The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S represents a bygone era of Android smartphones, while the Huawei Y5 (2019) embodies the modern budget phone. Can a decade-old flagship still compete with a contemporary entry-level device? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to find out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Y5 (2019) decisively wins. While the Arc S boasts a slightly faster CPU, the Y5's newer chipset, improved efficiency, and modern features like a larger screen and better battery life make it the superior choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT18i | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| EDGE | Yes | - |
| GPRS | Yes | - |
| Speed | HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT18a | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, August. Released 2011, September | 2019, April 24. Released 2019, April 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in) | 147.1 x 70.8 x 8.5 mm (5.79 x 2.79 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 117 g (4.13 oz) | 146 g (5.15 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density) | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~295 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.71 inches, 81.4 cm2 (~78.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LED-backlit LCD, | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.4 GHz Scorpion | Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8255T Snapdragon S2 | Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), not upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean) | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) - AMN-LX1 only |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS; GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM Radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity |
| | ANT+
HDMI port
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
TrackID music recognition
NeoReader barcode scanner
Document viewer
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 37 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 460 h (2G) / Up to 460 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 7 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 35 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery | Li-Ion 3020 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black, Sakura Pink | Midnight Black, Modern Black, Sapphire Blue, Amber Brown |
| Models | - | AMN-LX9, AMN-LX1, AMN-LX2, AMN-LX3 |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.66 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -89.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 76dB
| - |
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
- Compact size
- Relatively fast single-core performance (for its time)
- Classic Sony Ericsson design
- Outdated display
- Limited storage
- Poor battery life
- Slow performance by modern standards
- Lack of modern features
Huawei Y5 (2019)
- Large display
- Modern chipset and processor
- Improved battery life
- Affordable price
- More storage options
- Plastic build quality
- Basic camera features
- May lack premium features
Display Comparison
The Huawei Y5 (2019) features a larger 6.26-inch HD+ display, offering a significantly more immersive viewing experience compared to the Arc S's 4.2-inch FWVGA screen. Resolution and pixel density are also noticeably better on the Y5.
Camera Comparison
The Arc S's camera, while decent for its time, is outmatched by the Y5 (2019)'s camera system. The Y5 typically features a multi-lens setup (often a 13MP main camera) with improved image processing and features like HDR. The Arc S likely has an 8MP camera.
Performance
While the Arc S has a 1.4 GHz Scorpion CPU, the Y5 (2019)'s quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 processor, coupled with a more modern chipset (Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22), delivers smoother performance and better multitasking capabilities. The 12nm process of the Y5's chipset also contributes to improved power efficiency.
Battery Life
The Huawei Y5 (2019) generally has a larger battery capacity (typically around 3000mAh) compared to the Arc S (around 1500mAh), resulting in significantly longer battery life.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is for nostalgia enthusiasts or those seeking a very basic, compact Android experience. The Huawei Y5 (2019) is ideal for first-time smartphone users, students, or anyone needing a reliable and affordable device for everyday tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia Arc S still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with significant limitations. It can handle basic tasks, but performance will be slow, and battery life is poor. Software updates are long gone.
❓ Can I upgrade the storage on the Xperia Arc S?
Yes, the Xperia Arc S has a microSD card slot, allowing for storage expansion.
❓ What Android version does the Huawei Y5 (2019) run?
The Huawei Y5 (2019) typically ships with Android 9 or 10, with EMUI skin on top.
