Sony has nailed it with the Xperia 5 IV (mark four), even if that is a terribly confusing name for a phone. The company has decided its smartphones aren't going to be crowd pleasers anymore. It's got PlayStation for that. Instead, the Xperia phones are now extensions of the company's Alpha camera products, with bits of its Bravia TV and Walkman heritage thrown in for good measure. To some, that is very enticing.
This direction won't appeal to everyone, and that's okay with Sony. It's not here to compete with Samsung or Apple, or even Oppo or Xiaomi. It's just here doing what it, and its hardcore fans, love.
If you want a phone with a superb display, a headphone jack that supports hi-res audio, solid battery life, wireless charging, a notification LED, and cameras that don't rely on software processing, this is the phone for you.
DESIGN
The Xperia 5 IV is a premium product as soon as you take it out the box, even if the box is made from recycled paper and there's no charger or even USB-C cable included. This is a good thing for the environment but isn't a luxurious reveal for what is a very high-end device.
My review unit was a utilitarian (boring) black, though there are white and green version too. The rear matte glass is the best feeling I've used on any phone – the right mix of soft but also grippy. This is a no fingerprint zone.
Aluminium rails add to this lovely feel.
