Sony has launched its new flagship Android phone, the Xperia 5 IV. It's a "compact" device targeted primarily at content creators, but has plenty to offer everyone. Alongside its video and photo capabilities, it competes with other flagships with a big battery, bright screen, and even a headphone jack.

The phone is available for pre-order in over 30 countries, with an equally flagship-level price of $999 in the US.

Xperia 5 IV Specs

While the Xperia 5 isn't Sony's most high-end range, it offers only modest compromises in comparison to the Xperia 1 series. And even the high price is a lot more palatable than the eye-watering $1600 that the Xperia 1 IV sold for.

Sony describes the phone as "compact". It has a 6.1-inch display, although in keeping with other Sony devices is somewhat taller than other phones with its 21:9 aspect ratio (a 2520 x 1080 pixel resolution, lower than the 4K display on the Xperia 1). It's an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The specs are solid. There's the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor—sadly, not the newer and more efficient 8+ version—with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. If that doesn't sound like enough, you can add a memory card as well.

There's a large 5000mAh battery, with 30W fast charging as well as wireless charging; it has IP68 water resistance; stereo speakers; and keeps the headphone jack, making it one of the last remaining flagships to do so (alongside the even more compact Zenfone 9). You still don't get a charger in the box, though.

As always with Sony phones, the big focus is on the camera setup, and the Xperia 5 IV looks very competitive in this department. There are three rear cameras, all with 12MP resolution. Sony chose a larger pixel size and faster performance over the higher resolution with pixel binning preferred by most other manufacturers.

The main camera is a wide 24mm, f1.7 lens with 1/1.7" sensor; there's a 16mm, f2.4 ultrawide with a 1/2.5" sensor; and a 60mm, f3.5, 2.5x telephoto lens (not a periscope zoom, as on the Xperia 1 IV) with 1/2.5" sensor. They can all shoot 4K video up to 120fps.

There are larger-than-usual bezels on the top and bottom of the phone, so the selfie camera sits above the screen instead of in it.

The Sony Xperia 5 IV launches with Android 12 and is guaranteed to get two OS updates—taking it only as far as Android 14 which launches in 2023—and three years of security updates. This is some way behind the likes of Samsung, or even the iPhone, with which this device will be competing.

Xperia 5 IV Is Available for Pre-Order

Sony phones remain something of a niche, and the Xperia 5 IV's high price point and mediocre software update policy are unlikely to change that.

This is not to say it doesn't have lots going for it. On paper, the phone looks to have plenty to offer those who want a good camera system, as well as anyone who still wants some of the more fundamental Android features that have fallen out of fashion in recent times, like a big battery, headphone jack, and a microSD slot.

The Xperia 5 IV is available for pre-order now and will ship in October. It's priced at $999 in the US or £949 in the UK.