Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo vs Xperia Arc: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo and Arc were flagship Android devices vying for attention in a competitive market. Both offered a premium design and the promise of a compelling smartphone experience. But which one truly delivered? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Neo edges out the Arc primarily due to its superior contrast ratio, resulting in a noticeably better display. While both share the same processor and chipset, the Neo's slightly improved design and screen quality make it the preferable choice for most users seeking a premium Android experience from that era.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT15i
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 / 800 - LT15a

Launch
Announced	2011, February. Released 2011, March	2011, January. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	116 x 57 x 13 mm (4.57 x 2.24 x 0.51 in)	125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	126 g (4.44 oz)	117 g (4.13 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~265 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density)
Size	3.7 inches, 37.7 cm2 (~57.1% screen-to-body ratio)	4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% 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 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	320MB 512MB RAM	320MB 512MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash
Single	8 MP, AF	8 MP, AF
Video	720p@30fps	720p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	Yes	-
	-	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+ 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	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 31 h
Stand-by	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 6 h 55 min (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)	Up to 7 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Blue Gradient, Red, Silver	Midnight Blue, Misty Silver
Price	About 110 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR EU	1.10 W/kg (head)	0.66 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.8dB / Crosstalk -92.2dB	Noise -89.4dB / Crosstalk -91.5dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1670:1 (nominal)	Contrast ratio: 1207:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 65dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo

Superior contrast ratio display
Slightly more refined design
Good build quality

Older software support
Limited availability
Camera performance not exceptional

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Compact form factor
Potentially lower price (used)
Decent performance for its time

Lower contrast ratio display
Older software support
Limited availability

Display Comparison

The Xperia Neo boasts a significantly higher contrast ratio of 1670:1 compared to the Arc's 1207:1. This translates to deeper blacks and more vibrant colors on the Neo's display, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience. Both phones feature similar resolution and screen technology for the time, but the contrast advantage is key.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are missing. Generally, both offered decent image quality for their time, but lacked advanced features found in later smartphones. Image processing and low-light performance were areas where they both struggled.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the same 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset. Performance will be largely comparable in everyday tasks and app usage. Don't expect blazing-fast speeds by today's standards, but they were reasonably capable for their time.

Battery Life

Battery capacity information is missing for both devices. However, given their similar hardware and screen sizes, battery life was likely comparable, offering a full day of moderate use. Actual battery performance would depend heavily on usage patterns.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Neo is ideal for users prioritizing a vibrant display and a slightly more refined design. The Xperia Arc might appeal to those seeking a more compact form factor and a slightly lower price point (if found used). Both are older devices, so consider their age and software support limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones still worth buying?

Given their age, finding these phones in good condition is difficult. Software support is long gone, so security updates are unavailable. They are primarily of interest to collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience.

❓ What Android version did these phones ship with?

Both the Xperia Neo and Arc originally shipped with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). While some unofficial updates were available, official Android support ended long ago.