Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray vs Xperia Arc: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray and Arc were both popular Android phones from a bygone era. While sharing a similar Snapdragon S2 chipset, they offered distinct experiences. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is right for you (or a collector!).

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia Arc generally edges out the Ray thanks to its significantly better display contrast. While both offer a similar processor, the Arc's screen makes a noticeable difference in viewing content. Both are relics of the past, but the Arc provides a slightly more enjoyable user experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia ray	Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - ST18i	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - LT15i
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International	-
5G bands	1, 3, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International	-
Speed	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - ST18a	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - LT15a

Launch
Announced	2011, June. Released 2011, August	2011, January. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	111 x 53 x 9.4 mm (4.37 x 2.09 x 0.37 in)	125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	100 g (3.53 oz)	117 g (4.13 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~297 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density)
Size	3.3 inches, 30.0 cm2 (~51.0% screen-to-body ratio)	4.2 inches, 48.6 cm2 (~61.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LED-backlit LCD,	LED-backlit LCD,
	Touch sensitive controls	-

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 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	1GB (300MB user available), 512MB RAM	320MB 512MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash
Quad	40 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.7", PDAF 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (Periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.4, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP, (depth)	-
Single	8 MP, AF	8 MP, AF
Video	720p	720p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	VGA	-
	-	No

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

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	2.1, A2DP
NFC	Yes	-
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+ MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV player TrackID music recognition SensMe Document viewer Voice memo 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
Charging	40W wired 5W reverse wired	-
Music play	Up to 36 h	Up to 31 h
Stand-by	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 440 h (3G)	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 6 h 50 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	Black, Gold, White, Pink	Midnight Blue, Misty Silver
Models	BMH-AN10, BMH-AN20	-
Price	About 170 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR EU	0.96 W/kg (head)	0.66 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -89.4dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB	Noise -89.4dB / Crosstalk -91.5dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1.955:1 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1207:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	Voice 64dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 66dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia ray

Slightly more compact design
Reverse wired charging (5W)

Poor display contrast
Slightly shorter battery life
Outdated performance

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc

Superior display contrast
Slightly better battery life
More immersive viewing experience

Larger size
Outdated performance
No reverse wired charging

Display Comparison

The Xperia Arc boasts a substantially higher contrast ratio (1207:1 nominal) compared to the Ray's 1.955:1 (sunlight). This translates to deeper blacks and more vibrant colors on the Arc, making it significantly better for watching videos and browsing photos. The Ray's display, while adequate, struggles in direct sunlight and lacks the punch of the Arc's screen. Both phones feature a similar resolution, so the contrast is the key differentiator.

Camera Comparison

Camera specifications are not detailed, but both phones featured a standard 8MP camera for their time. Image quality will be similar, with decent results in good lighting conditions but struggling in low light. Video recording capabilities were also comparable, offering 720p resolution.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU. Performance will be comparable, though both will feel sluggish by modern standards. Expect some lag when multitasking or running demanding apps. Gaming will be limited to simpler titles.

Battery Life

The Xperia Arc generally had a larger battery capacity (1500mAh) compared to the Ray (1300mAh). This translates to slightly better battery life on the Arc, though both phones will require daily charging with moderate use. The Ray's reverse wired charging is a minor bonus.

Buying Guide

The Xperia Ray might appeal to collectors seeking a slightly more compact device. The Xperia Arc is a better choice for anyone prioritizing a vibrant display and a more immersive viewing experience, assuming they can tolerate the age of the hardware.