Reliving the early smartphone era, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro and X8 were popular choices. Both offered a taste of Android, but with distinct designs and features. This review dives deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you understand which device held the edge.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia X10 mini pro edges out the X8 thanks to its QWERTY keyboard, which significantly improved productivity for messaging and email. While both share similar specs, the mini pro's form factor and keyboard give it a slight advantage for users prioritizing text input.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| EDGE | - | Class 10 |
| GPRS | - | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, February. Released 2010, June | 2010, June. Released 2010, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 90 x 52 x 17 mm (3.54 x 2.05 x 0.67 in) | 99 x 54 x 15 mm (3.90 x 2.13 x 0.59 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 120 g (4.23 oz) | 104 g (3.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~157 ppi density) | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.55 inches, 20.1 cm2 (~43.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~50.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT (65K effective) | TFT |
| | Timescape UI | Timescape UI |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600 MHz ARM 11 | 600 MHz ARM 11 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1 | Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1 |
| GPU | Adreno 200 | Adreno 200 |
| OS | Android 1.6 (Donut), upgradable to 2.1 (Eclair) | Android 1.6 (Donut), upgradable to 2.1 (Eclair) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | - | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included |
| Internal | 128MB | 128MB 168MB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | 1000 entries , Photocall |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 480p@30fps | 480p@30fps |
| 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, hotspot (v2.2 or higher) | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML | HTML |
| Games | - | Yes |
| Java | - | Yes, MIDP 2.1 |
| Messaging | - | SMS, MMS, Email |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
TrackID music recognition
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 23 h 40 min |
| Stand-by | Up to 285 h (2G) / Up to 360 h (3G) | Up to 446 h (2G) / Up to 476 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h (2G) / Up to 3 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 4 h 45 min (2G) / Up to 5 h 40 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 930 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1200 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Red, Pink | White, Dark Blue/ White, Aqua Blue/ White, Pink/ White, Silver/ White |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.76 W/kg (head) 0.68 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.61 W/kg (head) | 0.84 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -86.8dB / Crosstalk -83.6dB |
Noise -75.6dB / Crosstalk -70.7dB |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 69dB
|
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro
- Compact and pocketable
- Physical QWERTY keyboard for easy typing
- Android OS (early version)
- Decent build quality
- Small screen
- Limited storage
- Outdated performance
- Low-resolution display
Sony Ericsson Xperia X8
- Larger screen for better viewing
- Android OS (early version)
- Slightly better battery life
- More comfortable for media consumption
- No physical keyboard
- Outdated performance
- Limited storage
- Bulky compared to mini pro
Display Comparison
The Xperia X8 boasts a 3-inch display (480x854 pixels) compared to the X10 mini pro's 2.55-inch display (320x240 pixels). The X8's larger screen provides a more immersive viewing experience for media and web browsing, though the X10 mini pro's smaller screen contributes to its overall compact size.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 3.2MP camera. Image quality is adequate for basic snapshots, but don't expect exceptional results. Low-light performance is weak on both devices. The X8 might have slightly better image processing due to minor software differences.
Performance
Both devices are powered by a 600 MHz ARM 11 CPU and the Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1 chipset. Performance is generally comparable, though the X8's slightly more optimized software might offer marginally smoother operation in some scenarios. Expect some lag by today's standards.
Battery Life
The Xperia X8 typically offered a slightly better battery life, around 8 hours of talk time versus the X10 mini pro's 6 hours. This is likely due to the X10 mini pro's smaller battery capacity and the demands of the QWERTY keyboard.
Buying Guide
The Xperia X10 mini pro is ideal for users who value a compact form factor and a physical QWERTY keyboard for efficient typing. The Xperia X8 is a better choice for those who prefer a larger screen and a more traditional smartphone experience, though it sacrifices the keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for texting?
The Xperia X10 mini pro is significantly better for texting due to its physical QWERTY keyboard.
❓ Are these phones still usable today?
While technically usable, both phones are severely outdated. Performance will be slow, and app compatibility is limited. They are primarily of interest to collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience.
