The early 2010s were a golden age for Sony Ericsson, brimming with innovative and stylish phones. Today, we're revisiting two of them: the elusive Spiro and the gaming-focused Xperia PLAY. Let's see how these devices stack up against each other, even by today's standards.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia PLAY clearly wins due to its dedicated gaming controls, Snapdragon processor, and readily available specs. The Spiro's lack of detailed information makes a direct comparison difficult, but its rumored design suggests a focus on aesthetics over raw power. For gamers, the Xperia PLAY is the obvious choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71 |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA |
| | GSM 850 / 1900 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, April. Released 2010, August | 2011, February. Released 2011, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 92 x 48 x 16.8 mm (3.62 x 1.89 x 0.66 in) | 119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 90 g (3.17 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| | Flashlight | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.2 inches, 15.0 cm2 (~33.9% 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 | - | 1.0 GHz Scorpion |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 |
| GPU | - | Adreno 205 |
| OS | - | Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included |
| Internal | 5MB | 400MB 512MB RAM |
| Phonebook | 2000 entries, Photocall | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 2 MP | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | Yes | 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 | No | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (Obigo Q7) | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash |
| Games | Yes + downloadable | - |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | - |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM | - |
| Sensors | - | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | Walkman 4.0 player
MP3/eAAC+/WAV player
Track ID
MP4/H.264 player
Facebook, Twitter applications
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 20 h | Up to 31 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 476 h | Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h 30 min | Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion battery | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Contrast Black, Sunset Pink, Spring Green, Stealth Black | Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR EU | 1.03 W/kg (head) | 0.36 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB |
| Camera | - |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB
|
Sony Ericsson Spiro
- Unique and potentially stylish design
- Rumored OLED display (if true)
- Lack of detailed specifications
- Unknown performance
- Potentially limited availability
- Uncertain battery life
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Dedicated gaming controls
- Snapdragon processor for better performance
- More readily available information and parts
- Decent battery life
- LCD display not as vibrant as OLED
- Outdated hardware by today's standards
- Camera quality is basic
Display Comparison
The Spiro was rumored to have a vibrant OLED display, potentially offering superior color accuracy and contrast compared to the Xperia PLAY's LCD screen. However, without concrete specs, this remains speculative. The Xperia PLAY's display was adequate for its time, but not exceptional.
Camera Comparison
Both phones featured basic 'photo' cameras, likely around 3.2MP. Image quality was likely comparable and unremarkable by modern standards. Neither phone was a photography powerhouse.
Performance
The Xperia PLAY's Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU provided a noticeable performance boost over many contemporary phones. The Spiro's performance is unknown, but likely less powerful given the lack of detailed specifications. Gaming on the Xperia PLAY was its primary strength.
Battery Life
The Xperia PLAY had a 1500mAh battery, offering moderate battery life. The Spiro's battery capacity is unknown, but given its likely smaller size, it may have had slightly shorter battery life.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Spiro might appeal to collectors seeking a rare and visually unique device. The Xperia PLAY is ideal for retro gaming enthusiasts or those wanting a taste of early Android gaming with physical controls. Both are niche purchases, primarily for nostalgia and collecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Sony Ericsson Spiro rare?
Yes, the Spiro was never widely released and is considered quite rare, making it a sought-after collector's item.
❓ Can I still find apps for the Xperia PLAY?
While official app support has ended, you can still find some apps compatible with its older Android version through alternative app stores or sideloading.
