The early 2010s were a golden age for innovation in mobile technology. Two Sony Ericsson devices, the Satio (also known as Idou) and the Xperia PLAY, stood out, each offering unique features. Let's revisit these iconic phones and see how they stack up against each other today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia PLAY ultimately wins due to its superior processing power and gaming-focused design. While the Satio boasted a larger screen and stylish design, the Xperia PLAY's Snapdragon chipset and dedicated gaming controls provide a more compelling overall experience for users seeking performance.
| 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 7.2/3.6 Mbps | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - Satio(a) for the Americas | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2009, February. Released 2009, October | 2011, February. Released 2011, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 112 x 55 x 13 mm (4.41 x 2.17 x 0.51 in) | 119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 126 g (4.44 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~210 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.5 inches, 33.8 cm2 (~54.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors | LED-backlit LCD, |
| | - | Touch-sensitive gaming controls
PSP like gaming buttons
Timescape UI |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600 MHz Cortex-A8 | 1.0 GHz Scorpion |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX | Adreno 205 |
| OS | Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5 | Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included |
| Internal | 128MB; 256MB RAM | 400MB 512MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | xenon flash, video LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 12 MP, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | w480p@30fps (via SW update) | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | VGA videocall camera | VGA |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.0, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | - | No |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio | No |
| USB | 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/HTML, RSS reader | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | Gesture control
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
TV-out
Office document viewer
Organizer
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 31 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 360 h (2G) / Up to 340 h (3G) | Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 50 min (3G) | Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Bordeaux | Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR EU | 1.58 W/kg (head) | 0.36 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -87.0dB / Crosstalk -84.3dB |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 71dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB |
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB
|
Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)
- Stunning OLED display
- Stylish and premium design
- Larger screen for media consumption
- Good audio quality
- Underpowered processor
- Limited app availability compared to later platforms
- Camera performance dated by today's standards
- Battery life could be better
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Powerful Snapdragon processor
- Dedicated gaming controls (PlayStation-like buttons)
- Better performance for gaming
- Slightly sharper display resolution
- LCD screen not as vibrant as OLED
- Less stylish design compared to Satio
- Battery life comparable to Satio
- Limited app availability
Display Comparison
The Satio featured a 3.5-inch OLED display, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks, a significant advantage over the Xperia PLAY's LCD screen. However, the Xperia PLAY's resolution was slightly higher, offering marginally sharper visuals. The Satio's OLED technology gives it a visual edge.
Camera Comparison
Both phones featured 'Photo' cameras, indicating a focus on still photography. While specific megapixel counts are difficult to definitively confirm without further data, both were considered decent for their time. Image quality was comparable, with both struggling in low-light conditions. Neither phone was a photography powerhouse.
Performance
Here, the Xperia PLAY shines. Its 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 chipset, significantly outperforms the Satio's 600 MHz Cortex-A8 processor. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive user experience. The Xperia PLAY handled gaming far better.
Battery Life
The Satio generally had a slightly larger battery capacity, potentially offering marginally longer battery life under moderate usage. However, the Xperia PLAY's more efficient Snapdragon chipset could offset this difference, resulting in similar real-world battery performance. Both phones would be considered short-lived by modern standards.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) is for those who appreciate a stylish design and a larger screen for media consumption, prioritizing aesthetics over raw power. The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is ideal for retro gaming enthusiasts and users who want a more responsive and powerful smartphone experience, even by today's standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What was special about the Sony Ericsson Satio?
The Satio was known for its beautiful OLED display and stylish design, making it a fashion-forward smartphone for its time.
❓ Why was the Xperia PLAY called the 'PlayStation Phone'?
The Xperia PLAY featured dedicated physical gaming controls, resembling a PlayStation Portable (PSP), making it a unique and appealing device for mobile gamers.
❓ Are these phones still usable today?
While technically usable, both phones are severely limited by their outdated software and lack of modern app support. They are primarily of interest to collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts.
