Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S vs Sony Xperia V: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S and the Sony Xperia V represent different eras of Sony's smartphone journey. The Arc S was a flagship of its time, while the Xperia V offered a more modern experience. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia V is the clear winner. While the Arc S boasts a sleek design, the Xperia V's superior processor, improved camera, and better display provide a significantly smoother and more modern Android experience. It's a worthwhile upgrade if you're considering either.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S	Sony Xperia V

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT18i	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 20 - LT25i
EDGE	Yes	-
GPRS	Yes	-
Speed	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT18a	-

Launch
Announced	2011, August. Released 2011, September	2012, August. Released 2012, December
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in)	129 x 65 x 10.7 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.42 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Micro-SIM
Weight	117 g (4.13 oz)	120 g (4.23 oz)
	-	IP57 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density)	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~342 ppi density)
Size	4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% screen-to-body ratio)	4.3 inches, 51.0 cm2 (~60.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	TFT

Platform
CPU	1.4 GHz Scorpion	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255T Snapdragon S2	Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus
GPU	Adreno 205	Adreno 225
OS	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), not upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to 4.3 (Jelly Bean)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM	8GB 1GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama	LED flash, panorama
Single	8 MP, AF	13 MP, AF
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	-	VGA
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	4.0, A2DP
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out)
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	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	Up to 18 h
Stand-by	Up to 460 h (2G) / Up to 460 h (3G)	Up to 300 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 7 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 35 min (3G)	Up to 7 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1750 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black, Sakura Pink	Black, White, Pink
Models	-	LT25i
Price	About 210 EUR	About 230 EUR
SAR	-	0.86 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.66 W/kg (head)	0.95 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB	Noise -81.6dB / Crosstalk -81.9dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1.792:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 76dB	Voice 65dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 66dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Sleek and iconic design
Compact size
Relatively affordable (used)

Outdated processor
Lower performance
Less capable camera
Limited software updates

Sony Xperia V

Improved performance
Better camera quality
Brighter and more vibrant display
More modern Android experience

Older model
May have limited software support
Can be harder to find

Display Comparison

The Xperia V features a noticeable improvement in display technology. While both offer a contrast ratio of 1.792:1 in sunlight, the Xperia V's display is generally brighter and more vibrant, offering better viewing angles and color accuracy. The Arc S's display, while decent for its time, lacks the same level of clarity and responsiveness.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the Xperia V's camera is generally considered superior. While specific megapixel counts are not provided, the Xperia V's newer chipset and image processing algorithms result in better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Expect more detail and less noise in Xperia V photos.

Performance

The Xperia V's dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor and Snapdragon S4 Plus chipset significantly outperform the Arc S's 1.4 GHz Scorpion and Snapdragon S2. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user interface on the Xperia V. The Arc S can feel sluggish by today's standards.

Battery Life

The Xperia V typically offers better battery life due to its more efficient processor and optimized software. While both phones likely have similar battery capacities (around 1700-1800 mAh), the Xperia V's power management is more effective, resulting in longer usage times between charges.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S? Primarily those seeking a nostalgic experience or a very budget-friendly option. Who should buy the Sony Xperia V? Users wanting a more capable and modern Android phone with a better camera and performance, even if it's an older model.