Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc vs. Samsung Galaxy S22 5G: A Clash of Eras

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, a beloved Android pioneer, faces off against the modern powerhouse, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G. This isn't just a comparison; it's a journey through the evolution of smartphone technology. Can a classic hold its own against today's cutting-edge innovations?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G utterly dominates in almost every category. Its superior performance, stunning display, advanced camera, and long battery life make it the clear winner. The Xperia Arc holds nostalgic value, but it's a relic of a bygone era.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT15iHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 7.2/5.76 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G (5+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT15a1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2011, January. Released 2011, March2022, February 09
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, February 25
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
Dimensions125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in)146 x 70.6 x 7.6 mm (5.75 x 2.78 x 0.30 in)
SIMMini-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight117 g (4.13 oz)167 g / 168 g (mmWave) (5.89 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised)
Display
ProtectionScratch-resistant glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus+
Resolution480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~425 ppi density)
Size4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.1 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLED-backlit LCD,Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPU1.0 GHz ScorpionOcta-core (1x2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) - EuropeOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) - ROW
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2Exynos 2200 (4 nm) - EuropeQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) - ROW
GPUAdreno 205Xclipse 920 - EuropeAdreno 730 - ROW
OSAndroid 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB includedNo
Internal320MB 512MB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, AF10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Video720p@30fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single-10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video-4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
 No-
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth2.1, A2DP5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC-Yes
PositioningGPS, A-GPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioStereo FM radio, RDSNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
BrowserHTML, Adobe Flash-
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 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 inputSamsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging-25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
Music playUp to 31 h-
Stand-byUp to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 7 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)-
TypeRemovable Li-Po 1500 mAh batteryLi-Ion 3700 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Blue, Misty SilverPhantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream, Bora Purple
Models-SM-S901B, SM-S901B/DS, SM-S901U, SM-S901U1, SM-S901W, SM-S901N, SM-S9010, SM-S901E, SM-S901E/DS
PriceAbout 180 EUR$ 172.63 / C$ 304.00 / £ 186.11 / € 198.01
SAR-1.03 W/kg (head)     1.15 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.66 W/kg (head)1.21 W/kg (head)     1.59 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -89.4dB / Crosstalk -91.5dB-
Battery life- Endurance rating 85h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1207:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB -26.4 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 745496 (v8), 881428 (v9) GeekBench: 3682 (v5.1) GFXBench: 69fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

  • Nostalgic design
  • Compact size
  • Simple Android experience (at the time)

  • Outdated performance
  • Low-resolution display
  • Poor camera quality
  • Short battery life
  • Limited app compatibility

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

  • Exceptional performance
  • Stunning display
  • Versatile camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Fast charging
  • 5G connectivity

  • Can be expensive
  • Large size may not suit everyone

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S22 5G boasts a vibrant AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 982 nits and an 'infinite' contrast ratio, offering incredible color accuracy and visibility even in direct sunlight. The Xperia Arc's LCD screen, while respectable for its time with a 1207:1 contrast ratio, simply can't compete with the S22's modern technology. The S22 also features a higher resolution and refresh rate for smoother visuals.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S22 5G's camera system is a major upgrade. It offers significantly higher resolution sensors, improved image stabilization, and advanced features like night mode and portrait mode. The Xperia Arc's camera, while functional, is limited by its older technology and lower resolution.

Performance

The Galaxy S22 5G's Octa-core CPU (either Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1) and 4nm chipset provide significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking compared to the Xperia Arc's 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset. The S22 handles demanding games and applications with ease, while the Arc struggles with modern software.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S22 5G offers a substantial battery advantage with an endurance rating of 85 hours. It also supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. The Xperia Arc's battery life was considerably shorter, and charging options were far more limited.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc? Primarily collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience with a classic Android phone. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G? Anyone looking for a top-tier smartphone with exceptional performance, a brilliant display, and a versatile camera system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia Arc still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with significant limitations. It can run older Android versions, but app compatibility is a major issue. Performance will be slow compared to modern devices.
❓ Why was the Xperia Arc so popular?
The Xperia Arc was praised for its sleek design, relatively powerful processor for its time, and vibrant display. It was a key player in the early Android smartphone market.