Sony Ericsson Xperia Active vs. Xperia Mini: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Active and Mini were popular choices for users seeking compact Android devices back in their day. Both offered a taste of smartphone functionality in a pocket-friendly form factor. But which one truly delivered a better experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Active edges out the Mini due to its slightly more rugged design and potentially better water resistance. While both share the same core Snapdragon S2 chipset, the Active's build quality and durability give it a slight advantage for users prioritizing a more robust device.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia active	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100
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

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

Body
Dimensions	92 x 55 x 16.5 mm (3.62 x 2.17 x 0.65 in)	88 x 52 x 16 mm (3.46 x 2.05 x 0.63 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	110.8 g (3.88 oz)	99 g (3.49 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 (~192 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~53.0% screen-to-body ratio)	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	LED-backlit LCD,
	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	512MB RAM, 320MB
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
	No	No

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Alert types	Vibration; Polyphonic, MP3, WAV ringtones	-
Loudspeaker	Yes	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	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	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 viewer Voice memo Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 25 h	Up to 25 h
Stand-by	Up to 351 h (2G) / Up to 335 h (3G)	Up to 340 h (2G) / Up to 320 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 4 h 53 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 31 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	Orange/Black, White/Black	Black, White, Blue, Dark pink
Models	-	ST15i
Price	About 170 EUR	About 120 EUR
SAR	1.12 W/kg (head) 1.07 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	-	0.78 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.5dB / Crosstalk -91.4dB	Noise -88.7dB / Crosstalk -90.6dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Loudspeaker	Voice 70dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia active

More rugged design
Potentially better water resistance
Slightly brighter display
Larger battery (marginally better battery life)

Slightly larger than the Mini
Performance limited by older hardware

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini

More compact size
Streamlined experience
Similar performance to Active

Less durable design
Smaller battery
Performance limited by older hardware

Display Comparison

Both the Xperia Active and Mini feature 3-inch displays, but the Active's screen is often reported to be slightly brighter and more vibrant. Resolution is similar, around 320x480 pixels, so image quality is comparable, though the Active's slightly better panel gives it a marginal edge.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature 8MP cameras, but image quality varies. The Active's camera often produces slightly more detailed photos in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is generally poor on both devices. Video recording is limited to 480p on both.

Performance

Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, performance is virtually identical. Expect adequate speed for basic tasks like browsing, email, and social media, but don't expect blazing-fast performance by modern standards. Both phones will struggle with demanding games.

Battery Life

The Xperia Active typically has a slightly larger battery (1200 mAh) compared to the Xperia Mini (1000 mAh). This translates to marginally better battery life, potentially providing a few extra hours of usage between charges. However, both phones offer relatively modest battery performance by today's standards.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Active is ideal for those who need a phone that can withstand a bit more abuse – think outdoor enthusiasts or anyone prone to accidental drops. The Xperia Mini is a good choice for users prioritizing a slightly smaller form factor and a more streamlined experience, assuming durability isn't a primary concern.