The Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc was a flagship in its time, boasting a sleek design and impressive features. Years later, the Sony Xperia Z arrived, representing a significant leap in technology. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see how these two Xperia phones stack up against each other.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Xperia Z is the clear winner. While the Xperia Arc had a great display for its era, the Z's superior processing power, significantly improved camera, and vastly better battery life make it the more compelling choice for modern users. It's a generational upgrade.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - C6602, C6603 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT15i | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - C6603 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - C6603 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT15a | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - C6602 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, January. Released 2011, March | 2013, January. Released 2013, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in) | 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.47 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 117 g (4.13 oz) | 146 g (5.15 oz) |
| | - | IP57 dust/water resistant (up to 1m. and 30 min) |
| 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 (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LED-backlit LCD, | TFT |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 | Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | Adreno 320 |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 320MB 512MB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 13.1 MP, f/2.4, AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 2.2 MP |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML, Adobe Flash | - |
| 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 31 h | Up to 40 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G) | Up to 550 h (2G) / Up to 530 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 7 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery | Li-Ion 2330 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Blue, Misty Silver | Black, White, Purple |
| Models | - | C6603, C6602, C6616, C6606 |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 270 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.05 W/kg (head) 0.56 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.66 W/kg (head) | 0.48 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -89.4dB / Crosstalk -91.5dB |
Noise -81.9dB / Crosstalk -81.3dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 48h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1207:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 705:1 (nominal) / 2.462:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB
|
Voice 60dB / Noise 58dB / Ring 61dB
|
Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc
- Sleek design
- Good contrast ratio for its time
- Nostalgic appeal
- Outdated performance
- Limited app compatibility
- Poor battery life
- Low-resolution display
Sony Xperia Z
- Powerful processor
- Excellent battery life
- Superior camera
- Bright and visible display
- Modern features
- Design can feel dated now
- May lack some newer features compared to current flagships
Display Comparison
The Xperia Arc featured a 4.2-inch Reality Display with a respectable 1207:1 contrast ratio. While good for its time, it lacked the vibrancy and outdoor visibility of the Xperia Z's 5-inch display. The Z's contrast ratio is 705:1 in standard conditions, but a remarkable 2462:1 in sunlight, making it far more usable outdoors. The Z also offered a higher resolution, resulting in sharper images.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, but the Xperia Z's camera is a substantial upgrade. While specific megapixel counts are similar, the Z's sensor and image processing are far superior, resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. The Z also likely offered more advanced features like HDR and burst mode.
Performance
The Xperia Arc's 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset were adequate for its time, but struggle with modern apps and multitasking. The Xperia Z, with its Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait CPU and Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, offers a massive performance boost. Apps launch faster, multitasking is smoother, and demanding games run significantly better.
Battery Life
The Xperia Arc's battery life was average for its time. The Xperia Z boasts an endurance rating of 48 hours, a significant improvement. This is thanks to a larger battery capacity and more efficient hardware.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc? Primarily collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience with an older Android device. Who should buy the Sony Xperia Z? Anyone looking for a reliable, capable smartphone with a good camera and solid battery life, especially if found at a budget price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Was the Xperia Arc considered a good phone when it was released?
Yes, the Xperia Arc was well-regarded for its design and display quality at the time of its release. However, its performance was quickly surpassed by newer devices.
❓ Can I still use the Xperia Arc with a modern Android OS?
While technically possible with custom ROMs, the Xperia Arc's hardware is quite dated, and running a modern Android OS can be challenging and may result in performance issues.
