Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S vs. Xperia Z Ultra: A Generational Leap?

Sony has a rich history in mobile, and these two devices represent vastly different eras. The Xperia Arc S was a flagship of its time, while the Xperia Z Ultra pushed boundaries with its massive display and powerful internals. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see how they stack up today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Z Ultra is the clear winner. Its significantly faster processor, superior display, and improved camera easily outpace the Arc S. While the Arc S holds nostalgic value, the Z Ultra offers a modern smartphone experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S	Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT18i	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - all versions
4G bands	-	1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17 - C6806
EDGE	Yes	-
GPRS	Yes	-
Speed	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT18a	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20 - C6833

Launch
Announced	2011, August. Released 2011, September	2013, June. Released 2013, July
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in)	179.4 x 92.2 x 6.5 mm (7.06 x 3.63 x 0.26 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Micro-SIM
Weight	117 g (4.13 oz)	212 g (7.48 oz)
	-	IP58 dust proof and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Shatter proof glass
Resolution	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~344 ppi density)
Size	4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 112.9 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	IPS LCD
	-	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine

Platform
CPU	1.4 GHz Scorpion	Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255T Snapdragon S2	Qualcomm MSM8274 or MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 205	Adreno 330
OS	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), not upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM	16GB 2GB RAM
	-	eMMC 4.5

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama	HDR
Single	8 MP, AF	8 MP, f/2.4, AF
Video	720p@30fps	1080p@30fps, HDR

Selfie camera
Single	-	2 MP
Video	-	1080p@30fps
	No	-

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

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

Battery
Music play	Up to 37 h	Up to 120 h
Stand-by	Up to 460 h (2G) / Up to 460 h (3G)	Up to 790 h (2G) / Up to 820 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 7 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 35 min (3G)	Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 16 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery	Li-Ion 3050 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black, Sakura Pink	Black, White, Purple
Models	-	C6833, C6802, C6806, C6806
Price	About 210 EUR	About 280 EUR
SAR	-	1.01 W/kg (head) 1.54 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.66 W/kg (head)	0.34 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB	Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -90.7dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 52h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1001:1 (nominal) / 1.578:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 76dB	Voice 63dB / Noise 60dB / Ring 59dB
Performance	-	Basemark X: 11606

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Compact size
Decent build quality
Nostalgic Android experience

Outdated processor
Low resolution display
Limited storage
Poor low-light camera performance

Sony Xperia Z Ultra

Massive, vibrant display
Powerful processor
Good battery life
Improved camera

Large size can be unwieldy
Older device - limited software updates
Potential for battery degradation due to age

Display Comparison

The Xperia Z Ultra boasts a massive 6.4-inch display with a remarkable 1001:1 contrast ratio and exceptional sunlight readability (1.578:1). The Arc S, with its 4.2-inch Reality Display, is smaller and offers a decent viewing experience but lacks the Z Ultra's sheer scale and brightness. The Z Ultra's resolution is also significantly higher, resulting in sharper images.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the Z Ultra's camera hardware and image processing are considerably more advanced. While specific megapixel counts are not provided, the Z Ultra's newer sensor and processing algorithms result in better image quality, especially in low light. The Z Ultra likely supports more advanced video recording features.

Performance

The Z Ultra's quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 processor and Snapdragon 800 chipset are worlds apart from the Arc S's 1.4 GHz Scorpion and Snapdragon S2. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness on the Z Ultra. The Z Ultra handles modern games far better than the Arc S.

Battery Life

Both devices are listed with an endurance rating of 52h, suggesting comparable battery life despite the Z Ultra's larger screen and more powerful processor. This is likely due to the Z Ultra's more efficient chipset and software optimization.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Arc S is best suited for collectors or those seeking a retro Android experience. The Xperia Z Ultra is for users prioritizing a large, vibrant display, strong performance, and a more modern feature set, understanding it's an older device.