Sony Ericsson Zylo vs Xperia PLAY: A Retro Smartphone Showdown

The mid-to-late 2000s were a golden age for Sony Ericsson, producing iconic devices that blended style and innovation. Today, we're pitting two of those classics against each other: the music-focused Zylo and the gaming-centric Xperia PLAY. Let's see which one holds up best.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia PLAY clearly wins due to its Snapdragon processor and dedicated gaming controls. While the Zylo boasts a sleek design, the Xperia PLAY's superior performance and unique features make it the more compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a retro gaming experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Zylo	Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 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 2100	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 / 800

Launch
Announced	2010, April. Released 2010, July	2011, February. Released 2011, March
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	103 x 52 x 16 mm (4.06 x 2.05 x 0.63 in)	119 x 62 x 16 mm (4.69 x 2.44 x 0.63 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	115 g (4.06 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	-
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 (~39.1% 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	-	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	260MB	400MB 512MB RAM
Phonebook	2000 entries, Photocall	-

Main Camera
Features	-	LED flash
Single	3.15 MP	5 MP, AF
Video	480p@24fps	720p

Selfie camera
Features	-	LED flash
Single	-	VGA
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	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	USB 2.0	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	No	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (NetFront), RSS reader	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, Adobe Flash
Games	Yes, incl. motion-based + downloadable	-
Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0	-
Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM	-
Sensors	Accelerometer	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	Walkman 4.0 player FLAC/MP3/eAAC+/WAV player SensMe, Track ID MP4/H.264 player Photo editor YouTube, Facebook, Twitter applications Organizer 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 340 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)	Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 413 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 4 h (2G) / Up to 3 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 8 h 25 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 25 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion battery	Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Jazz Black, Chacha Silver, Swing Pink, Energetic Black, Meteorite White, Nebula Red	Black, White, Stealth Blue (for Play 4G), Orange
Price	About 80 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR EU	0.88 W/kg (head)	0.36 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -85.5dB / Crosstalk -84.8dB	Noise -89.6dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Camera	Photo	Photo
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 79dB

Sony Ericsson Zylo

Sleek and stylish design
Music-focused features
Compact size

Limited performance
Basic camera
Scarce information on specs
Likely shorter battery life

Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY

Dedicated gaming controls
Snapdragon processor for better performance
Larger display
More readily available information and support

Dated design (though unique)
Low resolution display
Basic camera
Battery life is limited by today's standards

Display Comparison

Both phones feature relatively small displays by today's standards. The Zylo has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, while the Xperia PLAY has a 4.0-inch display. The Xperia PLAY's larger screen offers a slightly better viewing experience, but both suffer from lower resolutions compared to modern devices. Color accuracy and brightness are also limited.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are limited to 'Photo' capabilities as listed, suggesting basic camera functionality. Image quality on both will be poor by modern standards, with low resolution and limited features. Don't expect stunning photos from either device.

Performance

This is where the Xperia PLAY shines. Its Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU provides a significant performance boost over the Zylo's likely less powerful processor (specific Zylo chipset details are scarce). The Xperia PLAY handles games and multitasking much more smoothly.

Battery Life

The Zylo likely had a smaller battery than the Xperia PLAY. The Xperia PLAY's 1500mAh battery offered reasonable battery life for its time, while the Zylo's battery life was likely shorter due to its smaller size and potentially less efficient components. The 10W wired charging on the Xperia PLAY is standard for the era.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Zylo is for those prioritizing a stylish, music-centric phone with a simple user experience. The Xperia PLAY is for gamers and collectors who appreciate a dedicated gaming handheld experience in a smartphone form factor, even with its age.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What year were these phones released?

The Sony Ericsson Zylo was released in 2009, while the Xperia PLAY was released in 2010.

❓ Are spare parts readily available for these phones?

Spare parts are increasingly difficult to find for both devices, but the Xperia PLAY might have slightly better availability due to its greater popularity.