The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and Xperia PLAY represent a fascinating era in mobile technology – the early days of Android. Both devices offered unique features and aimed to capture the attention of smartphone enthusiasts. But which one ultimately delivered a better experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia PLAY wins for its dedicated gaming controls and slightly more modern chipset. However, the X10 boasts a superior display and broader multimedia capabilities. Ultimately, the PLAY caters to gamers, while the X10 offers a more well-rounded experience for general use.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - X10a for Americas | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2009, November. Released 2010, March | 2011, February. Released 2011, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 119 x 63 x 13 mm (4.69 x 2.48 x 0.51 in) | 119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~58.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 65K colors | LED-backlit LCD, |
| | Timescape/Mediascape UI | Touch-sensitive gaming controls
PSP like gaming buttons
Timescape UI |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | 1.0 GHz Scorpion |
| Chipset | Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 |
| GPU | Adreno 200 | Adreno 205 |
| OS | Android 1.6 (Donut), upgradable to 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included |
| Internal | 1GB 384MB RAM | 400MB 512MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | w480p@30fps, 720p@30fps (via SW update) | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | - | VGA |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | - | No |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, 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 |
| | - | 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 | - | 10W wired |
| Music play | - | Up to 31 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 415 h (2G) / Up to 425 h (3G) | Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 8 h (3G) | Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery (BST-41) | Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sensous Black, Luster White | Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.81 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.25 W/kg (head) | 0.36 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -85.4dB / Crosstalk -83.6dB |
Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 68dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB
|
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
- Superior Reality Display
- Better camera image quality
- Wider multimedia support
- Slightly larger battery
- Older chipset
- Slower performance compared to PLAY
- Limited app compatibility today
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY
- Dedicated gaming controls
- Slightly better performance for gaming
- More modern chipset (S2)
- 10W wired charging
- Less impressive display
- Lower camera quality
- Smaller battery
- Limited app compatibility today
Display Comparison
The Xperia X10 features a 4.0-inch Reality Display with a resolution of 480x854 pixels. The Xperia PLAY has a 4.0-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 480x854 pixels. While both have the same resolution, the X10's Reality Display technology generally provided better color reproduction and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia X10 had a 8.1MP camera capable of recording 720p video, while the Xperia PLAY had an 8MP camera capable of recording 720p video. The X10's camera generally produced slightly better image quality, especially in low-light conditions, due to its slightly higher resolution and potentially better optics. The PLAY's camera was adequate but not exceptional.
Performance
Both phones are powered by a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets (QSD8250 vs MSM8255). The Xperia PLAY's MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 offered a slight edge in performance, particularly noticeable in gaming, due to minor architectural improvements. However, both devices struggled with modern apps and multitasking by today's standards.
Battery Life
The Xperia X10 had a 1500 mAh battery, while the Xperia PLAY had a 1400 mAh battery. Battery life was generally comparable on both devices, offering around a day of moderate use. Neither phone had exceptional battery performance.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Xperia X10? Collectors of retro Android devices, users prioritizing a larger, higher-resolution display, and those seeking a more versatile multimedia experience. Who should buy the Xperia PLAY? Dedicated mobile gamers seeking physical controls and a slightly more powerful processor for gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What Android version did these phones ship with?
Both the Xperia X10 and Xperia PLAY initially launched with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). They received updates to Android 2.3.4, but did not receive further major Android updates.
❓ Are these phones still usable today?
While technically usable, both phones are severely limited by their outdated hardware and software. App compatibility is a major issue, and performance will be slow with modern apps. They are primarily of interest to collectors and enthusiasts.
