Sony Ericsson Throwback: Mix Walkman vs. Xperia PLAY – A Detailed Comparison

The early days of Android were a wild west of innovation and experimentation. Two Sony Ericsson phones, the Mix Walkman and the Xperia PLAY, represent that era perfectly. But which one holds up better today? Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman edges out the Xperia PLAY thanks to its significantly longer battery life and more powerful Apple A6 chipset. While the Xperia PLAY's gaming-focused design was unique, the Mix Walkman offers a more well-rounded experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman	Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - WT13i	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - GSM A1428	HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G bands	4, 17 - GSM A1428	2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71
EDGE	Up to 200 kbps	-
GPRS	Up to 115 kbps	-
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM	GSM / HSPA
	-	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800

Launch
Announced	2011, June. Released 2011, August	2011, February. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	95.8 x 52.8 x 14.3 mm (3.77 x 2.08 x 0.56 in)	119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	88 g (3.10 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	-
Resolution	240 x 400 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~155 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 25.6 cm2 (~50.6% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT, 256K colors	LED-backlit LCD,
	-	Touch-sensitive gaming controls PSP like gaming buttons Timescape UI

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift (ARM v7-based)	1.0 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	Apple A6 (32 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
GPU	PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics)	Adreno 205
OS	iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 10.3.4	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

Memory
Call records	Yes	-
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	256MB (100MB user available)	400MB 512MB RAM
Phonebook	Yes, Photocall	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash
Single	3.15 MP	5 MP, AF
Video	320p	720p

Selfie camera
Features	face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular	LED flash
Single	1.2 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard)	VGA
Video	720p@30fps	-
	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	No	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/xHTML, HTML	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash
Games	Yes	-
Java	Yes	-
Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM	-
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	SNS integration Walkman player (MP3/eAAC+/WMA/MP4/H.263) SensMe TrackID music recognition Document viewer Voice memo 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 13 h	Up to 31 h
Stand-by	Up to 465 h	Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h 40 min	Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black with pink cloud band, Black with pink band, Black with green bird band, Black with green band	Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange
Models	A1428, A1429, A1442, iPhone5,1, iPhone5,2	-
Price	About 70 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR	1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.91 W/kg (head)	0.36 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -76.5dB	Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 51h	-
Camera	Photo	Photo
Display	Contrast ratio: 751:1 (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB
Performance	Basemark X: 2229	-

Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman

Exceptional battery life (51h)
More powerful Apple A6 chipset
Decent contrast ratio display
Generally smoother performance

Camera quality likely basic
Design may feel dated
Limited availability

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Unique gaming-focused design with physical controls
Dedicated gaming experience
Compact size

Weaker processor (Snapdragon S2)
Shorter battery life
Display likely less vibrant
Limited availability

Display Comparison

Both phones featured relatively modest displays for their time. The Mix Walkman's contrast ratio of 751:1 is respectable, suggesting decent image quality. The Xperia PLAY's display was smaller and likely less vibrant, but its dedicated gaming controls offered a unique advantage for mobile gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both phones were equipped with photo cameras, but details on their resolution and quality are scarce. Expect basic photo capabilities from both devices, suitable for casual snapshots but not high-quality photography.

Performance

The Mix Walkman boasts a significant performance advantage with its Apple A6 chipset and dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift processor. This translates to smoother multitasking and faster app loading compared to the Xperia PLAY's 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor. The A6 was a powerhouse for its time.

Battery Life

The Mix Walkman's endurance rating of 51 hours is a standout feature, dwarfing the Xperia PLAY's likely shorter battery life (estimated around 8-12 hours based on typical Snapdragon S2 performance). This makes the Mix Walkman a clear winner in the battery department.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is ideal for those seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone with decent performance for everyday tasks. The Xperia PLAY is for retro gaming enthusiasts who appreciate its dedicated gaming controls and unique form factor, understanding its limitations.