Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M vs Sony Xperia T3: A Throwback Tech Showdown

Remember the days of early Android innovation? We're revisiting two devices from that era: the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the Sony Xperia T3. Both offer a glimpse into a different time in mobile technology, but which one holds up better today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia T3 edges out the Galaxy Nexus thanks to its quad-core processor and slightly better battery life. While the Nexus boasts a more powerful CPU core, the T3's overall efficiency and endurance give it a slight advantage for everyday use, especially considering their age.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M	Sony Xperia T3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - D5103
4G bands	-	1, 3, 7, 8, 20 - D5103
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/21.1(D5102)/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	4, 7, 17 - D5106

Launch
Announced	2012, January. Released 2012, January	2014, June. Released 2014, July
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm (5.33 x 2.67 x 0.35 in)	150.7 x 77 x 7 mm (5.93 x 3.03 x 0.28 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Micro-SIM
Weight	135 g (4.76 oz)	148 g (5.22 oz)

Display
Protection	Oleophobic coating	-
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~316 ppi density)	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~277 ppi density)
Size	4.65 inches, 59.6 cm2 (~64.8% screen-to-body ratio)	5.3 inches, 77.4 cm2 (~66.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	IPS LCD
	-	Triluminos display

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9	Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7
Chipset	TI OMAP 4460	Qualcomm MSM8928-2 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) (D5103,D5106)/ Qualcomm MSM8228 (D5102)
GPU	PowerVR SGX540	Adreno 305
OS	Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB 1GB RAM	8GB 1GB RAM
	-	eMMC 4.5

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, AF	8 MP, f/2.4, AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps, HDR

Selfie camera
Single	1.3 MP	1.1 MP
Video	720p@30fps	720p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	3.0, A2DP	4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	No	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out)	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player Photo/video editor Document viewer	ANT+

Battery
Music play	-	Up to 63 h
Stand-by	Up to 600 h	Up to 639 h (2G) / Up to 688 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h	Up to 12 h 46 min (2G) / Up to 14 h 47 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1750 mAh battery	Li-Ion 2500 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, White, Purple
Models	GT-I9250M	D5103, D5102
Price	About 240 EUR	About 200 EUR
SAR	0.40 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body)	0.48 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.35 W/kg (head)	0.36 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -46.5dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 75h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 963 (nominal), 2.609 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	-	Noise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -46.5dB
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 75h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 963 (nominal), 2.609 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB

Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M

Pure Android experience
Stronger single-core CPU performance
Slightly higher display resolution

Weaker battery life
Outdated camera
Limited app compatibility

Sony Xperia T3

Excellent battery life
Quad-core processor for better multitasking
Good sunlight visibility

Lower display resolution
Less powerful single-core performance
Outdated camera

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a similar contrast ratio of 963 (nominal) and 2.609 in sunlight, suggesting comparable outdoor visibility. The Galaxy Nexus has a slightly higher resolution (1280 x 720) on its 4.65-inch display, potentially offering sharper images. The Xperia T3 has a 4.6-inch display. Viewing angles and color accuracy are likely to be dated on both devices.

Camera Comparison

Camera specifications are similar, both offering Photo/Video capabilities. Image quality on both will be noticeably inferior to modern smartphones. The Galaxy Nexus's camera was generally considered slightly better in its prime, but both are limited by their age and sensor technology. Low-light performance will be a significant weakness on both.

Performance

The Galaxy Nexus has a dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor, known for its strong single-core performance. The Xperia T3 features a quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A7 processor. While the Nexus's A9 core is generally faster, the T3's quad-core architecture can handle multitasking slightly better. However, both phones will struggle with modern, demanding apps.

Battery Life

The Xperia T3 shines here, boasting an endurance rating of 75 hours, significantly better than the Galaxy Nexus (estimated around 30-40 hours). This is a crucial factor for daily usability, especially given the age of these devices.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is for Android enthusiasts who appreciate a pure Android experience and a slightly more powerful single core. The Sony Xperia T3 is ideal for users seeking longer battery life and a more modern (for its time) design, prioritizing endurance over raw processing power.