Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo vs Xperia Arc S: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo and Arc S were popular Android smartphones of their time, offering distinct features and designs. Choosing between them can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison will delve into their key differences, helping you decide which device best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Arc S edges out the Neo thanks to its faster processor and slightly improved overall performance. While both offer a similar experience, the Arc S's 1.4GHz CPU provides a noticeable boost in responsiveness and multitasking. Both are aging devices, so consider their limitations.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT18i
EDGE	-	Yes
GPRS	-	Yes
Speed	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT18a

Launch
Announced	2011, February. Released 2011, March	2011, August. Released 2011, September
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	1.4 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2	Qualcomm MSM8255T 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), 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), not upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	320MB 512MB RAM	1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash, panorama
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, EDR
NFC	-	No
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS; GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	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	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 37 h
Stand-by	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)	Up to 460 h (2G) / Up to 460 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 6 h 55 min (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)	Up to 7 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 35 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Blue Gradient, Red, Silver	Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black, Sakura Pink
Price	About 110 EUR	About 210 EUR
SAR EU	1.10 W/kg (head)	0.66 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.8dB / Crosstalk -92.2dB	Noise -89.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1670:1 (nominal)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 65dB	Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 76dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo

Sleek and stylish design
Decent 8.1MP camera
Good contrast ratio display

Slower processor
Less responsive multitasking
Aging hardware

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

Faster 1.4 GHz processor
Improved performance
Slightly better camera quality
Better battery life

Aging hardware
Limited storage (depending on model)
Outdated software

Display Comparison

Both phones featured a 4.0-inch LED-backlit LCD display. The Neo boasted a contrast ratio of 1670:1 (nominal), which was impressive for the time. However, the Arc S had slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles due to minor panel improvements. Resolution was consistent at 480 x 854 pixels on both.

Camera Comparison

Both phones featured an 8.1MP camera capable of recording 720p video. While the hardware was similar, the Arc S benefited from Sony's image processing enhancements, resulting in slightly better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Neo's camera was still capable, but not as refined.

Performance

The Xperia Arc S holds a clear advantage here. Its 1.4 GHz Scorpion CPU, paired with the Qualcomm MSM8255T Snapdragon S2 chipset, offers a significant performance boost compared to the Neo's 1.0 GHz Scorpion and MSM8255 Snapdragon S2. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience.

Battery Life

The Xperia Arc S generally offered slightly better battery life due to its more efficient chipset and optimized software. Both phones were equipped with a 1500mAh battery, but the Arc S's improved power management gave it a slight edge.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Neo is a good choice for users prioritizing a sleek design and decent camera capabilities on a budget. The Xperia Arc S is better suited for those who value performance and a smoother user experience, even with older hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones still worth buying?

Given their age, these phones are generally not recommended for primary use. However, they might be suitable for niche purposes like retro gaming or as secondary devices, provided you understand their limitations.

❓ What Android version did these phones run?

Both the Xperia Neo and Arc S originally shipped with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). While some custom ROMs might offer newer versions, official updates are no longer available.