Sony Xperia C5 Ultra review :
The Xperia C5 retail package
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
Handling the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
Above and below the display
The top and bottom of the Xperia C5 Ultra
The left side
What's on the right
The 13MP rear camera on the glossy back
Lockscreen features a clock widget, notifications and shortcuts to camera and dialer
Homescreens with app shortcuts, widgets and folder support
There are simple preloaded themes as well as a multitude of downloadable ones
App drawer • search feature • side drawer for settings
Stock two-stage Lollipop notification shade without auto brightness toggle
Lollipop rolodex task switcher with a Small app twist
One handed operation puts parts of the interface to one side for easier access
Introduction
It takes 6 inches or more to warrant the Ultra moniker and Sony only makes one of these a year. Fair enough, not everyone can handle a phablet. But if you have a use for all that FullHD screen real estate, the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra tops it up with an LED-flash-assisted selfie camera, expandable memory and LTE.
A selfie-centric phablet, the Xperia C5 Ultra isn't exceptional in any way - it has obviously evolved but stays true to its T-series and C-series roots. Yet, there's one more thing besides the extra wide front facing camera that makes it special. The Sony Xperia C5 Ultra has super slim screen bezels for a near borderless effect.
It's almost like a pact between Sony's latest upper-midrange siblings. The phone (M5) got the superior chipset and the water-proofing while the phablet (C5 Ultra) had the slim screen bezel. And it looks even slimmer around that 6" 1080p IPS display. But even a screen this big can't overshadow the super wide 13MP front selfie camera with its own LED flash - you get the same combo on the back though not as wide.
The Xperia C5 Ultra is another Sony smartphone powered by a MediaTek chipset - not the high-end Helio X10 that the Xperia M5 got but a robust and dependable performer with an octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Software-wise, it's a familiar combination of Android Lollipop and the latest Xperia launcher.
Key features
- Also available with dual SIM support, GSM / HSPA / LTE either way
- 6" IPS LCD, 1080 x 1920 pixels, 367ppi, almost borderless left and right
- Android 5.0 Lollipop with Xperia UI
- Mediatek MT6752 chipset, octa-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A53 processor, Mali-T760MP2 GPU and 2GB of RAM
- 25mm, F/2.0 13MP rear camera, single LED flash, 1080p video recording, hardware shutter key
- 22mm, F/2.2 13MP front camera, single LED flash, 1080p video recording
- LTE Cat.4 (150Mbps); 2.4GHz & 5GHz Wi-Fi a/b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.1; GPS/GLONASS; FM radio with RDS; USB On-The-Go; NFC
- 16GB of built-in storage, expandable via a microSD card slot for up to 200GB
- Active noise cancellation with a secondary microphone
- 2,930mAh battery; power-saving STAMINA Mode
Main disadvantages
- Glossy finish on a plastic back isn't particularly subtle, especially at this size
- Wi-Fi lacks a/c support
- Non-removable battery
The Xperia C5 Ultra is all glossy, which isn't bad if you're to only admire it from a distance, but the grip suffers and the handset only gets more slippery and smudged with use. The battery is non-removable which we guess most people can live with - all the more so if the C5 Ultra does well in our test.
In the Sony family tree, the Xperia C5 Ultra follows directly from the Xperia C4 but the Xperia T2 Ultra can lay a claim to parenthood too. The MediaTek chipset is shared between the C5 Ultra and the C4, and so is the FullHD screen resolution. The 6" diagonal is the screen size of the T2 Ultra - released in 2014 but actually three generations old now with Sony's short release cycle.
In the end of the day though, it's the big-fat selfie camera that defines the C5 Ultra and perhaps the entire C-series. We'll get to it in due time but, as usual, we start with unboxing and the hardware checkup.
Sony Xperia C5 retail package
The Xperia C5 Ultra's retail package covers the basics: you get an A/C adapter, a microUSB cable and a headset.
The Xperia C5 retail package
Sony Xperia C5 360-degree spin
At 164.2 x 79.6 x 8.2mm, the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra has quite the footprint, but nothing out of the usual for a device built around a 6" display. In fact, Sony managed to shave a couple of millimeters off the 6" Xperia T2 Ultra in height and width.
The Xperia C5 Ultra is a little thicker though and gained some extra 15g of weight for a total of 187g.
Design and build quality
Sony has offered some fine-looking midrange smartphones through the past few years, and the Xperia C5 Ultra could've easily been at or near the top of that list. The big fella looks great from the front with the almost non-existent screen bezel, but the rear is rather disappointing.
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
The matte frame ends on a high-gloss non-removable piece of plastic, which covers the back of the phone. No matter which paintjob you opt for, the glossy finish is very fingerprint-prone and things get ugly really fast.
After a short time, the entire handset is covered in smudges to the point of almost no grip. And you certainly don't want a 6" phone weighing close to 200g slipping off your hands like a piece of wet soap. A bumper case sounds like a must for this one.
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
On a positive note, all the controls are placed within comfortable reach. The C5 Ultra uses the signature metal power button and has a hardware shutter button.
Handling the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
Controls
Above the 6" screen, there's a small hidden status LED and a couple of discrete sensors that you may fail to notice but there's no way to miss the massive 13MP AF selfie camera with a big LED flash. The earpiece is etched along the very frame.
All the way across at the bottom, the single front-facing speaker mirrors the earpiece. There are no capacitive keys below the display, as usual Sony opts for on-screen controls.
Above and below the display
The top of the Xperia C5 Ultra has the audio jack only, while the bottom features the microUSB port and the primary microphone.
The top and bottom of the Xperia C5 Ultra
On the left there is a long plastic cap, which protects the single/dual SIM tray and the microSD slot.
The left side
The right is where the typical metallic power key and the volume rocker are. There is a small two-step camera shutter as well, which we really appreciate.
What's on the right
The glossy back has the other 13MP AF camera lens with a LED flash and the secondary mic. You can't pop the cover open and there are no user-replaceable parts under it anyway.
The 13MP rear camera on the glossy back
Massive 6-inch FullHD Display
Aside from the 13MP front camera with flash, the Xperia C5 Ultra is interesting in no small part because of its huge and almost bezel-free display. It has a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and that's good for 367ppi. It's got nice colors, though a bit subdued at the default setting. You do get the option to tweak the white balance with RGB sliders but there are no presets.
Viewing angles are quite wide and the inevitable loss of contrast and color shift don't get in the way of sharing the content on that fine display.
There aren't many display options you can fiddle with but there is a dedicated glove mode.
Under the microscope, we observed the standard arrangement of red, green and blue pixels, equal in number and size.
The maximum display brightness of the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra is relatively good (422nits), though not outstanding. Interestingly, these levels are only achievable in manual brightness mode. The Auto mode can only deliver a brightness of up to 335nits. The display contrast ratio in both modes however is excellent (slightly lower in Auto mode).
Color rendering without image enhancements is quite accurate (Avg deltaE 3.8 for the primary colors plus black and white), with white being the worse (deltaE 9.1). It’s slightly on the cooler bluish side, but nothing major and certainly not noticeable without a reference.
As we’ve seen on other Xperia smartphones, color accuracy of course takes only a slight hit when you turn on the screen image enhancements such as the Mobile BRAVIA mode.
As usual, display colors are a matter of personal taste and perception so if you don't need calibrated color output, you will probably be quite happy with the default settings of the Xperia C5 Ultra display.
You can fine tune the display color rendering to an extent as Sony gives you fine grain sliders for adjusting the Red, Green and Blue channel, but the UI is far from user friendly and unlikely to produce any serious results without a reference point sitting side by side with the display. Even worse, as soon as you start fiddling with those sliders, the maximum brightness will take a hit.
| Display test | 50% brightness | 100% brightness | ||||
| Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | Black, cd/m2 | White, cd/m2 | |||
| 0.18 | 219 | 1203 | 0.37 | 422 | 1144 | |
| 0.00 | 149 | ∞ | 0.00 | 372 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 117 | ∞ | 0 | 346.00 | ∞ | |
| - | 171 | ∞ | - | 351 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 169 | ∞ | 0.00 | 367 | ∞ | |
| 0.00 | 152 | ∞ | 0.00 | 398 | ∞ | |
| 0.23 | 196 | 846 | 0.64 | 562 | 876 | |
| - | - | - | 0.49 | 634 | 1287 | |
| - | - | - | 0.47 | 467 | 1001 | |
| 0.30 | 347 | 1174 | 0.53 | 635 | 1192 | |
Not one to excel at sunlight legibility, the LCD tech inside the C5 Ultra still managed a decent score in our test.
Sunlight contrast ratio
Battery life
The Sony Xperia C5 Ultra has a 2,930mAh battery, a little more than the Xperia C4's 2,600mAh unit, which scored an overall rating of 53 hours powering a smaller 5.5-inch display. The Xperia T2 Ultra in comparison had a 3000mAh battery but only a 720p screen to worry about.
With virtually the same hardware and Android version, the Xperia C5 Ultra was unfortunately closer to the C4 in terms of battery backup than the T2 Ultra. We found it struggling to deliver more than 7 hours of on-screen time.
Our web browsing test depleted the battery in about that much time, while the video playback stopped just shy of the 8-hour mark.
The 3G talk time is only average and, while the Xperia C5 Ultra redeemed itself at standby, the final endurance rating of 62 hours is far from the best performers in its class.
Overall, you can get two and a half days on a single charge out of the Xperia C5 Ultra if you do an hour each of 3G calls, web browsing and video playback each day.
With a second SIM card in and therefore lower standby times, the endurance rating dropped to 56 hours.
Our proprietary score also includes a standby battery draw test, which is not featured in our battery test scorecard but is calculated in the total endurance rating. Our battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you want to learn more about it.
Connectivity
The Sony Xperia C5 Ultra comes in single and dual SIM flavors. Both the versions offer quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/HSDPA support. Cat.4 LTE support is also present, though only one of the SIM is graced with it in the C5 Ultra Dual model.
Local connectivity includes dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct and hotspot. There is also support for Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP. Satellite navigation comes with additional A-GPS and GLONASS support. The Xperia C5 Ultra also has an FM radio with RDS. It doesn't offer an IR port, but it does come with NFC.
There is a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data connections. Media transfer mode is supported for accessing the phone's built-in memory and microSD card over the USB cable. USB OTG functionality is also present and it works fine should you decide to chain-link a mouse and a flash drive in a keyboard and connect the lot, if that's your thing.
The microUSB port doesn't have any TV-out functionality but if you own a compatible HDTV you can output your phone's screen wirelessly via the Miracast protocol or Sony's Xperia Connectivity Throw option.
The app also lets you share your media over DLNA by creating a media server, as well as connect to a PlayStation DUALSHOCK 3 (or 4) wireless controller.
User interface
One of the lighter Android overlays, Sony's Xperia UI keeps the looks close to the stock OS, only adding minor tweaks, where Sony deemed necessary. It's also remarkably consistent between different models and different Android versions, so current Sony users always feel right at home.
There's a single clock widget on the lockscreen which by default uses Sony's signature styling with a bold hour numeral, and less striking minute digits. If that's not your thing, you can opt for a simpler digital clock or an analog clock face, but that's it.
The clock is followed by the lockscreen notifications, which Google introduced with Lollipop, and in Sony's case a double tap on one will unlock the phone and take you straight to the respective app.
Unlocking works only by an upward swipe, other directions won't cut it. You do get shortcuts to the camera and dialer, though. A double-tap-to-wake feature could be found on the Xperia Z3+, but on the C5 Ultra the power button is the only way to go.
Lockscreen features a clock widget, notifications and shortcuts to camera and dialer
Beyond that, there's the usual set of homescreens, of which you can have up to seven. You can choose any one of them as Home, but you can't rearrange them, nor do they cycle to the first one once you reach the end. A dock of four app shortcuts plus app drawer icon sit on the bottom. Naturally, folders are supported on the dock, as well as the homescreens.
Homescreens with app shortcuts, widgets and folder support
There's an extensive theming engine and although the preinstalled themes offer mostly the same Xperia look in different colors, a whole bunch of other custom themes is available online. However, most options are paid.
There are simple preloaded themes as well as a multitude of downloadable ones
The app drawer displays a 4x5 grid of apps and you can't change that, though the large 6-inch screen could have easily accommodated a 5x6 grid. The apps can be arranged alphabetically, by most used, or in a custom user-selected order. There's a search feature, which comes in really handy if you have a lot of apps installed. To change the arrangement or uninstall an app, you need to evoke the side drawer, a feature of the XperiaUI used throughout Sony's proprietary apps.
App drawer • search feature • side drawer for settings
The notification area is the stock Lollipop flavor. That means a two stage design, with notifications displayed on the first swipe, and the settings toggles available upon expanding it. A less obvious gesture, a careful two finger pull down, will get you straight to the toggles.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are not mere switches, tapping on the text below will take you to the settings of the two. Editing the selection of toggles is available with a shortcut straight from the notification shade.
Stock two-stage Lollipop notification shade without auto brightness toggle
Like the rest of Sony's Lollipop builds, the Xperia C5 Ultra uses standard Android app switcher with the added benefit of a kill-all button. The more noticeable Sony touch comes in the form of Small apps.
They pop up tiny widget-like applications on your screen, which you can move around and use without having to open the full-fledged app. The set of available apps is: Active Clip, Chrome Bookmarks, Browser, Calculator, Calendar, Gmail, and Timer. You can launch only one instance of a Small App, but you can open multiple Small Apps simultaneously, though it can quickly become a mess.
You can download more Small Apps off the Play Store or use the option to turn your favorite widgets into Small Apps. Just hit the Plus key at the top of the list and choose a widget.
Lollipop rolodex task switcher with a Small app twist
The Xperia C5 Ultra has a couple of one-handed operation features which aim to help with ease of use on the large screen. Those range from the familiar scaling down and moving to the side of the dialer and unlock pattern dots, to the more novel Home double-tap for access to the notification area.
One handed operation puts parts of the interface to one side for easier access
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