- Analysis by KJ David
A follow-up to the Xperia 5, which hit the market in 2019, the 2020 Sony Xperia 5 II retains most of its predecessor's multimedia-focused DNA, at least when it comes to technical pros and cons, consequently calling up Phonerated's list of the leading flagship smartphones.
Headlining its specs is a wide 6.1-inch HDR OLED screen 
with a 120Hz refresh rate and the BRAVIA HDR remaster technology that the brand also uses for their smart TVs. Sadly, we cannot help but wish that it went for a 2K-1440p screen, instead of only a 2520 x 1080 FHD+ definition 
, seeing that some of the best phablets available around the time of this review do not go anywhere lower than 1440p -- besides, a premium-class screen definition goes a long way for a flagship model tailored to gamers and photographers.
Joining the aforementioned features is a triple-lens main camera consisting of three 12-megapixel lenses -- one main lens for standard photography, one wide-angle lens for scenic and landscape shots, and one for detailed portrait photography. It captures 4K-2160p videos and it is capable of shooting slow-motion videos at 120fps. On the flip side, its selfie cam, which settles for a mediocre (by 2020 standards) 8-megapixel resolution and a makeshift screen flash function, sounds like an outright con to us, especially when it is pitted versus the 32-megapixel (or higher) selfie snappers rocked by a few competing high-end Androids.
Under the hood, the Xperia 5 II banks on pros like the Snapdragon 865 5G octa-core processor, which tops off at 2.84GHz . It is accompanied by a flagship-worthy 8GB RAM and a 128GB memory that can be expanded by up to 1TB. Its high-end engine powers signature Sony features like PS4 Remote Play , which makes the phone compatible with the brand's DUALSHOCK4 controller.
In charge of its power needs is a 4000mAh battery infused with Xperia Adaptive Charging and Battery Care, while a splash-ready IP65/68 housing encases all its pros and cons.
All said, this Xperia edition befits those eying a high-performance Android inclined to gaming and photography, although it could have done better in the selfie department.
** This phone is also known as: Sony 5 II
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