Sony Xperia Z5 review

Sony Xperia Z5 review: A decent phone overshadowed by the competition

Summary

Sony’s Xperia Z5 is a mobile photographer's dream with a breathtaking camera and great display. However, you’re likely to be turned offby the underwhelming battery life. It’s a respectable choice, but other Android handsetsare even more compelling.

Pros

• One of the best smartphone cameras on the market
• Great performance
• Lovely screen

Cons

• Sony's design language is getting tired
• Underwhelming battery life
• Last year's version of Android

At the start of 2015, Sony effectively gave up on making smartphones in the hope of recapturing former glories. Its mobile division now loses the company nearly $2 million per day even after being slimmed down to a fraction of its former size. The few devices that it launches each year are merely placeholders; products designed to keep the company's hand in just in case the next next big thing requires mobile expertise. It's an unenviable position for Sony's employees, knowing that they're effectively operating in a vacuum. When faced with that truth, there are only three options available to them: give up, throw every mad idea at the wall, or build a grand valediction and go out on a high. This is the starting point from which we will begin our examination of the mid-range Xperia Z5.