In a world of ever-growing smartphones, the desire for a truly pocketable device remains. Today, we pit two contenders against each other: the ultra-compact Palm Phone PVG100 and the Sony Xperia X Compact. Both promise portability, but which delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Xperia X Compact emerges as the clear winner. While the Palm Phone boasts a unique ultra-compact form factor, the Xperia X Compact offers superior performance, a better camera, and significantly longer battery life, making it the more practical choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - F5321 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - F5321 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, October. Released 2018, November | 2016, September 01. Released 2016, September 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 96.6 x 50.6 x 7.4 mm (3.80 x 1.99 x 0.29 in) | 129 x 65 x 9.5 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 62.5 g (2.22 oz) | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~445 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~319 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.3 inches, 30.0 cm2 (~61.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | - | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.4 GHz & 4x1.1 GHz) | Hexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8956 Snapdragon 650 |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Adreno 510 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, AF | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 1080p@60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 5 MP |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (region dependent) |
| Radio | No | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Infrared Face ID, accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 68 min | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 710 h (2G) / Up to 750 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 800 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gold, Titanium | White, Universe black, Mist blue |
| Models | PVG100, PVG100E | SO-02J, F5321 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.66 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -95.1dB / Crosstalk -90.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1225 (nominal), 3.694 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 64dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 69dB |
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1738Basemark X: 15415 |
Palm Phone PVG100
- Extremely compact and pocketable
- Unique design
- Fast charging (50% in 31 min)
- Underpowered chipset
- Short battery life
- Limited storage
- Outdated software
Sony Xperia X Compact
- Better performance
- Superior camera
- Excellent battery life
- More modern design
- QC3 fast charging
- Older model
- Design can feel dated
- Limited availability
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 4.3-inch display, offering a similar viewing experience. The Xperia X Compact's display, while not explicitly stated as having a resolution advantage, generally provides slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles due to Sony's display technology. The contrast ratios are comparable, offering good visibility even in sunlight.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia X Compact's camera is noticeably better. While both offer decent photo and video capabilities, the Xperia X Compact captures more detail, has better dynamic range, and performs better in low-light conditions. Sony's image processing is generally superior.
Performance
The Xperia X Compact's Snapdragon 650 chipset and hexa-core CPU significantly outperform the Palm Phone's Snapdragon 435. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the Xperia X Compact. The Palm Phone can feel sluggish at times, especially with demanding apps.
Battery Life
The Xperia X Compact's battery life is a major advantage. Its endurance rating of 73 hours dwarfs the Palm Phone's considerably shorter battery life. The Xperia X Compact can easily last a full day or more on a single charge, while the Palm Phone requires more frequent charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Palm Phone PVG100? Those prioritizing extreme portability above all else and needing a secondary device for calls and texts. Who should buy the Sony Xperia X Compact? Users seeking a compact phone with a good balance of performance, camera quality, and battery life in a small package.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Palm Phone still worth buying?
Only if extreme portability is your absolute top priority and you're willing to compromise on performance and battery life. Otherwise, there are better options available.
❓ Where can I buy the Sony Xperia X Compact?
The Xperia X Compact is an older model and may be difficult to find new. You'll likely need to look for it on online marketplaces or from refurbished sellers.
