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The Sony Xperia 5 II gets some Android 13 love thanks to LineageOS 20
LineageOS 20 includes an all-new default camera app and other additions
LineageOS is undoubtedly one of the most popular custom ROMs currently going around. Its developers dropped a massive surprise on us by releasing the Android 13-based LineageOS 20 earlier than we'd have expected. Since the announcement on New Year's Eve, we’ve seen the addition of several devices to the LineageOS 20 compatibility list including the Google Pixel 2 not too long ago. Maintainers have now added even more devices to the list.
Some Sony Xperia 5 II owners are having their screens fail out of the blue
It's not the first time we've seen this happen on a smartphone
Imagine it's 2020, and you just bought a brand-new smartphone. It has served you well, but right as the phone's warranty ends, the problems begin — and without a warranty, you don't have an easy way to get your phone fixed or replaced. This hypothetical scenario might seem like a bad joke someone makes when talking about planned obsolescence, but for several Sony Xperia 5 II owners, it's reality — one that has started to grow exponentially over the last few months.
Sony Xperia 5 II owners are getting a major update with Android 11
The latest version of Android is beginning to show up now in select regions
Sony's latest compact flagship may not be a phone we'd recommend to most people, but current owners of the Xperia 5 II are already in for a major upgrade. Last year, the company shared its estimated Android 11 update timeline and now Sony is rolling out Google's newest OS to the Xperia 5 II right on schedule.
Sony Xperia 5 II review: A decent phone you shouldn't buy
Sony's continued refusal to compete in the mainstream sinks another flagship
Premium Sony phones like the Xperia 5 II are hard to review. They're made for a very specific demographic — one so specific as to comprise roughly zero percent of the market. They're made for people who want both niche features like a physical shutter button and features that used to be common but now aren't, like headphone jacks, expandable storage, and displays without notches or hole-punches.And that's fine! If you're a member of that subset of a subset of consumers, you'll probably like the Xperia 5 II very much. But the phone costs $950, which, after a barn burner of a year for very competent phones that cost $800, $700, $600, and less, is a bitter pill to swallow. That super-premium pricing plus the company's refusal to support competitive features like wireless charging and US 5G connectivity — increasingly common even in the mid-range — just about guarantees Sony won't move many of these phones.
Sony shares timeline for bringing Android 11 to its latest Xperia phones
The rollout will start next month
When Android 11 was officially released back in August, it brought a lot of neat new features to phones. But as usual, the update hasn't rolled out to many existing handsets yet due to how different OEMs handle the upgrade process. Now Sony fans have something to look forward to, as the company has announced when a few Xperia devices will begin to see Android 11's goodies headed their way.
Sony shines the spotlight on the Xperia 5 II's video-capturing capabilities in this short film
These are probably some of the prettiest three minutes you'll ever spend watching YouTube
Android phones have never really been known for exceptional camera quality when it comes to taking videos, but Sony is setting out to change that. The company's newest phone, the Xperia 5 II, starts shipping next month, and it purports to offer the world’s first 4K HDR 120fps slow-motion movie recording from a smartphone. Now Sony has partnered with a former Ubisoft director to release a short film shot entirely on the Xperia 5 II — and wouldn't you know it, it looks pretty darn good.
Sony's new flagship phone actually looks kind of good
...And it's very expensive and won't launch with Android 11
Last month, we saw an extensive leak about the Sony Xperia 5 II, an upcoming flagship that looked more or less like a smaller Xperia 1 II. Now, the company's gone and made it official: the Xperia 5 II will be available later this year for $950.
Sony schedules Xperia phone announcement for September 17
It's almost certainly the recently leaked Xperia 5 II
Sony has just announced an event for a new Xperia device launch. The company is being coy on what exactly is being announced here, but our guess is the Xperia 5 II that we saw leaked last month. The event is set for September 17th, a week from today.
Sony Xperia 5 II leak points to Snapdragon 865, 120Hz display, and headphone jack
The official reveal should be next month
The Sony Xperia 5 was announced last September. It was more or less a mini Xperia 1. Right on schedule, we're starting to see leaks about Sony's next small flagship, the Xperia 5 II — and surprise of surprises, it hews pretty closely to this year's Xperia 1 II, just in a smaller package.