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Sony Xperia 5 V vs. Xperia 1 V: How similar can two phones be?
Two great smartphones, one main difference
You'd be forgiven for forgetting that Sony still makes smartphones, but they've actually had a modest but dedicated following over the past few years. That's partly because Sony's (thankfully) living in the past when it comes to convenient features like microSD expansion and a headphone jack. It's also due to the incredible amount of effort Sony puts into outfitting its phones with great cameras. After all, we are talking about the world's largest manufacturer of digital image sensors.
Sony releases Android 11 update for Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 early
It's hard to complain about an update being sent out ahead of schedule
When it comes to update roadmaps, manufacturers seem to miss their target rollout dates more often than not, so it's always a nice surprise when an update shows up early. Sony is now sending out the Android 11 update for the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 in some markets, earlier than the February date originally given (and even ahead of the newer Xperia 5 II).
Sony recently published a timeline detailing when we could expect Android 10 on its phones. While many older devices are only supposed to get the update "early 2020 onwards," the company was more specific with the Xperia 1 and 5, which should get the new software this month. And true to its promise, Sony has just started rolling out the latest version of Android to the two devices.
Sony has managed to gain a lot of fans among developers thanks to its Open Devices program. It's an initiative that brings Android Open Source Project (AOSP) builds to some of the company's devices and allows developers to adapt and change the code. It also makes it easier to unlock the bootloader and install custom ROMs. Sony has announced that the latest phone to become part of the Open Devices program is the Xperia 5.
Sony details Android 10 update timeline for its Xperia phones
More devices are to pick up Android 10, but some older devices will hit the dust.
December
Sony may be more widely known for its PlayStation gaming consoles than its Android phones, but with this exclusive UK deal, you can own the best of both. From now through November 4th, readers in the United Kingdom can activate a Sony Xperia 5 on a 30GB EE network plan and receive their choice of a PlayStation 4 or a PlayStation VR Starter Pack.
Sony just took the wraps off the Xperia 5 at IFA, and it's pretty much what we expected based on the earlier leaks. The company has decided to skip digits 2-4 with the new phone, and while that might imply big changes, many of the specs are substantially unchanged from the Xperia 1 launched earlier this year. This is basically the same phone, but smaller and with a lower-resolution screen.
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We've come to high season for high-pressure presentations in cavernous venues for little pieces of circuitry encased in glass, metal, and plastic again. IFA 2019 is just about underway in Berlin and tech companies are on rehearsals looking for the right words, notes, camera shots, and switches to hit. Unfortunately for Sony, someone in the control room flipped the wrong switch and briefly revealed the existence of the company's next big smartphone, the Xperia 5.