Sony Xperia 5 II

It might be the world’s trickiest game of spot the difference but the shared similarities with the Xperia 1 II make the Xperia 5 II the more worthwhile purchase. In my view, the Xperia 5 II is a rip-roaring success and, if you were initially dismayed at the price of the Xperia 1 II, then you might want to reconsider spending a bit less for an identical list of industry-leading achievements.

The Xperia 5 II is a great, small-form-factor handset that will be more than good enough for most buyers. The only downside is that it feels a little expensive when compared to its closest Samsung and OnePlus rivals which now have more affordable options.

Takes everything we loved about the Xperia 1 II and makes it a lot more affordable, with minimal compromise.

With the Xperia 5 II, Sony is essentially selling a more compact, more affordable version of the Xperia 1 II. But with a high-refresh-rate display, the ability to record 4K videos at 120 frames per second and an overhauled Game Enhancer app, the new phone is more than a miniature version of the Xperia 1 II. And best of all at $950, the Xperia 5 II adds those features while costing hundreds of dollars less.

So there's no doubt in our minds that the Xperia 5 II is a superb phone with a lot going for it. But it also carries the Sony premium, that additional monetary burden that makes it hard to recommend despite its obvious merits. Still, true brand loyalists need not look any further, and certainly not back at the 1 II.