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Sony Xperia M5
Sony Xperia M5
Sony Xperia M5
Sony Xperia M5
...


5.8/10
Informr score
The Sony Xperia M5 currently has an Informr score of 5.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 6 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • IP68 Rating for water resistance and dust proof
  • Sharp and vivid full HD display
  • Good battery life
  • Excellent pictures in good lighting
  • Shoots 4K video

What's bad

  • Poor sunlight legibility
  • Loss of detail in low light settings for camera
  • Lag during graphics-intensive games
  • Heats up quickly

Less than a year after the release of their mid-range phone the M4 Aqua, Sony ups the ante with the Xperia M5. Like its predecessor the M5 comes with IP68 rating, which means it is water resistant for up to 1.5 meters for around 30 minutes. While it looks practically identical to the M4 Aqua there are some small differences. For one, it is slightly heavier at 142.5 grams and just a tad thicker. This actually worked in its favor as the additional weight and thickness gave reviewers a better grip. In terms of build quality, they actually found the M5 to be slightly sturdier thanks to the addition of glass coating on its plastic back.

The most noticeable improvement is in the 5-inch display. While still an IPS LCD panel, it now sports a full HD resolution of 1080p for a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch. For the most part, experts were impressed with its excellent viewing angles and accurate colors. Sunlight legibility was its biggest downfall with many finding it difficult to read in direct sunlight due to its relatively low brightness.

Packed with a 2.0 GHz octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM, the M5 is no slouch in terms of performance. During day-to-day activities like checking email or browsing the web, reviewers were able to breeze through without a hitch even when multi-tasking. They only really started to notice any lag when they played more graphics-intensive game, and only when they had it on the higher settings. What worried them wasn't the lag, but how uncomfortably hot it became even when performing light tasks. Luckily, they note it cools down relatively fast as well. In order to power the high resolution display and powerful processor, Sony has opted for a 2,600mAh battery. For the most part critics were able to get around a full day of moderate use.

Sony didn't skimp out when it came to the cameras. The M5 sports a 21.5MP rear camera complete with phase detection autofocus and stabilization technology. For the most part reviewers were impressed with the accurate colors and detailed images they were able to capture in good lighting. Unfortunately, in low light settings, they noticed the quality quickly dips as the noise suppression technology removes a lot of fine detail. The biggest draw of the M5's camera, though, is its ability to shoot 4K video. Critics call the videos "gorgeous" stating that it is fit for a flagship let alone a mid-tier smartphone.

For the most part reviewers consider the Xperia M5 a worthy upgrade especially for people who already love Sony phones. India Today states, "It's safe to say that you will get a flagship package – or close to it – at a mid-range price…" Digital News Asia adds, "The Sony Xperia M5 brings a lot to the table in the premium mid-range category…you have a good contender for one of the most well-balanced price and performance smartphones out there."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
20+ MP
Camera
Camera
20+ MP
2600 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Know Your Mobile
Know Your Mobile

The Xperia M5 really is a let down. The exterior and display are very tempting at first glance, but once you get into the details a lot of key specs are lacking. Sony seems to have splurged all the budget on the design, display, and front-facing camera, leaving the Xperia M5 severely lacking in proc...

- Paul Briden, Know Your Mobile
TechRadar
TechRadar

The Sony Xperia M5 has a gorgeous screen and is a competent phone in every other way, but its a small, expensive upgrade.

- James Rogerson, TechRadar
AndroidPIT
AndroidPIT

It's complicated to classify the Xperia M5 and appraise it accordingly. Sony appears to want the M5 to occupy the same market space as the Xperia Z3+. The older device looks almost identical to the M5, but it has weaker cameras and has received criticism for its overheating problems. The Xperia M5's...

- Eric Herrmann, AndroidPIT
AndroidPIT
AndroidPIT

The Xperia M5's performance is well below that of similarly expensive smartphones, and its cameras, despite being a highlight, do not provide exceptional results. 2015 flagships, such as the LG G4 are now available for similar prices, and in key places (battery life, speed, photo quality) provide mo...

- Eric Herrmann, AndroidPIT
Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews

Ultimately, though, the Xperia M5 struggles to distinguish itself from the similarly-priced Nexus 5X and Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo. Its large front-facing camera and copious selfie modes will no doubt be enough to sway some, but those after a more general mid-range handset are better off looking elsewhe...

- Katharine Byrne, Expert Reviews


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Sony Xperia M5 user manual here.


Sony backs up the Xperia M5 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Xperia M5 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Sony support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Sony's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The Sony Xperia M5's screen size is 5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
2 GHz

There is a MediaTek Helio X10 MT6795 Octa core 2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
20+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 20+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 13+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2600mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2600 mAh battery. Sony's performance ratings are 28 days standby time, 731 minutes.

Xperia M5 Specs

Overview
Release Date August 31, 2015
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor MediaTek Helio X10 MT6795 Octa core 2 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.321 W/kg
Body: 1.394 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.1
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 200 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
20+ Megapixels
Zoom
5x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Panorama, Self-timer, Burst mode, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, DivX, FLV, AVI
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels)
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Auto focus
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 441 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2600 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 482 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 731 minutes
Standby Time Up to 28 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Gold, Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.5 x 7.2 x 0.8 cm (5.7 x 2.8 x 0.3 in)
Weight 143 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Sony E5603, E5606, E5653
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Sony Xperia M5 Reviews
Where to buy Sony Xperia M5
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