The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the retro-inspired Sony Ericsson Elm and the reliable Xiaomi Redmi 6A. Can the Elm's nostalgia factor compete with the Redmi 6A's modern features?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 6A is the clear winner. While the Elm offers a unique design, the Redmi 6A boasts a significantly more powerful processor, better battery life, and a more modern feature set, making it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/1.8 Mbps | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat7 300/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2009, December. Released 2010, March | 2018, June. Released 2018, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 110 x 45 x 14 mm (4.33 x 1.77 x 0.55 in) | 147.5 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm (5.81 x 2.81 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 90 g (3.17 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| | Splash resistant | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density) | 720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~295 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.2 inches, 15.0 cm2 (~30.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.45 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~72.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | - | Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm) |
| GPU | - | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | - | Android 8.1 (Oreo), planned upgrade to Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 280MB | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 entries, Photocall | - |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | - | No |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS; Wisepilot navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | USB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS reader | - |
| Games | Yes, incl. motion-based + downloadable | - |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | - |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | HD Voice ready
MP3/eAAC+/WAV player
SensMe, Track ID
MP4/H.264 player
Photo editor
Widget Manager
Organizer
Eco friendly materials
Walkmate, CO2 Calculator
Voice memo/dial
Predictive text input | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 336 h (2G) / Up to 424 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 3 h 40 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery (BST-43) | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Metal Black, Pearly Rose | Black, Grey, Blue, Gold, Rose Gold |
| Models | - | M1804C3CG, M1804C3CH, M1804C3CI |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.78 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.24 W/kg (head) | 0.66 W/kg (head) 1.52 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -87.2dB / Crosstalk -85.9dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 61dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 69dB | - |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 61660 (v7)
GeekBench: 2450 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 3.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Ericsson Elm
- Unique Retro Design
- Compact Size (likely)
- Limited Specs
- Poor Performance
- Unknown Battery Life
- Basic Camera
Xiaomi Redmi 6A
- Affordable Price
- Decent Performance
- Good Battery Life
- Larger Display
- Basic Design
- Plastic Build
Display Comparison
The Redmi 6A features a 6.21-inch IPS LCD display, offering a larger and generally more vibrant viewing experience compared to the Elm's likely smaller, lower-resolution screen (specs are limited for the Elm). Color accuracy and brightness are noticeably better on the Redmi 6A.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are described as having 'Photo' cameras, indicating basic functionality. However, the Redmi 6A likely has a slightly better sensor and image processing capabilities, resulting in marginally better photo quality, especially in low light. The Elm's camera is likely very basic.
Performance
The Redmi 6A's Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor and Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 chipset provide a substantial performance advantage. The Elm, likely running on an older, less powerful processor, will struggle with multitasking and demanding apps. Expect smoother operation and faster loading times on the Redmi 6A.
Battery Life
The Redmi 6A typically features a 3000mAh battery, providing all-day battery life for moderate usage. The Elm's battery capacity is unknown, but it's likely smaller, resulting in shorter battery life.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Elm is for those seeking a purely nostalgic experience and prioritizing a classic design over performance. The Xiaomi Redmi 6A is ideal for everyday users needing a reliable, affordable phone for calls, texts, social media, and basic apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Sony Ericsson Elm worth buying for its design?
If you're a huge fan of classic Sony Ericsson phones and prioritize aesthetics over performance, it might be. However, be prepared for a very basic smartphone experience.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Redmi 6A is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and better graphics capabilities.
