The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray and Xperia PLAY represent a fascinating period in smartphone history, offering unique features and designs. Both devices, released in 2011, aimed to capture a specific audience – the Ray with its sleek design and the PLAY with its dedicated gaming controls. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia Ray edges out the PLAY thanks to its superior display contrast and slightly better overall design. While the PLAY's gaming controls were innovative, the Ray's more balanced feature set and better screen make it the more appealing choice for general use, even in retrospect.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - ST18i | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - International | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71 |
| 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 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, August | 2011, February. Released 2011, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 111 x 53 x 9.4 mm (4.37 x 2.09 x 0.37 in) | 119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 100 g (3.53 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~297 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.3 inches, 30.0 cm2 (~51.0% 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 controls | 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 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included |
| Internal | 1GB (300MB user available), 512MB RAM | 400MB 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 | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 720p | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | 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 | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| 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 | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, 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 | 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 | 40W wired
5W reverse wired | 10W 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 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 6 h 50 min (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) | Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Gold, White, Pink | Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange |
| Models | BMH-AN10, BMH-AN20 | - |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.96 W/kg (head) | 0.36 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -89.4dB / Crosstalk -91.3dB |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1.955:1 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 64dB / Noise 61dB / Ring 66dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB
|
Sony Ericsson Xperia ray
- Sleek and compact design
- Better display contrast
- Photo and video recording
- Faster charging (40W)
- Reverse wired charging
- Limited storage (typically 8GB)
- Older chipset, limited performance
- Camera quality is dated
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Dedicated gaming controls (physical buttons)
- Compact size
- Nostalgic appeal
- No video recording
- Lower display quality (unspecified contrast)
- Slower charging (10W)
- Limited storage (typically 8GB)
- Older chipset, limited performance
Display Comparison
The Xperia Ray boasts a significantly better display contrast ratio (1.955:1 in sunlight) compared to the Xperia PLAY, which lacks specified contrast data but was generally considered average for its time. The Ray's display was known for its vibrant colors and good outdoor visibility, a clear advantage over the PLAY. Both phones featured similar screen resolutions (around 480x854), but the Ray's contrast made a noticeable difference.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia Ray had both photo and video capabilities, while the Xperia PLAY was limited to photo capture only. This gives the Ray a clear advantage for users wanting to record videos. Image quality on both was typical for the era – decent in good lighting, but noisy in low light. The Ray's camera likely had slightly better processing.
Performance
Both devices share the same Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset and 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU. Performance will be comparable, adequate for basic tasks and older games, but struggling with modern apps. Don't expect blazing speeds from either device.
Battery Life
The Xperia Ray supports 40W wired charging, while the Xperia PLAY supports 10W wired charging. This means the Ray would charge significantly faster. Reverse wired charging is also supported on the Ray, a feature absent on the PLAY. Battery life on both was generally considered average for the time, around a day with moderate use.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Xperia Ray? Those seeking a compact, stylish phone with a decent display and a focus on aesthetics. Who should buy the Xperia PLAY? Hardcore retro gamers who value dedicated physical controls and are willing to compromise on other aspects.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with significant limitations. They run older versions of Android and won't support modern apps. They're best suited for retro gaming or as collector's items.
❓ Can I upgrade the storage on either phone?
Both phones typically have limited internal storage (around 8GB) and may or may not support microSD card expansion, depending on the specific model variant. Check the specifications for your particular device.
