Xperia X or Xperia Z5

[josho495]

Want to upgrade my phone to either Z5 or the new Xperia X? They're both around the same price but reviews seems to lean toward the older Z5.

Has anyone used both phones? Recommendations please.

Thank you.

EDIT: Took the advice, waited and bought the XZ. Very impressed.

[YoGem]

Although the X is a great device, Z5 is more premium. My personal recommendation is to buy the Z5, however choice is your.

[CameronT · Accepted solution]

Hi @josho495,

It all depends on what you need in a phone. I have used both, and yeah, I'm a Sony employee so I may have a little bias but I'll try to be as objective as possible

The Xperia X is comparable specs wise to the Z5, though the Z5 is waterproof (The X is not) and has a faster processor too, but it is an older one than the X uses. The X performed extremely well in my daily use, which is mostly calling, texting and playing games. There was no noticable difference in the performance of the two for what I used it for.

Both are great devices, but I personally preferred the X as it felt more comfortable in my hand, even though the Z5 is the better device.

A better comparison would be the X Performance and the Z5 however, with the X Performance having a better processor. If possible, I would go for the Performance, which I am currently using as my main device.

Our newly announced Xperia XZ will be our new high end device and will be better than both the Z5 and the XP. If you're looking for the best device, I would hold out for that.

[Alessio_841]

Hi CameronT,

Your answer is not properly objective, sorry. 

For example, at hardware level, you not mention that the Z5 has a metal frame, more and more premium in the hands respect the cheaper plastic one of the X, XP and XZ. This is an important feature if you consider that the most people take in hand the device by the frame and there is an enormous difference between touch the aluminium and a cheaper plastic.

The Z5 has an useful lip around the display that protect the screen from scratches if you leave the device screen down on the table. Tha same, but created by the lateral frame, there is back to protect, in the same way, the back beautiful frosted glass. Sony dosn't sponsorized this little fantastic invention, but for the most of people that don't use cases, is a best feature!

The Z5 has a bigger battery respect Xperia X and XP and also a more efficient CPU by its 8 cores respect the six of the X and the four of the Xp and XZ (datas in all sites confirm this). The SD 820 is faster than the SD 810, but less voltage efficient.

The Z5 has a marginally better camera, less aggressive in in-camera software respect X, XP and XZ cause the digital algorithms create less noise and artifacts, also in daylight.

The speakers of the X line ar horrible in terms of design, the same adopted in the Z3 and leave immediatly in the Z4/Z3+ and Z5s. Also they have marginally less power respect the Z5.

In terms of sotware, X line is poor, not comparable to other brands absolutely! There are not small apps, extremely useful in business sector, there is not 4K videos, a great feature for every one has a 4K TV or the newest Play Station (only XZ has this feature again). Sony's UI is pratically Android stock. Also there is not Xperia keyboard, extremely accurate, but the Switkey, less accurate.

There are several other lacks in X line you can't say and all are feature useful in day time! I understand you must sponsorized the X line, you are a Sony's employee, but the lacks are enormous and als the quality is very bad respect the Z line.

Sincerely.

[nikanorov]

I have both, but prefer X. It is much more comfortable to hold it in hand. Selfie camera is much better in X, do not see any difference in main (except 4k, no need for me; chip is the same).

I do not know what are you talking about premium materials, but X feels really good in hand and looks great.

Fingerprint scanner works better in X for me. Also I like display colors on X more than on Z5.

[Alessio_841]

About premium materials, if you have both, I don't understand how you cant' see the big differenxe between the lateral frame in metal of the Z5 and the plastic one of the Xperia X. This is a feature that one must be consider in purchase cause determine the premium feeling and quality of a device.

In terms of main camera, I agree with you, but there is a little advantage on Z5's sensor that doesn't oversharpness and create less artifacts at 23 Mpx; in addition the dynamic range is better as reported by DxOMark.

The fingerprint scanner works better for you cause you probally have little hands or shorts fingers and you are more confortable with little devices, but objectively the performance of two are equals.

About the display I agree with you, Xperia X has more cold display but worse grayscale and bluih tint the annojing photographers.

[nikanorov]

To be honest I can't understand great love to the aluminium. I know the back plate is aluminium on X, but I can't distinguish it from plastic by touch.

My friend purchased XZ today, I do love the touch feeling (more than X), but I do not understand what materials are used. Is it plastic, glass or metal? It feels warm, not as cold as metal. Need to read review for that.

For me the priority is touch feeling and comfort, material is the second.

PS: I found little scratches on X display are more frustrating. And this just after the few month of careful enough usage.

[Alessio_841]

To be honest, all high end devices of 2015-2016 are made all in glass and metal (aluminium); only the low-end devices are made in plastic. It's a question of quality for the price that they have; plastic is not quality and not premium feeling and device!

For 700 and more euros, I don't want touch the plastic as on low end devices, if it possible!

If you don't feel the difference, I think that you have no proper knoledge of materials, sorry.

In XZ the lateral frame and bottom back strip are in plastic, only the plate back is in metal ALKALEIDO.

Objectively, the Z5 fits better in hand (used to hold it only) cause has the bottom corners rounded instead the squared ones of the XZ. I say this cause objectively I tried both.