The Sony Ericsson P990, a pioneer of the smartphone era, faces off against the Xperia mini, a later attempt at a compact powerhouse. Both devices hold a special place in the hearts of mobile enthusiasts, but which one holds up best today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia mini wins overall due to its significantly faster processor, better camera, and more modern features. However, the P990 boasts a unique design and a certain charm that appeals to collectors and those nostalgic for early smartphones. It's a battle of speed versus classic appeal.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | UMTS 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps | Yes, 384 kbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / UMTS |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, May. Released 2011, August | 2005, Q4 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 88 x 52 x 16 mm (3.46 x 2.05 x 0.63 in) | 114 x 57 x 26 mm (4.49 x 2.24 x 1.02 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 99 g (3.49 oz) | 150 g (5.29 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~148 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 2.7 inches, 41 x 56 mm, 22.6 cm2 (~34.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LED-backlit LCD, | TFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors |
| | - | Handwriting recognition |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | 32-bit Philips Nexperia PNX4008 208 MHz |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 | - |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | - |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Symbian 9.1, UIQ 3.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | Memory Stick Duo Pro, 64 MB included |
| Internal | 512MB RAM, 320MB | 64MB RAM |
| | - | 128 MB Flash
60 MB user memory |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 2 MP, AF |
| Video | 720p | Yes |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | VGA videocall camera |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Alert types | - | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, AAC ringtones, composer |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | No |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11b |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML, Adobe Flash | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (Opera 8.0), RSS reader |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | - |
| | ANT+
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
TrackID music recognition
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | MP3/MP4 player
Predictive text input
SyncML
Organizer
Voice command
Voice memo |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 25 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 340 h (2G) / Up to 320 h (3G) | Up to 400 h |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 9 h |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue, Dark pink | Premium Silver |
| Models | ST15i | - |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.78 W/kg (head) | 0.78 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -88.7dB / Crosstalk -90.6dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 71dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB | - |
Sony Ericsson Xperia mini
- Faster Processor
- Better Display Resolution
- Likely Improved Camera
- More Modern Design
- Small Screen Size
- Limited App Support (due to age)
- Battery Life Not Ideal for Modern Usage
Sony Ericsson P990
- Classic Design
- Historical Significance
- Compact Size
- Integrated Stylus
- Slow Processor
- Low Resolution Display
- Outdated Camera
- Limited Functionality Compared to Modern Phones
Display Comparison
The Xperia mini features a 3.0-inch 320x480 pixel display, offering a sharper image than the P990's 2.8-inch 240x320 display. While both are small by modern standards, the mini's higher resolution provides a noticeable improvement in clarity and detail.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia mini's camera, while details are scarce, was generally considered an improvement over previous Sony Ericsson models. The P990 had a 2MP camera, which was decent for its time, but falls far short of the mini's capabilities. The mini likely offered better image quality and potentially video recording.
Performance
This is where the Xperia mini truly shines. Its 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset vastly outperform the P990's 208 MHz Philips Nexperia PNX4008. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience on the Xperia mini.
Battery Life
The P990 typically offered around 8 hours of talk time and 400 hours of standby time. The Xperia mini's battery life was likely comparable, though exact figures are difficult to confirm. Both devices would struggle to provide a full day of use with modern app usage.
Buying Guide
The Xperia mini is for those seeking a more responsive and capable device, even by today's standards. The P990 is ideal for collectors, retro tech enthusiasts, or anyone appreciating the design and functionality of early smartphones. Consider your priorities: performance or historical significance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What operating system did these phones use?
The Xperia mini ran Android, while the P990 ran Sony Ericsson's proprietary UI based on Symbian OS.
❓ Are apps available for these phones today?
The Xperia mini, running Android, *might* have some limited app support depending on the Android version it shipped with. The P990's Symbian OS has virtually no app support today.
