Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini vs. Mini Pro: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Mini Pro were popular choices for users seeking compact Android smartphones back in their day. Both offered a taste of the Android experience in a pocket-friendly form factor, but catered to slightly different needs. This comparison dives deep into their features to help you understand which one was the better option.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Mini Pro edges out the Mini thanks to its slide-out keyboard, offering a superior typing experience. While both share similar performance, the Mini Pro's added functionality makes it the slightly more versatile choice for those who value quick messaging and email.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100

Launch
Announced	2011, May. Released 2011, August	2011, May. Released 2011, August
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	88 x 52 x 16 mm (3.46 x 2.05 x 0.63 in)	92 x 53 x 18 mm (3.62 x 2.09 x 0.71 in)
Keyboard	-	QWERTY
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	99 g (3.49 oz)	136 g (4.80 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density)	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio)	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~55.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	LED-backlit LCD,

Platform
CPU	1.0 GHz Scorpion	1.0 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
GPU	Adreno 205	Adreno 205
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), not upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included
Internal	512MB RAM, 320MB	512MB RAM, 400MB

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash
Single	5 MP, AF	5 MP, AF
Video	720p	720p

Selfie camera
Single	-	VGA
	No	-

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

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.1, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	HTML, Adobe Flash	HTML, Adobe Flash
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	ANT+ MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document viewer Voice memo Predictive text input	ANT+ MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document viewer Voice memo Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 25 h	Up to 29 h
Stand-by	Up to 340 h (2G) / Up to 320 h (3G)	Up to 331 h (2G) / Up to 340 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 4 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 5 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 25 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Blue, Dark pink	Black, White, Pink, Turquoise
Models	ST15i	-
Price	About 120 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR EU	0.78 W/kg (head)	0.46 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -88.7dB / Crosstalk -90.6dB	Noise -89.7dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 714:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	Voice 71dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB	Voice 70dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 70dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini

Smaller and lighter
Slightly better battery life (marginally)
More pocketable

No physical keyboard
Lower battery capacity
Screen more prone to scratches

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro

Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
Larger battery capacity
Better typing experience

Slightly larger and heavier
Screen contrast not exceptional
Performance similar to Mini

Display Comparison

Both the Xperia Mini and Mini Pro featured a 3-inch HVGA display. While the Mini Pro's contrast ratio is listed as 714:1 (nominal), both screens were known for their adequate, but not exceptional, viewing angles and color reproduction. The Mini's screen was slightly more prone to scratches due to the lack of a protective coating.

Camera Comparison

Both phones featured a 5-megapixel camera capable of capturing photos and videos. Image quality was decent for the time, but lacked detail and struggled in low-light conditions. Video recording was limited to 480p resolution. No significant differences were observed between the two.

Performance

Powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, performance between the two devices was virtually identical. Expect smooth navigation and app loading for basic tasks, but demanding games and applications might struggle. Multitasking was limited by the available RAM (likely 256MB).

Battery Life

The Xperia Mini had a slightly smaller battery (1200 mAh) compared to the Mini Pro (1500 mAh). This resulted in marginally better battery life on the Mini Pro, typically lasting a full day with moderate usage, while the Mini required more frequent charging.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Mini is ideal for users prioritizing a smaller, lighter device and don't need a physical keyboard. The Xperia Mini Pro is best suited for those who frequently type messages or emails and appreciate the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard in a compact form factor.