The Sony Xperia 10 series has consistently offered a compelling blend of features and affordability. But with the Xperia 10 II building upon the foundation of the 10 Plus, which phone is the better choice? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs and performance to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 10 II is the clear winner, offering a more efficient chipset, improved battery life, and a brighter display. While the 10 Plus boasts a respectable contrast ratio, the 10 II’s upgrades make it a more modern and compelling option for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - I3213, I4213, I4293 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38 - I3213, I4213 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat11 600/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 28, 29, 66 - I3223 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, February 27 | 2020, February 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, May 05 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 167 x 73 x 8.3 mm (6.57 x 2.87 x 0.33 in) | 157 x 69 x 8.2 mm (6.18 x 2.72 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 180 g (6.35 oz) | 151 g (5.33 oz) |
| | - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~422 ppi density) | 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~457 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 98.7 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 84.1 cm2 (~77.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.25µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", PDAF, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0" |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD, QC3 | 18W wired, PD, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3600 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Navy, Silver, Gold | Black, White, Mint Green, Berry Blue |
| Models | I3213, I4213, I4293, I3223 | XQ-AU51, XQ-AU52, SO-41A |
| Price | About 560 EUR | About 700 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.4dB / Crosstalk -96.7dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 78h
| Endurance rating 92h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1530:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.8 LUFS (Average)
|
-28.8 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 120573 (v7), 147163 (v8)
GeekBench: 4780 (v4.4), 1238 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 196545 (v8)
GeekBench: 5679 (v4.4), 1413 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia 10 Plus
- High contrast ratio display
- Affordable price (potentially)
- Decent battery life
- Older chipset
- Lower peak brightness
- Can feel sluggish
Sony Xperia 10 II
- Improved performance (Snapdragon 665)
- Longer battery life
- Brighter display
- More modern design
- Potentially higher price (depending on retailer)
- Camera improvements are incremental
Display Comparison
The Xperia 10 II features a measured peak brightness of 520 nits, a significant improvement over the 10 Plus. While both offer a nominal infinite contrast ratio, the 10 II's brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The 10 Plus's 1530:1 contrast is still good, but the 10 II's display is noticeably more vibrant.
Camera Comparison
Both phones share similar camera hardware, but the 10 II's newer processor allows for improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Expect slightly more refined photos from the 10 II. Both offer decent photo and video capabilities for their price range.
Performance
The Snapdragon 665 in the Xperia 10 II is a more efficient and powerful chipset than the 636 in the 10 Plus. The 11nm process allows for better power management and improved performance in everyday tasks and light gaming. The 10 Plus can feel sluggish at times, especially when multitasking.
Battery Life
The Xperia 10 II boasts an impressive endurance rating of 92 hours, significantly better than the 10 Plus's 78 hours. This is largely thanks to the more efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset. Users can expect noticeably longer battery life on the 10 II.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia 10 Plus is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a high contrast ratio display and don't mind slightly older hardware. The Xperia 10 II is ideal for those seeking better performance, longer battery life, and a brighter screen, making it a more versatile choice for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia 10 II worth the upgrade from the Xperia 10 Plus?
Yes, the Xperia 10 II offers significant improvements in performance and battery life, making it a worthwhile upgrade for most users.
❓ What is the difference between the Snapdragon 636 and 665?
The Snapdragon 665 is built on a more efficient 11nm process compared to the 636's 14nm, resulting in better performance and power efficiency.
