Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V vs Xperia PLAY: A Retro Showdown

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V and Xperia PLAY were iconic devices from a bygone era of Android smartphones. Both offered unique features and aimed at different audiences. But which one holds up better today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Neo V edges out the PLAY thanks to its superior display contrast and significantly longer battery life. While the PLAY boasted dedicated gaming controls, the Neo V's overall package provides a more well-rounded experience for general use, making it the slightly better choice for most.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V	Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - MT11i	HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G bands	-	2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71
EDGE	No	-
GPRS	Class 10	-
Speed	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - MT11a	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800

Launch
Announced	2011, August. Released 2011, October	2011, February. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	116 x 57 x 13 mm (4.57 x 2.24 x 0.51 in)	119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	-
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	126 g (4.44 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	-
Resolution	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~265 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density)
Size	3.7 inches, 37.7 cm2 (~57.1% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	LED-backlit LCD,
	-	Touch-sensitive gaming controls PSP like gaming buttons Timescape UI

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 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

Memory
Call records	Yes	-
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM	400MB 512MB RAM
Phonebook	Yes, Photocall	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama	LED flash
Single	5 MP, AF	5 MP, AF
Video	720p@30fps	720p

Selfie camera
Features	-	LED flash
Single	VGA	VGA

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	2.1, A2DP, EDR
NFC	-	No
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	No
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	No	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash
Games	Yes	-
Java	No	-
Messaging	SMS, MMS	-
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	ANT+ HDMI port MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player TrackID music recognition Organizer Document viewer Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text input (T9 Trace)	Dedicated game store MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player Organizer Document viewer/editor Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text input (Swype)

Battery
Charging	-	10W wired
Music play	Up to 31 h	Up to 31 h
Stand-by	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)	Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 6 h 55 min (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)	Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	White, Blue Gradient, Silver	Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange
Price	About 150 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR EU	1.10 W/kg (head)	0.36 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -80.9dB	Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 42h	-
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo
Display	Contrast ratio: 1578:1 (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia neo V

Superior display contrast
Longer battery life
Photo and Video Recording
Slightly more versatile

Outdated performance
Limited storage (likely expandable)
Older Android version

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Dedicated gaming controls
Nostalgic design
Compact size

Shorter battery life
Limited camera functionality (photo only)
Outdated performance
Lower display quality

Display Comparison

The Xperia Neo V features a significantly better display with a reported contrast ratio of 1578:1, offering richer colors and deeper blacks compared to the Xperia PLAY. The PLAY's display, while adequate for its time, lacks the same visual punch. Both phones utilized a similar resolution, but the Neo V's contrast makes a noticeable difference.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia Neo V had both photo and video capabilities, while the Xperia PLAY was limited to photo capture only. This gives the Neo V a clear advantage for users wanting to record videos. Image quality on both devices is typical of their era – decent in good lighting, but struggles in low-light conditions.

Performance

Both devices share the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU. Performance will be comparable for basic tasks, but don't expect blazing speeds by modern standards. App loading times and multitasking will be slower than contemporary smartphones.

Battery Life

The Xperia Neo V shines in this category with an endurance rating of 42 hours, a substantial advantage over the Xperia PLAY. The PLAY's battery life was considerably shorter, making it less suitable for extended use.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xperia Neo V? Those seeking a decent display and long battery life for basic tasks and media consumption. Who should buy the Xperia PLAY? Hardcore retro gamers who prioritize dedicated gaming controls and don't mind sacrificing battery and display quality.