Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the LG G5 takes on the Sony Xperia X Performance. Both devices are all-metal, but look different – LG painted the metal to hide the antenna lines and to add some color while the metal used on the Xperia X Performance looks and feels like plastic. The LG G5 allows its owner to remove the ‘chin’ of the device to slide in a Module – extra battery, sound circuits, camera controls, etc. Sitting these smartphones side-by-side, you would be able to pick out the Sony – rectangle shape, large top and bottom bezels. Despite their differences, they do have a few things in common that we will go over in the next paragraph before we move on to the detailed specifications.
The LG G5 and the Sony Xperia X Performance do have a few things in common. For starters, the physical size is very close and the X Performance only weighs 5.4 grams heavier. The displays are only .3 of an inch different and they both use the LCD technology, but a different resolution. The both use the Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor and an Adreno 530 GPU for handling intense graphics. They both come with 32GB of internal memory and both are expandable via a microSD card. Both have terrific cameras, but go about taking photos in a different manner. Both have Hi-Res audio for listening through earphones. Both devices have the usual suspects – WiFi, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, NFC, and a USB port – Type-C on the LG G5 and microUSB v2.0 on the X Performance – for charging and data transfer. A note about the fingerprint sensor – it is on all LG G5s and only on the international version of the Xperia X Performance – the US version does not have one.
Please take a thoughtful look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details. After that, we will look at each device in greater depth and point out some of its pros and cons. From all of this information, we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.
Specifications
LG G5
Like it or not, it looks like the future of smartphones will include some sort of attachments or modules to expand our smartphone’s capabilities as we look for that one device that can satisfy all of our needs. LG started the trend on the G5, and the new Moto Z line of phones included Moto Mods. LG also made the move from plastic that looked like metal to an all-metal design that they painted to hide the antenna lines. People are slow to adopt new changes, but it did allow LG to retain a replaceable battery and expandable storage. Let’s take a closer look at the new LG G5 and see just how the specs and design hold up to the new Sony Xperia X Performance.
The LG G5 sports a 5.3-inch IPS LCD QHD display and includes the always on’ feature and a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels with 554 pixels-per-inch (PPI.) LG uses the 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and another at 2.15GHz – the same processor in the Xperia X Performance. This pairs up with an Adreno 530 GPU that will handle any graphics you can throw its way. The G5 packs 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of internal memory that is expandable to 2TB via a microUSB card.
The LG G5 comes with a duo sort of camera – it has the same single 16MP sensor that LG used in the G4, and then added an extra 8MP wide-angle sensor that works independently from the 16MP sensor. To take a regular picture the device will use the 16MP shooter, but if the user needs to capture a wider shot in the photo, the 8MP wide-angle is used. LG retained the 8MP front-facing camera (FFC) from the G4, allowing the user to take high-quality selfies and use video chatting. Although LG decreased the battery size to 2800mAh in the G5, the modular design retains the ability to remove/replace the battery. The LG G5 uses Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 capabilities.
It was not possible to place the fingerprint sensor at the bottom of the LG G5 because of the removable chin. LG positioned it on the back of the phone where the on/off and volume control resided on the LG G4. The fingerprint sensor still acts as an on/off switch, but the volume controls are on the side of the LG G5. The LG G5 still has its IR Blaster and FM radio. The LG G5 measures 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm, weighs in at 159 grams and comes in Silver, Titan, Gold, and Pink. The LG G5 is available on all the leading carriers for $625.
Sony Xperia X Performance
The new Sony Xperia X Performance looks like a Sony smartphone – that will be great news for some people and not so great news for others. Sony did switch from their famous metal and glass design to an all-metal design, but even the metal they used looks and feels like plastic. In typical Sony fashion, they put out a US model with no fingerprint scanner and an international model with a fingerprint scanner.
The Xperia X sports the same old 5.0-inch IPS LCD FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and 441 PPI. Sony did go with the 64-bit Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and a dual-core clocked at 2.15GHz. It is packing 3GB of DDR4 RAM and the Adreno 530 GPU to handle the graphics. The Xperia X Performance comes with 32GB of internal memory, which is expandable to 200GB via a microSD card.
The Xperia X Performance model uses Sony’s 23MP camera sensor for its primary shooter, an aperture of f/2.0, 24mm, Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF,) and LED flash. For the FFC area – Sony increased to a larger 13MP, and gave it an aperture of f/2.0 and 22mm lens for great selfies and video chats. A 2700mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 2.0 capabilities supplies the power.
The Sony Xperia X Performance retains Sony’s dual stereo front-facing speakers. There is no fingerprint sensor in the US version, but the international version should work on limited US networks – check with your carrier. The Xperia X Performance measures 143.7 x 70.4 x 8.7mm and weighs in at 164.4 grams. The colors Sony is advertising are White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold, and Rose Gold and the Xperia X Performance will cost you about $675 – $700.
…And The Winner Is…
The Final Word
I have to pick the LG G5 as the winner of this comparison – it has a better display (larger, always-on, and QHD), more RAM, a terrific camera, the new Type-C reversible port, removable battery, IR Blaster, FM radio, a fingerprint sensor, and the ability to use modules. Even if you don’t use the modules, it is a very nice phone.
Sony refuses to upgrade to the QHD resolution and still keeps their displays at 5-inches – a little small by today’s standards. It does have stereo speakers and the Performance model does have IP68 specifications.
It just seems like you get a little more in the LG G5 than you do with the Sony – and the Sony costs more money. Oh, I know there will be some Sony fanboys crying that the Xperia X Performance is the clear winner – but the only thing that’s clear is that the LG G5 comes out ahead.
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