Sony Ericsson Xperia mini vs. Xperia tipo: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia mini and Xperia tipo were popular budget smartphones vying for attention. Both offered a taste of the Android experience at an affordable price, but which one delivered the better overall package? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia mini edges out the tipo thanks to its Snapdragon S2 chipset and slightly more powerful CPU. While both are budget devices, the mini offers a bit more performance for everyday tasks. The tipo's display contrast is a highlight, but the mini's overall capabilities make it the slightly better choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia mini	Sony Xperia tipo

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - ST21i
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 - ST21a

Launch
Announced	2011, May. Released 2011, August	2012, June. Released 2012, August
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	88 x 52 x 16 mm (3.46 x 2.05 x 0.63 in)	103 x 57 x 13 mm (4.06 x 2.24 x 0.51 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	99 g (3.49 oz)	99.4 g (3.49 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 (~180 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~58.6% screen-to-body ratio)	3.2 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~51.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	TFT, 256K colors

Platform
CPU	1.0 GHz Scorpion	800 MHz Cortex-A5
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2	Qualcomm MSM7225AA Snapdragon S1
GPU	Adreno 205	Adreno 200
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	512MB RAM, 320MB	2.9GB (2.5GB user available), 512MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	-
Single	5 MP, AF	3.15 MP
Video	720p	480p

Selfie camera
	No	No

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

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.1, A2DP, EDR
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, hotspot

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

Battery
Music play	Up to 25 h	Up to 30 h
Stand-by	Up to 340 h (2G) / Up to 320 h (3G)	Up to 470 h (2G) / Up to 545 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 4 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 5 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Blue, Dark pink	Classic Black, Classic White, Deep Red, Navy Blue
Models	ST15i	-
Price	About 120 EUR	About 80 EUR
SAR	-	1.37 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.78 W/kg (head)	1.62 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -88.7dB / Crosstalk -90.6dB	Noise -75.9dB / Crosstalk -79.1dB
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 751:1 (nominal) / 1.166:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 71dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB	Voice 65dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 71dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini

Slightly faster processor
More modern chipset (Snapdragon S2)
Potentially better multitasking

Smaller battery (likely)
Camera quality typical of the era

Sony Xperia tipo

Potentially better sunlight display readability
Slightly larger battery (likely)
Compact size

Slower processor
Older chipset (Snapdragon S1)
Camera quality typical of the era

Display Comparison

Both phones feature similar display technology (likely LCD) with a reported contrast ratio of 751:1 nominal and 1.166:1 in sunlight. However, the Xperia tipo's marketing emphasized its sunlight readability, suggesting a potentially slightly better viewing experience outdoors. Resolution is likely to be around 480x854 on both, so pixel density won't be a major differentiator.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature cameras described as 'Photo / Video' in the provided specs. Given the era, expect cameras around 5-8MP. Image quality will likely be comparable, with both struggling in low-light conditions. Video recording capabilities will likely be limited to 480p or 720p.

Performance

The Xperia mini boasts a Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, while the Xperia tipo uses a Qualcomm MSM7225AA Snapdragon S1 with an 800 MHz Cortex-A5 CPU. The mini's slightly faster processor and more advanced chipset (S2 vs S1) should translate to smoother performance in apps and multitasking, although both are limited by their RAM (likely 512MB).

Battery Life

Battery capacity is a crucial factor. The Xperia mini likely had a slightly smaller battery (around 1200mAh), while the Xperia tipo likely had a slightly larger battery (around 1500mAh). Real-world battery life will depend on usage, but the tipo *might* offer slightly longer standby time.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Xperia mini is ideal for users prioritizing a bit more processing power and a slightly more modern chipset. The Xperia tipo is a good option for those who value a vibrant display and are less concerned with raw performance, especially if they frequently use their phone in bright sunlight.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What year were these phones released?

The Xperia mini was released in 2011, while the Xperia tipo was released in 2012.

❓ How much RAM did these phones have?

Both phones typically came with 512MB of RAM.

❓ Are these phones still worth buying?

Given their age, these phones are not recommended for regular use. They lack modern features and security updates. They might be interesting for collectors or retro enthusiasts.