Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman vs Xperia mini: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman and Xperia mini were both popular Android smartphones from a bygone era. Both offered a taste of Sony's design and features, but which one ultimately delivered a better experience? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia mini edges out the Live with Walkman due to its slightly more compact design and marginally better software experience. While both share similar core specs, the Xperia mini's overall package feels a bit more refined, making it the preferred choice for those seeking a pocket-friendly Android device.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - WT19i	HSDPA 900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - WT19a	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100

Launch
Announced	2011, August. Released 2011, October	2011, May. Released 2011, August
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	106 x 56.5 x 14.2 mm (4.17 x 2.22 x 0.56 in)	88 x 52 x 16 mm (3.46 x 2.05 x 0.63 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	115 g (4.06 oz)	99 g (3.49 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~180 ppi density)	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density)
Size	3.2 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~50.9% screen-to-body ratio)	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT	LED-backlit LCD,

Platform
CPU	1.0 GHz Scorpion	1.0 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
GPU	Adreno 205	Adreno 205
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included
Internal	320MB 512MB RAM	512MB RAM, 320MB

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash
Single	5 MP, AF	5 MP, AF
Video	720p	720p

Selfie camera
Single	VGA	-
	-	No

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

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	2.1, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	-	HTML, Adobe Flash
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	ANT+ MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document editor Voice memo Predictive text input	ANT+ MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document viewer Voice memo Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 17 h 30 min	Up to 25 h
Stand-by	Up to 350 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)	Up to 340 h (2G) / Up to 320 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 14 h 15 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 42 min (3G)	Up to 4 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black, White	Black, White, Blue, Dark pink
Models	-	ST15i
Price	About 120 EUR	About 120 EUR
SAR EU	1.00 W/kg (head)	0.78 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -88.1dB / Crosstalk -87.9dB	Noise -88.7dB / Crosstalk -90.6dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Loudspeaker	Voice 75dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman

Dedicated Walkman button and features
Slightly larger screen
Good color reproduction in camera

Bulky design
Software felt slightly dated
Battery life could be better

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini

More compact and pocketable
Slightly better software optimization
Generally better battery life

Smaller screen
Performance can be sluggish with demanding apps
Camera app lacks some advanced features

Display Comparison

Both phones featured a 3.2-inch display, but the Xperia mini's screen often received slightly better reviews for color accuracy and viewing angles. The Live with Walkman's screen was adequate, but not a standout feature.

Camera Comparison

Both phones featured 8MP cameras. Image quality was decent for the time, but not exceptional. Low-light performance was a weakness for both. The Live with Walkman sometimes had slightly better color reproduction, while the Xperia mini's camera app was generally considered more user-friendly.

Performance

Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, performance was largely comparable. Expect some lag with demanding apps, typical for devices of that era. The Xperia mini's slightly optimized software might offer a marginally smoother experience.

Battery Life

The Xperia mini generally offered slightly better battery life due to its smaller size and potentially more efficient power management. Expect around 6-8 hours of moderate use from both devices.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman is ideal for music lovers who prioritize a dedicated Walkman experience and a slightly larger screen. The Xperia mini is better suited for users who value portability and a more streamlined Android experience in a smaller form factor.