Compared to the predecessor Sony Xperia Z3+, all the dimensions of the Xperia Z5 are now slightly bigger by 0.1 mm, so it is still pretty thin at 7.3 mm. The Z5 is once again also supported against dust and humidity (IP68), which is pretty unique among the rivals; only the Huawei Mate S at least features a Nano coating against spill water. The design is a bit more angular than before, but it still feels good in the hand. As expected, Sony once again uses a combination of metal and glass. The latter is matted at the back this time and looks very noble.

There is no criticism for the gaps of our review unit, so the manufacturer actually listened to us and improved the device. Our twisting attempts are not successful and there is no creaking, either. Only a lot of pressure on the screen will create ripples, but the back is even less susceptible. The battery is integrated and the slots for the Nano-SIM and the microSD are well integrated. The tray for the Nano-SIM and the microSD on the other hand is very delicate and not stable. Both cards are also located behind each other, so a replacement of the microSD is unnecessarily tricky. The solution of the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact, where both slots are next to each other, is more comfortable.

Besides black, the Z5 is also available in white, gold, green or the black James Bond Edition. The latter only differs from our black review unit by a couple of additions: a Bond Xperia theme, an exclusive movie trailer, 007 bonus material as well as a limited Spectre key chain.