INTRODUCTION
The Sony Xperia Z5 was unveiled last September by the Japanese firm. He succeeds much-maligned Xperia Z3 + (also called Z4 in Asia), but also very good Xperia Z3 . The program, some innovations like the appearance of a fingerprint sensor, a slightly revised design, but also a brand new camera that promises wonders. So successful challenge for the Xperia Z5?
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Let's start with the technical specifications of the Sony Xperia Z5. This does not really reveal any surprises and we are then facing a terminal high-end 2015, with the famous Snapdragon 810, a screen of 5.2 inch Full HD, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. A first for Sony: there is the appearance of a fingerprint sensor. The camera is also evolving through to 23 megapixels.
| Model | Sony Xperia Z5 |
|---|
| Android Version | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop |
Screen Size
Screen Technology | 5.2 inches
Triluminos, X-Reality |
| Display resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels |
| Screen resolution | ~ 423 ppi |
| Protection | |
| SoC | Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994) |
| CPU | 4 x Cortex-A53 1.5GHz
4 x Cortex-A57 at 2GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 430 |
| RAM memory | 3 GB |
| Internal memory | 32GB
+ microSD up to 200GB |
| back camera | 23 megapixels |
| Video | 2160p @ 30fps
1080p @ 60fps
720p @ 120fps |
| front camera | 5.1 megapixel |
| Drums | 2900 mAh |
| sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| 4G LTE | LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Wireless | 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac |
| NFC | Yes |
| Bluetooth | v4.1, A2DP, apt-X |
| GPS | A-GPS, GLONASS |
| USB | microUSB v2.0 |
| SIM | 1 x SIM Nano |
| Dimensions | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm |
| Weight | 154 grams |
| Price | 699 euros |
DESIGN: XPERIA Z3 + A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED
In terms of design, Sony has taken the basics of Xperia Z3 +, namely the glass façade and on the hull and rounded corners. Xperia Z5, Sony now uses the frosted glass, less sensitive to fingerprints because it is matte and not glossy. In contrast, the Xperia Z5 is thickened by from 6.9 to 7,3 mm. In the hands, the Xperia Z5 has a little too "pad" effect even if it is less marked than its little brother, the Z5 Compact. Like the Xperia Z3 +, protection ports have disappeared, except for the SIM card and the microSD slot. Thus, the jack port and micro USB port are in the open air, much easier to access. The smartphone still retains its IP67 certification to withstand water and dust.
The actual evolution of design is on the ignition button. This has completely changed shape through a round that appeared from the edge of the phone to a kind of flat rectangle. But the biggest innovation this button comes from the integration of a fingerprint sensor. It suffices to place their finger on the power button to unlock the phone or make a payment with compatible applications.
The Xperia Z5 retains its two stereo speakers on either side of the device, which can deliver a sound rather powerful for a smartphone. Furthermore, they are positioned so that the hands do not obstruct when the phone is held to the horizontal.
A FULL HD IPS
With Xperia Z5, Sony retains a Full HD panel, as since the first Xperia Z. As usual, there is a high brightness 630 cd / m2 maximum with good contrast of 1200: 1. There is a little better on some high-end handsets for the latter, but it is already in the high average basket. The viewing angles are good, IPS requires. Readability is preserved in case of high brightness, aided by the powerful backlight of the phone. The color radius, they seem a little too saturated, which could still appeal to mobile users who like bright colors.
In terms of definition, Full HD on a screen of 5.2 inches gives a resolution of 423 DPI which seems ample. The transition to QHD on a slab of this size is not justified, in our view, for uses such as video, games or surfing the Internet. The reading experience is good, whether on a mobile optimized site or even on older Internet sites where it will still occasionally play zoom.
INTEFACE: WE TAKE THE SAME AND START AGAIN
The Xperia Z5 runs Android Lollipop 5.1.1 with a software interface developed by Sony. It's the same as we know it for years, without real news for this fall / winter 2015. There is always the theme system to change the look of the interface. Stock Android lovers will inevitably a little disappointed since Sony has brought his leg, but it is rather light. For example, the notifications center is substantially identical to that which is found in stock Android. Unlike most Asian ROM, the application drawer is present, to avoid ending up with a home screen crumbling under the icons.
The great innovation of the software part takes actually design and the appearance of the famous fingerprint sensor. rather it works well, but the recognition time is not extraordinary. It is in effect a slower 6s iPhone, Mate S or Galaxy S6 to recognize a fingerprint. Moreover, his position is not necessarily ideal. Indeed, the thumb is used to press the on / off button and thus the sensor. But if it is held too high or too low phone, thumb will not be enough in front of the sensor and it will therefore change the position of the phone in hand to fall in front of him.
SNAPDRAGON 810 A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE
The Xperia Z5 uses the same technical basis as the Z3 + namely a Snapdragon 810 assisted 3GB of RAM. The Z5 Compact is similar, except the RAM is now 2 GB. We noted on the Xperia Z3 + catastrophic performance. How about this for Xperia Z5? Does the addition of an advanced cooling system (two heat pipes) has changed the situation?
| Benchmark / Model | Sony Xperia Z5 Compact | Sony Xperia Z5 | Sony Xperia Z5 Premium |
|---|
| SoC | Snapdragon 810 | Snapdragon 810 | Snapdragon 810 |
| Display resolution | HD | Full HD | 4K |
| AnTuTu v5 | 61211 | 55673 | 49724 |
| PC Mark | 5140 | 5084 | 5059 |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Total | 26491 | 25092 | 26574 |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics | 38069 | 37856 | 37897 |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics | 12832 | 11510 | 12990 |
| GFXBench T-Rex (onscreen / offscreen) | 56/56 FPS | 51/52 FPS | 53/57 FPS |
| GFXBench Manhattan (onscreen / offscreen) | 48/25 FPS | 26/25 FPS | 27/26 FPS |
| Sequential read / write | 252/100 MB / s | 252/76 MB / s | |
| Random read / write | 4771/3012 IOPS | 4679/2998 IOPS | |
| Real Racing 3 (XtraHigh, GameBench) | 34 FPS | 26 FPS | |
In fact, the Xperia Z5 is more reactive than the Xperia Z3 +. This is supported by the benchmarks that the Xperia Z5 before the Xperia Z3 +. However, the Xperia Z5 Compact is used to move to the Xperia Z5 in performance. This is easily explained since the Compact model incorporates a slab 720p and not 1080p like the classic model. The graphics chip is less stressed (since there are 2 times more pixels to calculate and display), which results in games with better performance. In everyday life, the two terminals are on the same footing.
The betting is completed for Sony, which has managed to forget the poor Xperia Z3 + performance. However, the Snapdragon 810 is not perfectly at ease in the Xperia Z5 and besides, we have never seen at ease, except for the huge development of Qualcomm tablet. So, in the most demanding titles, the Xperia Z3 with its Snapdragon 801 will be more efficient.
A GREAT CAMERA PHONE
With the Xperia Z5, Sony introduces a new Exmor RS sensor of 23 megapixels. The Xperia Z5 camera has already received distinctions DxOMark. In practice, Sony seems to have managed to tame its new sensor with a fairly powerful software processing. This may not be something for all users since the pictures are very saturated and contrasting. But the white balance is excellent as the level of detail and the effect of "wow" are guaranteed, including photos of skies.
In situations against the light, the camera comes well to compensate for illuminating the development area without too overexpose the background. The macro mode is very efficient, with a nice blur in the background through the aperture at f / 2.0. In contrast, low light situations really disappointed us, with a lot of noise. Pity.
The development is in turn very fast, thanks to the use of an infrared sensor, but also a setting to the phase detection point.
The photo application is quite complete with many modes. We realized all the shots with automatic mode, 23 megapixels. Small disappointment on the other hand: the manual mode is not really one, since it is not possible to shoot in RAW and change the exposure time.
300 MBPS 4G AND WI-FI 802.11AC
Sony Xperia Z5 supports all frequency bands and incorporates a modem 4G Category 6 to achieve a maximum theoretical speed of 300 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload. For Wi-Fi, Sony has chosen a chip compatible with 802.11a / b / g / n / ac. The phone has two antennas (2 × 2 MIMO) to improve flow rates.
The phone captures well the cellular networks and the listening quality is good. As for GPS, no worries to point in that direction.
PROPER AUTONOMY
The autonomy of the Sony Xperia Z5 is good, but not great. On our self test (playing a video on YouTube in Wi-Fi with the brightness set to 200 cd / m2), the battery terminal has lost 15% of its capacity. It was in the low average high-end handsets. In everyday life, the smartphone is able to hold a day for hungry users and up to two days if one merely uses battery-efficient and enabling Stamina mode.
