The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 marked a significant era in Android smartphones, while the Xperia X Compact represented a more modern, compact powerhouse. This comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall value to help you understand which phone holds up better today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia X Compact is the clear winner. While the X10 holds nostalgic charm, the X Compact's superior performance, modern chipset, significantly better battery life, and faster charging make it the more practical and capable device for contemporary use.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - F5321 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - F5321 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800 - X10a for Americas | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2009, November. Released 2010, March | 2016, September 01. Released 2016, September 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 119 x 63 x 13 mm (4.69 x 2.48 x 0.51 in) | 129 x 65 x 9.5 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 135 g (4.76 oz) | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~319 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~58.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 65K colors | IPS LCD |
| | Timescape/Mediascape UI | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | Hexa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 | Qualcomm MSM8956 Snapdragon 650 |
| GPU | Adreno 200 | Adreno 510 |
| OS | Android 1.6 (Donut), upgradable to 2.3 (Gingerbread) | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 1GB 384MB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF |
| Video | w480p@30fps, 720p@30fps (via SW update) | 1080p@30fps, 1080p@60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 5 MP |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE |
| NFC | - | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (region dependent) |
| Radio | No | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML, Adobe Flash | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Stand-by | Up to 415 h (2G) / Up to 425 h (3G) | Up to 710 h (2G) / Up to 750 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 8 h (3G) | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 14 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery (BST-41) | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sensous Black, Luster White | White, Universe black, Mist blue |
| Models | - | SO-02J, F5321 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.81 W/kg (body) | 0.66 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.25 W/kg (head) | 1.08 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -85.4dB / Crosstalk -83.6dB |
Noise -95.1dB / Crosstalk -90.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1225 (nominal), 3.694 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 68dB
|
Voice 64dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 69dB |
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1738Basemark X: 15415 |
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
- Nostalgic Android experience
- Compact design (for its time)
- Unique design elements
- Outdated performance
- Short battery life
- Poor camera quality by today's standards
- Slow charging
- Limited app compatibility
Sony Xperia X Compact
- Excellent battery life
- Good performance for its size
- Decent camera
- Fast charging
- Compact and lightweight
- Modern Android experience
- Screen size may be small for some
- Design is somewhat understated
Display Comparison
Both phones boast a respectable contrast ratio of 1225 (nominal) and 3.694 (sunlight), indicating good visibility even in bright conditions. However, the X Compact likely has a more modern display technology (likely IPS LCD) offering better color accuracy and viewing angles compared to the X10's likely older LCD panel. The X Compact's screen is also slightly larger, providing a more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
While both are listed as 'Photo / Video', the X Compact's camera hardware and image processing are vastly superior. Expect better image quality, faster autofocus, and improved low-light performance from the X Compact. The X10's camera, while decent for its time, is noticeably outdated.
Performance
The Xperia X Compact's Snapdragon 650 chipset with its hexa-core processor (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72) utterly dominates the X10's aging Snapdragon S1 (1.0 GHz Scorpion). The X Compact offers significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness. The X10 will likely struggle with modern apps and demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Xperia X Compact's endurance rating of 73h is exceptional, showcasing its impressive battery optimization. The X10's battery life was considerably shorter, likely struggling to last a full day with moderate use. The X Compact also benefits from 18W wired charging and QC3 support, offering significantly faster charging speeds.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is for collectors or those seeking a retro Android experience. The Xperia X Compact is ideal for users wanting a compact, reliable phone with good performance, a decent camera, and excellent battery life – perfect for everyday use and travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia X10 still usable in 2024?
While technically usable, the Xperia X10's outdated hardware and software make it a frustrating experience. App compatibility is limited, and performance is slow.
❓ What Android version did the Xperia X Compact ship with?
The Xperia X Compact launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and received updates to Android 7.0 Nougat.
