Sony Ericsson Aspen vs Xperia PLAY: A Retro Smartphone Showdown

The Sony Ericsson Aspen and Xperia PLAY represent a fascinating era in mobile technology. Both devices offered unique features and aimed to capture the hearts of early Android enthusiasts. But which one truly delivered a superior experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia PLAY decisively wins this comparison. Its faster processor, superior gaming capabilities thanks to the dedicated gaming controls, and slightly better overall performance make it the more compelling choice, despite both being dated devices now.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Aspen	Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G bands	-	2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71
Speed	HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800

Launch
Announced	2010, February. Released 2010, July	2011, February. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	117 x 60 x 12.5 mm (4.61 x 2.36 x 0.49 in)	119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	-
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	130 g (4.59 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)

Display
Resolution	320 x 240 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density)
Size	2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~25.4% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors	LED-backlit LCD,
	XPERIA Panels	Touch-sensitive gaming controls PSP like gaming buttons Timescape UI

Platform
CPU	600 MHz ARM 11	1.0 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
GPU	Adreno 200	Adreno 205
OS	Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	256MB RAM, 256MB ROM, 100MB	400MB 512MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	-	LED flash
Single	3.15 MP	5 MP, AF
Video	480p@15fps	720p

Selfie camera
Features	-	LED flash
Single	-	VGA
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.1, A2DP, EDR
NFC	-	No
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/HTML (IE), RSS feeds	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash
Sensors	-	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	MP3/eAAC+/WAV/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Pocket Office Organizer Eco friendly materials Voice memo/dial Predictive text input	Dedicated game store MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player Organizer Document viewer/editor Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text input (Swype)

Battery
Charging	-	10W wired
Music play	Up to 12 h	Up to 31 h
Stand-by	Up to 560 h (2G) / Up to 500 h (3G)	Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 6 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Iconic Black, White Silver	Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange
Price	About 70 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR EU	1.05 W/kg (head)	0.36 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -79.5dB / Crosstalk -79.8dB	Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Camera	Photo	Photo
Loudspeaker	Voice 71dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB

Sony Ericsson Aspen

Simple Android experience
Compact size
Relatively affordable (historically)

Slow performance
Basic camera
Outdated software
Limited app support

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Faster processor and better performance
Dedicated gaming controls
Slightly better graphics
More modern chipset

Can be difficult to find in good condition
Outdated software
Limited app support
Battery life could be impacted by gaming

Display Comparison

Both phones featured relatively small displays by today's standards, likely around 3.2-4 inches. The Xperia PLAY's display might have slightly better color accuracy due to its more advanced chipset, but overall, display quality was a limitation of the era. Resolution was likely similar, around HVGA.

Camera Comparison

Both phones were limited by the technology of the time, featuring basic 'photo' cameras. Image quality would be comparable, likely producing grainy and low-resolution photos. Neither phone was a photography powerhouse.

Performance

The Xperia PLAY's 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor significantly outperforms the Aspen's 600 MHz ARM 11. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better overall user experience. The Snapdragon S2 chipset in the Xperia PLAY also offered better graphics processing.

Battery Life

The Xperia PLAY's 10W wired charging suggests a potentially faster charging time compared to the Aspen, which likely used a standard 5W charger. Battery life would depend on usage, but the Xperia PLAY's more powerful processor might have slightly impacted battery longevity.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Aspen might appeal to collectors seeking a simple, basic Android experience from the early days. The Xperia PLAY is for those interested in retro gaming on mobile and appreciate its unique hardware controls, though both are niche purchases today.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones still usable today?

While technically usable, both phones are severely outdated. App compatibility is limited, and security updates are non-existent. They are best suited for collectors or retro enthusiasts.

❓ Which phone is rarer to find?

The Xperia PLAY is generally considered rarer, especially in good working condition, due to its unique gaming controls and limited production run.