1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 162.9 × 74.7 × 8.4 mm | 156 × 67 × 8.2 mm | The Oppo is larger and bulkier, which may be less comfortable in one-handed use or smaller pockets. The Sony is more compact and portable. |
| Weight | 190g | 172g | The Sony is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended holding periods. |
| Build | Unknown screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | The Sony offers superior screen protection, likely to be more resistant to scratches and minor impacts. |
| Foldable | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones and do not fold. |
Display
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.1" | The Oppo offers a larger viewing area, which is better for media consumption. The Sony offers a more compact display, making it easier to handle with one hand. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2520 | The Sony has slightly higher pixel density, meaning sharper and more detailed images. However, the difference is marginal. |
| PPI | 405 | 449 | The Sony's higher pixel density results in slightly sharper text and images. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The Sony’s OLED display offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast compared to the Oppo’s IPS LCD, leading to a more vibrant viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Sony's higher refresh rate leads to smoother animations and scrolling, resulting in a more fluid and responsive user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have identical peak brightness, however the real brightness isn't given so it's impossible to compare. |
Performance
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | The Sony's chipset is significantly more powerful, providing faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and much better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 216,504 | 1,021,542 | The Sony has a vastly superior performance in benchmarks, translating to a much faster and more responsive phone. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 730 | The Sony's superior GPU provides a better gaming experience with higher frame rates and smoother graphics. |
Camera
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 12MP | The Oppo has a higher megapixel count, which might suggest more detail, but sensor size and pixel size also matter. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.7" | The Sony has a larger sensor, allowing it to capture more light, resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range. |
| Main Camera Pixel Size | 0.80 µm | 1.80 µm | The Sony has much larger pixels, which allow it to capture more light, improving image quality, especially in low light conditions. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 12MP | Oppo has a higher megapixel count for selfies, potentially more detailed selfies |
| Selfie Camera Pixel Size | 1.00 µm | 1.25 µm | Sony has a larger pixel size for selfies, improving low light performance. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 12MP | The Sony offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zooming in with less image degradation, which is ideal for portraits and distant subjects. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | 12MP | Sony's wide angle lens is better quality and has a higher resolution. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | The Oppo offers a macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP | None | The Oppo includes a black and white lens for artistic photography. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | Up to 4K@120fps | The Sony offers significantly better video recording capabilities with higher resolution, frame rate, and image stabilization features making it a much more capable video recording device. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS | OIS, EIS | Sony provides optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) compared to the Oppo's EIS only, leading to much smoother videos, especially in low light conditions. |
| DXOMark Score | Not tested | 119 | Sony has a good overall rating for a mobile camera. |
Battery
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have similar battery capacity. |
| Charging Speed | 18W | 30W | The Sony charges faster, reducing the time spent plugged in. |
| Battery Features | 10W Inbox Charger | Bypass Charging, Reverse Charging | The Sony's bypass charging feature is ideal for gaming while plugged in, preventing battery damage. The reverse charging feature allows for wireless charging of other devices. |
Software
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 (Upgradable to 13) | The Sony has a newer version of Android, with the potential for an additional OS update, meaning more features, better security, and improved performance. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | The Sony supports the latest WiFi standard for faster and more reliable wireless internet connection. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Sony has a slightly newer version of Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Sony supports more satellite systems for enhanced location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM + eSIM | The Sony supports eSIM for easy switching between digital carriers, while Oppo can use two physical sim cards |
Storage
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 64/128/256GB | 128/256GB | Both phones have the same maximum storage of 256GB, but the Sony doesn't offer the smaller 64GB storage model. |
| RAM | 4/8GB | 8GB | The Sony's higher standard RAM allows for smoother multitasking and better performance when running resource-intensive apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
Audio
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Audio Quality | Basic | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | The Sony's audio features provide better spatial audio, higher fidelity sound and better immersion through stereo speakers. |
Security
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both phones offer a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for fast and easy biometric unlock. |
Sensors
| Feature | Oppo A54 5G | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Barometer | The Sony has a barometer, which allows it to measure atmospheric pressure for weather tracking and altitude readings and a Hall sensor. The Oppo has a gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Oppo A54 5G Advantages:
- Larger Display: A 6.5-inch screen offers more viewing area for media.
- Macro and Black & White lens: Provides more options for artistic and close up photos.
- Potentially Lower Price: Typically, the A series from Oppo is more budget-friendly.
Practical Implications: The larger display is good for media, but the less powerful processor makes it less suitable for demanding games and apps. Additional camera lenses are useful for more creative photos. The main advantage of the Oppo is generally its lower price.
Sony Xperia 5 IV Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset offers significantly faster performance and a better gaming experience.
- Better Display: The OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate provides more vibrant colours, deeper blacks, and smoother scrolling.
- Better Cameras: A larger sensor, a telephoto lens, and 4K video recording capabilities offer much higher image and video quality.
- Faster Charging: 30W charging reduces charging time significantly.
- Additional Features: Supports reverse charging, bypass charging, and more precise GPS.
- Superior Build: The phone has a better screen protection.
- Better audio quality: Better and louder audio with Dolby Atmos and stereo speakers.
- Better software: Comes with a newer OS and a potential OS upgrade.
Practical Implications: The Sony excels in areas that demanding users care about: performance, display, camera quality, and software features. This phone is a very strong all-around device.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Size and Weight: The Oppo is larger, which may not be as easy to handle in one hand, but the Sony has a more compact, lightweight design.
- Price: The Sony Xperia 5 IV is more expensive compared to the Oppo A54 5G.
- Display Technology: The Sony has the better display, but also a slightly smaller size.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Oppo A54 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for an affordable phone with basic functionality.
- Casual Users: Individuals who primarily browse the web, use social media, and consume media.
- Users Prioritizing Screen Size: People who prefer a larger screen for videos and content.
- Beginner Photographers: Those who enjoy having different camera lenses for artistic shots.
Specific Use Cases:
- Web browsing and social media.
- Streaming videos and music.
- Basic gaming.
- Taking family photos.
Sony Xperia 5 IV Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who demand fast and smooth performance for gaming and productivity.
- Photography and Videography Lovers: Those who want high-quality photos and videos with advanced features.
- Multimedia Consumers: People who appreciate high-quality audio and video experiences.
- Tech-Savvy Users: Individuals who enjoy advanced features and the latest technology.
- Users seeking a compact design: Those who prefer a smaller phone that is more portable.
Specific Use Cases:
- High-performance gaming.
- Professional-quality photography and videography.
- Multimedia consumption.
- Productivity tasks with many apps.
- Frequent use of advanced GPS.
- High-fidelity music playback.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
The Oppo A54 5G offers decent value for its price point, providing basic features and a large screen for budget-conscious users.
The Sony Xperia 5 IV offers a premium experience with top-tier performance, advanced features, and high-quality multimedia capabilities, making it worth its higher price for demanding users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Oppo A54 5G is a budget option, while the Sony Xperia 5 IV is a premium phone.
- How important is performance? For heavy users, the Sony's superior performance will be noticeable.
- How important is camera and video quality? The Sony has a significantly better camera, making it ideal for photography and videography.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User with Limited Budget: The Oppo A54 5G is the more suitable choice due to its affordability and adequate features for basic use.
- Scenario 2: Mobile Gamer or Power User: The Sony Xperia 5 IV is the clear winner due to its powerful processor, smooth display, and advanced features.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: The Sony Xperia 5 IV is the better option with its superior camera system, telephoto lens, and excellent video recording capabilities.
- Scenario 4: Compact phone user: The Sony Xperia 5 IV is the better choice due to its more compact form and lighter weight.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Sony Xperia 5 IV. While the Oppo A54 5G offers a budget-friendly option with a larger screen, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is superior in almost every other aspect that matters to me.
Here's why:
- Performance: I prioritize fast and smooth performance, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Sony is significantly more powerful.
- Display: I prefer the vibrant colours and smoother refresh rate of the OLED display in the Sony, enhancing my viewing experience.
- Camera Quality: As someone who values mobile photography and videography, the Sony’s superior camera system, including the telephoto lens and 4K video capabilities, makes it a far better choice for me.
- Build Quality: I appreciate the premium screen protection of the Sony as well as the lightweight design.
- Additional Features: I also value additional features such as bypass charging, reverse charging, and enhanced audio.
While the Sony Xperia 5 IV is more expensive, its superior performance, better display, significantly improved camera system, premium features, and enhanced audio quality are well worth the extra cost for my use cases. I prefer the Sony's smaller, more compact design and its vastly superior software experience as well. The Oppo is good for someone with a lower budget, but the Sony is the superior choice by a large margin for a more premium user.
