It'll also have all the "pro" options Sony smartphone fans have come to expect. The company is aware of this fact and rather than trying to compete with other brands dominating this segment, it now traces a different path.

(Pocket-lint) - Following a range of mark II updates, it's now the turn of the Xperia 5 to get its update.

Sony continues to leverage its expertise in digital cameras and televisions to improve its phones, and that might help the Xperia 5 II stand out in a crowded market. Besides the phone's photography-related features, the company is positioning the Xperia 5 II as a gaming machine.

This will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset (no plus), which is paired with 8GB of RAM. The storage is expandable up to 1TB via a microSDXC card.

Sporting a 6.1-inch 21:9 OLED display, the Xperia 5 II looks to be a smaller version of the Xperia 1 II, except that the Xperia 5 II has a few new features not found on its bigger sibling.

Sony has also increased the touch sampling rate of the Xperia 5 II's display to 240Hz. The vertical cutout comprises three 12MP cameras, something unusual for mainstream companies.

As far as the cameras are concerned, the Sony Xperia 5 II on the rear packs a 12-megapixel primary camera with an f/1.7 aperture; a second 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.4 aperture and a third 12-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture. And just like Sony's class-leading mirrorless camera, the Xperia 5 II also comes with real-time subject tracking, eye AF, and the ability to shoot continuously at up to 20 fps with full auto exposure and autofocus.

So while I haven't had a chance to check it out in person, the Xperia 5 II is giving me the same vibes I got from last year's Xperia 1, which to me was the most underappreciated phone of 2019 (and I'm sticking to it). For starters, Sony now offers JPG + RAW shooting, and the 4K/120fps slow-motion videos are now captured in HDR. You can enjoy Hi Res audio both with wired and wireless headphones.

But would you still get a Sony Xperia phone if it were to ship in Kenya? Sony obviously doesn't think megapixels are very important so it never mentions them, instead focusing on what these cameras can do. So if you want to get the maximum speed, you'll need to buy a faster charger separately. Sony claims that it can be charged up to 50 per cent in just 30 minutes. Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio are both supported for a more immersive experience. It features an IP68 rating for dust and water protection.

A Corning Gorilla Glass 6 protects both the front and back so that's a plus. It comes in three colors: Black, Blue, and Grey, with color availability varying by country.

The new handset is heading to the United States and Europe.

Sony Xperia 5 II smartphone was launched on 17th September 2020. For those that order before 29th November 2020, they will receive a gaming bundle comprising of a gaming headset, a 10,000mAh power bank, and 21,600 Call of Duty Mobile points.