We are already familiar with the Xperia Z5 (review) and Xperia Z5 Compact (review), now it’s time to talk about the most expensive phone flagship lineup – Xperia Z5 Premium. Impressions from the first acquaintance with this device were extremely pleasant, but in the process of using a fumed particular, about which nothing was said in the first official presentation. It turned out for example that at 4K resolution the screen does not always work. But this is the main feature of the smartphone, around which is built the whole advertising campaign.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, official portrait
However, do not think that the smartphone has become a big disappointment. Not at all. This is a very interesting and unique model. But before you buy it, it is important to know about some features of use. We now discuss.
What’s what
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Sony Xperia Z5
Operating system
Android Lollipop 5.1.1 (planned upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
Android Lollipop 5.1.1 (planned upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow)
Processor
Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810, 4 cores 1.5 GHz + 4 cores at 2.0 GHz; GPU – Adreno 430
Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810, 4 cores 1.5 GHz + 4 cores at 2.0 GHz; GPU – Adreno 430
Memory
3 GB RAM, 32 GB of storage, a microSD slot (up to 200GB)
3 GB RAM, 32 GB of storage, a microSD slot (up to 200GB)
Mobile communication/data transmission
GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS, HDSPA/HSUPA, LTE
GSM/GPRS/EDGE, UMTS, HDSPA/HSUPA, LTE
Screen
IPS, diagonal – 5.5 inches, resolution – 2160х3840 points, 801 ppi
IPS, diagonal – 5.2 inches, resolution – 1080х1920 points, 428 ppi
Interfaces
USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS/GLONASS, NFC
USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS/GLONASS, NFC
Camera
main – 23 MP, autofocus, flash, front – 4 MP, without autofocus and flash
main – 23 MP, autofocus, flash, front – 4 MP, without autofocus and flash
Battery
non-removable, lithium-polymer, 3430 mAh
non-removable, lithium polymer, 2900 mAh
The format of the SIM card
nano SIM
nano SIM
Dimensions, weight
156х76х7,8 mm, 181 g
146x72x7,3 mm, 154 g
Recommended price
~ 58 900 rubles
~ 49 900 rubles
Cloudy mirror
Most in Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, it is surprising that different colors are perceived quite differently. Usually it’s a matter of taste – some prefer the classics (black, white – all), some people prefer bright colors (mint, yellow or orange), but with the top model Z5. It is available in black, gold and silver. That’s just the black on the rear of the usual black gloss – at least that’s what it looks like – and the gold and silver models feature a beautiful mirror finish. In my opinion, black Z5 Premium was the most unattractive.
General view of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
But in practicality there is no difference between all three versions turned out to be surprisingly messy. On the screen the fingerprints are completely invisible, but the rear panel quickly becomes a “commodity” type. Brace yourself for the daily cleaning of the housing with a microfibre cloth. However, Z5 Premium still waterproof, so from time to time it can simply be washed under the tap. A solution with a matte finish in original Xperia Z5 turned out to be more practical, though not as beautiful to look at.
The building was noticeably larger, though the difference in screen size seems small (5.5 inches versus 5.2). And if in your hand the phone still feels great in your jeans pocket to carry it too difficult.
Case back Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Power button and fingerprint scanner Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
On the front there are no buttons – everything you need appears at the bottom of the screen when you turn on your smartphone. This Sony remains true to itself for that year. Even the fingerprint scanner was not positioned below the screen and on the right side – in the same place where the Xperia Z has always been the power button. It scanner and built-in, so had to press hard to increase in size.
The left side face of the housing Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
The right side face of the housing Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Around the perimeter of the hull passes the rounded aluminum edging that diluted plastic inserts on the corners. As before, they should minimize the load on the glass if dropped. But the smartphone is quite heavy (181 grams), so much on the saving effect I wouldn’t count.
Port to connect the docking station with the left side removed. Due to the lack of plugs in the microUSB connector it became irrelevant. The only plug on the case hides the SIM card tray and memory card and looks quite reliable. So it will not fall off as it happened on Xperia Z2 and even Z3.
Smart phone – smart screen
The screen of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium turned out to be surprisingly mysterious. In 4K mode it does not always work, but only in some cases. Namely, when playing back video and view photos via built-in apps, and YouTube and Netflix. On the desktop, all menus, in games, social networking apps and in the browser displays images in a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. The Sony argument sounds quite convincing: thus it is possible to optimize the power consumption, besides Android Lollipop is not able to work with such displays. The coming update should fix it, but about new ways of using 4K Sony still says nothing. In the settings there is no section that lets you force enable UHD mode, and it is unknown if he’ll come in the future.
Another interesting fact: the Xperia Z5 Premium allows you to disable auto-brightness
Rather, in the settings there is such an item, as well as a slider for manual adjustment, but it works in a framework that sets the smartphone itself. Make the screen as bright, indoors with artificial light, it is impossible. And if you go outside in Sunny weather, a clever algorithm will twisting the brightness to maximum. I understand the logic of the manufacturer (power efficiency, autonomy, blah-blah-blah), but the approach for some reason is not happy.
The Screen Of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
However, we must pay tribute, disconnected the auto-brightness in 99% of cases works correctly. You will not be able to use the screen as flashlight (led flash), will not be noticeable on the dance floor, waving the tube at arm’s length and will not be able to correctly compare the brightness of the screen with the Z5 Premium competitors. But in General, the matrix is fine – with maximum viewing angles, realistic color reproduction and sharpness when viewing 4K video. Don’t believe those who say that the difference between 4K and Full HD for this diagonal is not visible. Still visible! How about the difference between a MacBook with a normal screen and Retina.
Lights, camera, action!
Even during the announcement, Sony announced that all three models of Xperia Z5 will get the same camera. Actually, Z5 Premium installed the same module in the Z5 and Z5 Compact. This 23-megapixel Exmor RS sensor technology with backside illumination, lens with equivalent focal length of 24 mm and a hybrid (contrast and phase) AF.
I don’t really believe in what the company has managed to place the phase sensors in the matrix format 1/2,3 inches, but the focus of the smartphone very quickly
The main camera of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
If you remember, the automatic shooting mode on the Xperia Z3 were offered only in the resolution of 8 megapixels, and in order to use the camera at full power, had to switch to M and to include the maximum resolution in the settings. Now by default, snapshots are saved in 20 megapixels, the difference is not so great to miss an important point, and fiddling with settings. Last year I tested the camera Z5 in comparison with other top-end smartphone, when the smartphone Sony has shown themselves not the best way. Although in General the camera is very good, competing models perform better even with lower resolution. Below you can see examples of shooting with the main camera Z5 Premium.
An example of shooting with the main camera of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
An example of shooting with the main camera of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
An example of shooting with the main camera of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
The front camera uses a 5 megapixel sensor and a lens without autofocus. But here mark the mirror panel Xperia Z5 Premium would be very handy – it will allow comfort to take the selfie with the main camera. Frontalka will only need you for a video call on Skype or Google Hangouts.
Video can be recorded in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second and Full HD at 60 frames per second. For shooting with the maximum quality you will have to choose a separate item in the settings, while recording in 1080p quickly turns on the on-screen button regardless of which shooting mode was initially selected.
But the main thing is that many of us continue to love Sony, is a dedicated camera button. She also is at the bottom on the right side and allows you not only to release the shutter and to turn on the camera even if the phone is locked.
Performance and autonomy
Xperia Z5 Premium built on the same platform, which used the original Z5. In addition, in most cases it the screen works in Full HD, so before testing it would be logical to expect similar results. Seriously, everything matches: the number and frequency of cores (4, 2 GHz + 4 at 1.5 GHz), memory (3 GB), and the frequency of the GPU (Adreno 430, 650 MHz). The only thing that differs in a big way is the battery capacity. Larger hull allowed to use bigger batteries than the Sony happily took advantage of.
The test results of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium in Geekbench
The test results of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium in 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
Let me remind you, AnTuTu Benchmark has changed the testing methodology and algorithm of calculation of points, so the test results in the latest package version cannot correctly be compared with the results of previous versions. Performance evaluation of the CPU package Geekbench is almost not different from what we have seen in the past year c Xperia Z5. The slight discrepancy in results can be attributed to the error of the test.
The test results of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium in PCMark
When testing offline work I forcibly turned off the power saving mode and a fixed display brightness 200 CD/m2.
For reasons of clarity, even had to sleep with the lights on because the dark is a clever smartphone without permission would reduce the brightness of the display that would have affected the results
Snapdragon 810 is not the most economical platform, but with the battery 3430 mAh, he showed an impressive result – 460 minutes. Much better than original Sony Xperia Z5 and about the same amount as the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+.
The operating time of Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Game
4 hours 50 minutes
Video
7 hours 45 minutes
Reading
10 hours 50 minutes
The results of battery life in “clean” modes of video playback, reading books and games is provided in the table below. If we talk about 4K video, then this mode turns out to four hours playback when using a small roller with card slot and built-in video player and a little less than four hours when streaming 4K over Wi-Fi in the YouTube app.
Competitors
Formally, Z5 Premium, no competition. This is the first and still the only smartphone with a 4K screen. But if you choose a similar model on the diagonal of the screen and hardware base price, there will be many. Let’s take the most obvious.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+
It would be desirable to scold Z5 Premium for the opportunity easily soiled, this smartphone looks stunning. The image with them can compete only Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+. Due to the folded screen it produces an even greater wow effect. It costs about the same money as the Sony flagship.
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
Both models exhibit good autonomy. Both have fingerprint sensors and high-quality camera (although in my opinion Samsung has the best camera especially in low light), have equal performance. S6 edge+ can’t boast 4K screen, but its QHD AMOLED without that incredibly good.
Read also: Happy notes, don’t write. Review smartphone Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
Call vertelki:Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+3inline
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
The choice between Apple and Sony will eventually be reduced to a choice between Android and iOS, so this topic now we will not touch, so you don’t accidentally insult the feelings of believers.
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
By price Xperia Z5 Premium you can get a large IPhone with 64 gigabytes of memory without expansion. He will be no less stylish and recognizable design, no less powerful platform, but more modest battery life. Will highlight in the form of a 3D Touch technology that literally brings touch input to a new level, but at the same time, you will not get the protection from dust and moisture, which offers Premium Z5.
Call vertelki:Apple iPhone 6s Plus3inline
Conclusions
Despite all the contradictions, Xperia Z5 Premium leaves behind a positive impression. This is a very beautiful, very powerful and very pleasant to work with a smartphone, showing a good battery life. Many still could not accept the fact that for top-end smartphone to request nearly 60 thousand rubles, but for a more philosophical attitude to life we suggest you to look in Apple’s online store and see how much do you want for the most feature-rich iPhone 6s Plus.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium in your back pocket
Video in 4K resolution looks amazing. But first, a smartphone has never been and never will be the main device for watching movies. And secondly, any other problems (except photos and videos), you will not be able to enjoy such a high resolution. Maybe something will change with the release of the new firmware. It is not excluded that Sony will return to Z5 Premium and its potential at the upcoming MWC 2016. But now the flagship Xperia handset for the elite. And if you are looking for a top up, not thinking about its final value, Z5 Premium deserves close attention.
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Advantages:
- awesome design (except for black models)
- the world’s first 4K screen (albeit with reservations)
- high performance
- good autonomy
- protection from dust and moisture.
Disadvantages:
- too easily soiled case
- full brightness
- there is no manual switch 4K/Full HD