k waste my money

    Actually this 4k adaptive screen, even though not of visible usefulness in every day use ( note: VR) should not by objectivity be considered as any type of con for a smartphone,. Only a innovative surplus, if we are seriously talking about smartphone tech
    Anything else would be biased reporting, such as some reviews like CNets one...

    That only negative batterydrain argument is a blank shot, as we could then also argue that any 8 core SoC is also a con in a smartphone, or a display above 1080p, or above 360 dpi, or any camera module above 5 mpx...

      At large i agree that 4K screen is not really needed for smartphone, but it will be disgrace if they approve Samsung version of 4K screen, just because it's Samsung.. We'll see.. we'll see..

        AnonD-468769, 22 Nov 2015Why is it that most people can have such expert opinions on... moreDude stop smoking Apple.

          • D
          • AnonD-259759
          • KZL
          • 23 Nov 2015

          How about the battery? Can it last long enough for 1 day operations with this kind of screen?

            • D
            • AnonD-152638
            • mhA
            • 23 Nov 2015

            Eske Rahn, 22 Nov 2015Most people can see details down to about 1/12000 of the vi... moreYou talk about seeing pixels, but that is not the complete story.
            I cant spot pixels on my Sony Z3 at normal viewing distance. But i can see pixel noise, or rather effects of it. Any screen that contains areas with a single color, looks spotty to me.
            I see the same effect on 1440p screens in stores. I have yet to see the Z5 premium.

            Try for yourself. Pretty much every phone has a notepad, document editor, or similar, which displays a white screen that covers most of the display.
            Does it look completely white to you?
            Or does it look spotty?
            You can probably see it on any screen with an area that is supposed to be a single color. But it is easiest to spot in a white screen.
            I'm pretty sure it will look spotty to you.
            Do you see the pixels? No, but due to the technology behind it, you see effects that could be minimized by using smaller pixels.

            Sure, if they could come up with a new display technology that wasnt based on subpixels, but a single pixel that could actually change colour by itself, to any of the millions of colors the eyes can see. And if they were able to make the gaps between pixels minimal.
            Then, yes, then, it could be relevent only to look at the size of pixels at a certain distance. But that is not the case.
            So your math is probably correct, but unfortunately, it's only focused on one area, when there are other things to take in to consideration. In that way, something that is correct, in math or science can at the same time be incorrect.

            So what you are spreading are in some ways a myth.


            And then there is the VR application. Where S6 screen with Samsungs own VR glasses, is clearly pixelated.
            VR could become a nice thing. And seeing how phones are most peoples main screen and the device they are most likely to update. It is pretty smart of makers, to focus on turning your phone in to a VR device, instead of trying to sell people an additional device that needs to contain costly technology.


            (I can live with some pixelisation, but I really hope for a VR device of some sort, that fills each eye with 1080p, and with HDMI input solution, so I could use it for watching 3D blu-rays, with minimal ghosting. And I really hope it wont cover the ears, so I could use it with either my speaker set-up or with headphones... better yet if combined with some kind of HDMI splitter or signal splitter (if the output to the glasses is carried by another kind of cable or technology), so I could hook up 2 or more pairs, so I could watch with friend or friends even)

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • nC1
              • 23 Nov 2015

              lg g4 is very brighter beautif screen in these pic

                • D
                • AnonD-278479
                • t7%
                • 23 Nov 2015

                nice review revealing the reality is not bias

                  • D
                  • AnonD-152638
                  • mhA
                  • 23 Nov 2015

                  What does a completely white screen look like?

                  From a normal viewing distance I see artifacts, due to pixel noise on 1440p mobiles (Samsung S6 lineup, and note 4 and LG G3 and G4).
                  I see it on all kind of screens, but it is the easiest to spot on a white screen. So that is a good place to start, if you want to know if you can see it. It, those small dots. You might even tell they are different colors. Perhaps even see some movement. But you might just see it as small spots.

                  I hope I get that chance to look at a Z5 premium's screen in a store nearby sometime soon.

                    • a
                    • abc
                    • 9xx
                    • 23 Nov 2015

                    AnonD-43677, 23 Nov 2015i still remember once gsmarena told that anything above 5mp... moresony should sell vr accessories too. that will be useful for its 4k screen. sony's hardware is among the best, but sadly they have poor marketing strategy. They sell tiny 4k screen to the market, but doesn't equip it with vr accessories.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-43677
                      • XMI
                      • 23 Nov 2015

                      i still remember once gsmarena told that anything above 5mp camera on phone is not required,for viewing on phone and sharing on web.now time has changed that we look for 40mp camera on mobile..
                      i also remember how once hd 720p was regarded as more than enough for phone, now same goes for 4k here...
                      time and tech are competitively advancing, sony has best in hardware, but lacks only optimisation softwares, which apple ranks the best followed by samsung. if sony knows how to max use of its hardware, then it will be the no.1..
                      just look at waterproofing still apple and samsung cannot match it. look at 25mp camera, to add this mow 4k display..
                      one sadest part is that sony has not much improved in battery, this should be their next target..

                        • J
                        • Jim
                        • t@g
                        • 23 Nov 2015

                        [deleted post]This review seems that GSMArena just want to tell that UHD screen is useless, right? Because what? You don't like Sony? Or why? Hehe..
                        If we watching video UHD on 4K screen or on 2K screen or even on FHD sreen is not huge diffrent, yes you are right. You did not mentioned at all that 4K screen of Sony Z5P can upscale video content with lower res (FHD, HD) to closely 4K video, where 2K can not do that.

                          • M
                          • Mike
                          • YTS
                          • 23 Nov 2015

                          Sony always Great, did a pretty much design. Thank You Sony, Love Sony

                            806ppi is incredibly high. A few years ago we were astonished by a resolution that passed the 250ppi density... described as very sharp imaging.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • mqt
                              • 23 Nov 2015

                              AnonD-468769, 22 Nov 2015Why is it that most people can have such expert opinions on... moreAny suggestions in using the camera in its optimum for day to day usage.thanks

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • Ibx
                                • 23 Nov 2015

                                My Christmas present 2015

                                  • M
                                  • M
                                  • JE0
                                  • 23 Nov 2015

                                  Stack, 22 Nov 2015iPhone user detected! Why do you think it will have problem... moreIt won't be a problem because hardly anything will be rendered in native resolution. But Snapdragon 810 is hardly the most powerful SoC on the market (its rather weak in the GPU department compared to Apples A9) and the next generation SoCs from multiple companies are pretty much just around the corner.
                                  Would have seem like a good idea to me to have waited for Snapdragon 820 with this high-res screen. But then I guess they might have missed the chance to be first...

                                    • J
                                    • Jack
                                    • 42m
                                    • 22 Nov 2015

                                    Clearly this is one of the best phone of the day. And sadly We won't see it in North America until it is outdated. Sony is trying so hard to keep us out of reach of the highend phone here in US. What a cutting business strategy.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-442781
                                      • JiP
                                      • 22 Nov 2015

                                      Anything over 1440 is a waste for anything other than vr in my opinion. Will be disappointed if it increases further. Even 1440 is starting to push it.

                                        Cut the (rap all these high res displays, whatever you do, you can't deny Biology. As long as the screen is sub six inches, 1440p is way more than enough.