Sony Ericsson Yendo vs Xperia PLAY: A Clash of Eras

Remember the days of feature phones and early smartphones? Today, we're pitting two iconic Sony Ericsson devices against each other: the Yendo, a stylish slider, and the Xperia PLAY, a gaming powerhouse. This comparison will explore their strengths and weaknesses, helping you understand which phone holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia PLAY is the clear winner. Its significantly faster processor, dedicated gaming controls, and superior display offer a vastly improved experience. While the Yendo boasts a charming retro design, the Xperia PLAY's performance and features make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Yendo	Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Network
2G bands	GSM 900 / 1800	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	-	HSDPA 900 / 2100
4G bands	-	2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 38, 66, 71
EDGE	Class 10	-
GPRS	Class 10	-
Speed	-	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM	GSM / HSPA
	GSM 850 / 1900	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800

Launch
Announced	2010, June. Released 2010, October	2011, February. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	93.5 x 52 x 15.5 mm (3.68 x 2.05 x 0.61 in)	119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	81 g (2.86 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)

Display
Resolution	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density)
Size	2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~43.1% screen-to-body ratio)	4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 (~59.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT, 256K colors	LED-backlit LCD,
	-	Touch-sensitive gaming controls PSP like gaming buttons Timescape UI

Platform
CPU	156 MHz	1.0 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	-	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
GPU	-	Adreno 205
OS	-	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

Memory
Call records	Yes	-
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	5MB	400MB 512MB RAM
Phonebook	1000 entries, Photocall	-

Main Camera
Features	-	LED flash
Single	2 MP	5 MP, AF
Video	Yes	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	No	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	No
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	No	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	HTML	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash
Games	Yes	-
Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0	-
Messaging	SMS, MMS, Email	-
Sensors	-	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	TrackID music recognition MP4/H.263 player Walkman player Facebook, Twitter apps 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	-	10W wired
Music play	-	Up to 31 h
Stand-by	Up to 312 h	Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 3 h 30 min	Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 970 mAh battery (BST-38)	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Silver, White, Yellow	Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange
Price	About 70 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR EU	1.07 W/kg (head)	0.36 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Camera	-	Photo
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB

Sony Ericsson Yendo

Stylish design
Compact size
Simple to use

Extremely slow performance
Low-resolution display
Limited functionality
Poor camera

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Dedicated gaming controls
Faster processor
Better display
More capable smartphone features

Outdated hardware by today's standards
Limited app availability compared to modern phones
Battery life still limited

Display Comparison

The Xperia PLAY features a 4.0-inch Reality Display with a resolution of 480x854 pixels, offering a much better viewing experience than the Yendo's likely smaller, lower-resolution screen. Colors are more vibrant, and the overall clarity is significantly improved on the Xperia PLAY.

Camera Comparison

Both phones have a camera, but the Xperia PLAY's likely has better image quality due to its more advanced hardware. The Yendo's camera was likely basic, offering limited resolution and features. Expect noticeably better photos from the Xperia PLAY.

Performance

The Xperia PLAY's 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor is a massive leap over the Yendo's 156 MHz CPU. This translates to drastically faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a far more responsive user interface. Gaming on the Xperia PLAY is genuinely playable, while the Yendo would struggle with even basic apps.

Battery Life

The Xperia PLAY, with its 1500mAh battery, likely offered better battery life than the Yendo's smaller battery (estimated around 900mAh), especially considering the Yendo's limited functionality. However, both would be significantly outmatched by modern smartphone batteries.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Yendo is for collectors and those seeking a simple, stylish feature phone experience. The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is for retro gaming enthusiasts and anyone wanting a more capable smartphone from that era, understanding its limitations compared to modern devices.