The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY and Motorola ATRIX were flagship Android devices in 2011, both vying for the title of 'best Android phone.' The Xperia PLAY boasted a dedicated gaming console-like experience, while the ATRIX focused on productivity and accessories. Let's revisit these titans and see how they stack up today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Motorola ATRIX edges out the Xperia PLAY thanks to its superior dual-core processor and broader accessory ecosystem. While the PLAY's gaming controls were unique, the ATRIX offered a more versatile and ultimately more powerful Android experience for the time.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 14.4/2 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, February. Released 2011, March | 2011, January. Released 2011, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in) | 117.8 x 63.5 x 11 mm (4.64 x 2.5 x 0.43 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) | 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~275 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LED-backlit LCD, | TFT |
| | Touch-sensitive gaming controls
PSP like gaming buttons
Timescape UI | Touch sensitive controls
MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 | Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | ULP GeForce |
| OS | Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) | Android 2.2 (Froyo), upgradable to 2.3 (Gingerbread) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 400MB 512MB RAM | 16GB 1GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 720p | 720p@30fps, 1080p (via SW update) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | VGA | VGA |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | No | - |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash | HTML, Adobe Flash |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | 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) | HDMI port
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
MP4/H.264/WMV/Xvid/DivX player
Photo viewer/editor
Organizer
Document editor
Voice memo/dial/commands
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | - |
| Music play | Up to 31 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G) | Up to 400 h (2G) / Up to 350 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G) | Up to 8 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 9 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1930 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange | Black |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.36 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB
| - |
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Unique gaming controls
- Dedicated gaming buttons
- Compact size
- Decent camera for the time
- Underpowered processor
- Lower resolution display
- Shorter battery life
- Limited app support compared to ATRIX
Motorola ATRIX
- Faster processor and GPU
- Higher resolution display
- Better battery life
- Accessory ecosystem (laptop dock, etc.)
- More modern Android experience at launch
- Larger size
- Less unique selling point than the PLAY
- Camera quality not exceptional
Display Comparison
Both phones featured a 4.0-inch display, but the ATRIX had a slightly higher resolution (960x540) compared to the PLAY's (480x854). The ATRIX's display generally offered slightly sharper visuals, though both were adequate for their time. Viewing angles and color reproduction were typical for the era.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia PLAY had an 8.1MP rear camera, while the ATRIX featured a slightly better 8MP camera. Image quality was comparable, with both struggling in low-light conditions. Video recording capabilities were similar, both offering 1080p recording, though quality was limited by the technology of the time.
Performance
The Motorola ATRIX's dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 processor and Nvidia Tegra 2 GPU provided a noticeable performance advantage over the Xperia PLAY's single-core 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor and Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon. Apps launched faster, multitasking was smoother, and graphically intensive games ran better on the ATRIX.
Battery Life
The Motorola ATRIX had a larger 1900mAh battery compared to the Xperia PLAY's 1500mAh. This translated to slightly better battery life on the ATRIX, especially under heavy use. Both phones would require daily charging with moderate to heavy usage.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is for nostalgic gamers seeking a retro handheld experience. The Motorola ATRIX is for those interested in a historical look at early Android productivity and accessory integration, or collectors of vintage smartphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Was the Xperia PLAY a good gaming phone?
It was unique for its dedicated gaming controls, but its underpowered processor limited its gaming capabilities compared to other phones of the time. It's more of a nostalgic novelty now.
❓ What happened to the Motorola ATRIX's laptop dock?
The laptop dock was a key feature, allowing the ATRIX to function as a desktop computer. While innovative, it wasn't widely adopted and is now largely obsolete.
