*** Sony Xperia Z5 ***

[Nexus18]

Are you going to be instantly able to tell the difference between a 1080p 5-5.2" screen and a 4k 5.5-6.2" screen though? I doubt it unless you have your nose right up to the screen or/and hawk eye sight

Of course 4k on a <6" will have a far greater pixel density but that still doesn't mean it is going to be 'noticeably' sharper/better than a 1080p <5.2" screen and a qHD 5.5-6" screen.

2560x1440 is substantially better than 1920x1080 too... Of course not to the same level as 4k

 

[mrk]

We will just have to conclude this debate once Marshmallow is out as it's pointless right now as nobody can weigh either side of the scale since it can't be objectively tested without Marshmallow.

An image rendered at 4K and displayed at 4K on a 4K phone display will look sharper than QHD or 1080P on the same or similar size display. It's the same principal as PC monitors. A 28" 4K monitor looks sharper at everything being displayed at 4K than a <>28" monitor that's merely 2560x1440, even though 28" is not the native size for the 4K resolution at hand, QHD is the native res for 27"~ screens.

 

[Nexus18]

But you can compare 720p <4.5", 1080p <5.2" and qHD <6" screens and see that there is very little difference in sharpness/clarity already, it is all about the PPI value and we have hit PPI values now where the eye can't see the individual pixels without a microscope.

Yes, that is because of the PPI value, it is a bit like looking at all my 4k wallpapers on my 29um65 and nexus 7/5, even watching YouTube videos, they all look far sharper/clearer on my n5/7 than they do on my monitor, although that will also be down to the matte finish on the monitor vs glass screen of the n 5/7 but more so because of the insane PPI.

Monitors PPI values suck big time compared to phone displays now, a monitor average PPI is between 90 and 110 where as phones PPI average is about 300-500 PPI. A 28 4k monitor has a PPI of about 164 but then we need the higher PPI for handheld products like phones because we view them from a shorter distance thus we are more likely to see the pixelated look of a <200 PPI display.

 

[kona786]

I totally agree with Nexus18 here.

Throwing in more PPI when you already have 400+ on RGB stripe is just pure gimmick, not to mention a strain on resources.

I'd like to see a masked test with an iPhone6+/OPO2 and QHD G4 with the Z5P in normal + 3 inch use.

QHD Pentile on 5.7"+ is just about justifiable in my opinion, but it isn't OMG WOW until you get to tablet size.

I do love the QHD 493ppi Pentile OLED on my Nexus 6, microscopic text is legible and everything looks mega crispy. Throwing an extra 300PPI + RGB stripe is nothing but marketing tactics and pure overkill.

Also I(you?) can't even get my eyes to focus on small text within 3 inches of the screen so what's the point?

Effort is better spent on other area's of display quality as stated. Brightness, contrast, reflectivity, colour accuracy, efficiency and so forth.

I won't be surprised if the brightness on the Z5P will be a little lacking.

Regarding PPI in monitors - as you know, viewing distance is a massive factor.

 

[mrk]

I don't think the brightness will be any different to the Z3, same screen tech, just higher resolution and PPI. The Z3 gets 713 nits according to phonearena, the Galaxy S6, for example, gets 563 nits. The IFA demo of screen brightness comparison was likely not at manual brightness, more auto then manual slider adjustment. With the display set to manual, the slider will ramp lower and higher than the maximum and lowest available levels in auto when the slider is used, thus exceeding the competition.

Z3 is actually top of their list: http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Sony-Xperia-Z3_id8764/benchmarks

I'm still undecided about which of the 3 Z5 models to go for. It would be nice to have the Premium, but I don't "really" want a phone slightly thicker than the Z3 and slightly taller than the Note 5, the normal Z5 shares the exact same Z3 dimensions which is more appealing.

 

[kona786]

Backlight will be impeded by the smaller pixels. If they are to maintain strong brightness, then they will have fitted a stronger Backlight. Which may mean more power consumed.

 

[mrk]

Backlight will be impeded by the smaller pixels. If they are to maintain strong brightness, then they will have fitted a stronger Backlight. Which may mean more power consumed.

Naturally, a higher brightness will always consume more power, this has never been any different on any phone, and nobody runs their phone at max brightness all day long anyway.

 

[kona786]

I'm talking about the premium here not the standard z5. And about maintaining the brightness not making it brighter.

Naturally... Getting a more pixel dense screen to be at the same brightness as a lower ppi one requires a stronger backlight. And usually more power.

Edit... Just to get it into perspective, the Z5P pixels will more than 50% smaller than on the Z5/Z3.

 

[mrk]

I am too. Sony has said the Premium will get up to 2 days battery life base don their testing method (simulated real world usage) - The Sony method (conducted by an independent body) has been posted before where it describes how they test it. It was accurate enough for the Z3, I cannot see why it would be any different on the Z3 Premium.

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/legal/testresults/

Based on historical results of SA's testing, I have no reason to believe the Premium to be any different based on what has been shown and told so far by Sony.

Is it the current in thing to be constantly sceptical or something?

 

[kona786]

Funny how in the tests in your link show brightness tests for the Z3 but nothing of the sorts for the Z5P.

I just want to see side by side brightness with the Z3 and Z5P.

Battery life for me will be determined by reviews from anandtech and ARS technica.

Not really being sceptical, just outlining the affects of having a rather pointless 800ppi 5.5" Display.

 

[mrk]

You brought up battery life by making remarks on power consumption by brightness and backlights (which is battery life), I merely responded to that.

 

[Silly Goose On The Loose]

Sony know battery life.

I have little doubt that the Z5 Premium will live up to Sony's claims. Unlike some other manufacturers

 

[kona786]

They get judged per phone tbh.

 

[welshdragon]

I'm tempted to preorder and pay full price for this. DO people think prices will fall substantially quickly or will likely stay as is for a good bit?

 

[Matson]

Isn't it simple..
If you want 4k you buy the premium. If you don't you buy the normal Z5. I don't see the point arguing about 4k and its uses when its obvious just buy the normal Z5 if your not interested in 4k.
I personally cant wait for 4k because I love VR and 1440p isn't enough for VR. Its also nice to record in 4k and playback in 4k. I have a 4k TV so to have everything match up makes things much better.
I'm probably going to wait for the Ultra model though if those specs turn out to be true as heat is one thing I didn't like at all on my note 4 so I'm hoping the snapdragon 820 fixes that.

 

[mark43]

I don't really get the VR thing, lots of people have mentioned 4k will be perfect for VR, and while I realise that's true whenever I read about VR for PCs people are talking about the fact that you'll need a kick ass GPU, is a phone really going to give much of an experience?

 

[this_is_gav]

Isn't it simple..
If you want 4k you buy the premium. If you don't you buy the normal Z5. I don't see the point arguing about 4k and its uses when its obvious just buy the normal Z5 if your not interested in 4k.

I just want the larger screen size and couldn't care less about 4k personally. In fact I'd prefer 1080p as I'm sure, VR aside, that I couldn't tell the difference between a similarly-designed 1080p and 4k display, so it is just a waste of battery for me.

In fact I was rather impressed with the idea of it scaling down to 1080p unless 4k media was being played, until the story sprang that it will be 4k natively across Marshmallow and my heart sank a little. Still, perhaps 1080p as standard will be an option in M?

Unless performance is surprisingly poor due to the 4k screen when Marshmallow arrives it's hardly a dealbreaker for me though. It's just deciding whether I can cope with those bezels.

 

[bowey]

the only thing swaying me towards the premium is the bigger battery but im kinda guessing it will last the same as the z5 because of the 4k screen wish they all came out at the same time to be honest then some reviews would be out

 

[Matson]

I don't really get the VR thing, lots of people have mentioned 4k will be perfect for VR, and while I realise that's true whenever I read about VR for PCs people are talking about the fact that you'll need a kick ass GPU, is a phone really going to give much of an experience?

That's very true what you said. For the PC with an Oculus you need a really powerfull GPU to get the most out of it as it will be much more visually demanding.

While VR on a phone wont look as good as on the PC its still really good plus the fact that its mobile and your not hooked up with wires.
I have a cheap headset for my Note 4 and while you can still see the pixels on a 1440p screen its still a really fun Experience and I love the fact that I can go anywhere with it and don't need to be sat at my PC.

 

[Mr_Cool]

Really digging the Graphite Black