Sony Ericsson Xperia Active vs. Live with Walkman: A Detailed Showdown

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active and Live with Walkman were both solid contenders in their time, targeting users seeking ruggedness and multimedia capabilities. But with similar specs, what truly sets them apart? This review dives deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which phone was the better choice.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Live with Walkman edges out the Xperia Active primarily due to its enhanced audio capabilities and slightly improved design. While both share the same Snapdragon S2 chipset, the Live's focus on music and a more refined build give it a slight advantage for multimedia enthusiasts. Both are dated now, however.

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

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - WT19i
EDGE	No	-
GPRS	Yes	-
Speed	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 1900 / 2100 / 800	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - WT19a

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

Body
Dimensions	92 x 55 x 16.5 mm (3.62 x 2.17 x 0.65 in)	106 x 56.5 x 14.2 mm (4.17 x 2.22 x 0.56 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	110.8 g (3.88 oz)	115 g (4.06 oz)
	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Flashlight	-

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density)	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~180 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~53.0% screen-to-body ratio)	3.2 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~50.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	TFT
	Touch sensitive controls	-

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
Call records	Yes	-
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included
Internal	1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM	320MB 512MB RAM
Phonebook	Yes, up to 500 entries	-

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
Alert types	Vibration; Polyphonic, MP3, WAV ringtones	-
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

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

Features
Browser	HTML, Adobe Flash	-
Games	Yes	-
Java	No	-
Messaging	SMS	-
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	ANT+ MP4/H.264 player MP3/eAAC+/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document viewer Voice memo Predictive text input	ANT+ MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document editor Voice memo Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 25 h	Up to 17 h 30 min
Stand-by	Up to 351 h (2G) / Up to 335 h (3G)	Up to 350 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 4 h 53 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 31 min (3G)	Up to 14 h 15 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 42 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Orange/Black, White/Black	Black, White
Price	About 170 EUR	About 120 EUR
SAR	1.12 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	-	1.00 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.5dB / Crosstalk -91.4dB	Noise -88.1dB / Crosstalk -87.9dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB	Voice 75dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 78dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia active

Rugged and durable design
Scratch-resistant display
Compact size
Slightly better battery life

Basic display quality
Limited performance
Outdated software
Average camera

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman

Enhanced audio quality (Walkman branding)
Slightly more premium design
Good multimedia experience
Decent camera

Shorter battery life than Active
Basic display quality
Limited performance
Outdated software

Display Comparison

Both phones featured a 3.2-inch HVGA (320x480) capacitive touchscreen. Display quality was adequate for the time, but neither phone excelled in this area. Viewing angles and brightness were average. The Active's screen was arguably more scratch-resistant due to its reinforced glass.

Camera Comparison

Both devices featured 8MP cameras with autofocus and LED flash. Image quality was decent in good lighting conditions, but suffered in low light. Video recording was limited to 480p on both devices. The Active's camera might have had a slight edge in outdoor shots due to its ruggedized design and potentially better lens protection.

Performance

Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, performance was largely comparable. Expect basic multitasking and smooth navigation, but demanding apps and games would struggle. Both phones ran on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Battery Life

The Xperia Active boasted a slightly larger 1200 mAh battery compared to the Live with Walkman's 1150 mAh. This translated to marginally better battery life, particularly during heavy usage. Expect a full day of moderate use from either device.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Active is ideal for those prioritizing durability and a compact form factor for outdoor activities. The Live with Walkman is better suited for users who value a richer audio experience and a slightly more premium feel, even within the constraints of their era.