Sony has a rich history in the smartphone world, offering devices across various price points. Today, we're pitting two contrasting models against each other: the budget-friendly Xperia E1 Dual and the flagship Xperia Z1s. This comparison will help you understand which phone best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia Z1s is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 800 chipset and superior specs deliver significantly better performance, camera quality, and overall user experience. The E1 Dual is a budget option, but the Z1s offers a premium experience for those willing to spend more.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - D2104/D2114 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 4, 17 |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - D2105 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, January. Released 2014, March | 2014, January. Released 2014, January |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 118 x 62.4 x 12 mm (4.65 x 2.46 x 0.47 in) | 145.7 x 73.9 x 8.6 mm (5.74 x 2.91 x 0.34 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Mini-SIM, dual stand-by) | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 122 g (4.30 oz) | 162 g (5.71 oz) |
| | - | IP58 dust proof and water resistant over 1.5 meter and 30 minutes |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Shatter proof glass |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~61.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~64.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | TFT |
| | - | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 | Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8210 Snapdragon 200 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 302 | Adreno 330 |
| OS | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.4.2 (KitKat), Timescape UI | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 4GB 512MB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 20.7 MP, 1/2.3", AF |
| Video | SVGA@20fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | 2 MP |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, A2DP |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG, magnetic connector |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | HTML | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 29 h | Up to 40 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 366 h (2G) / Up to 441 h (3G) | Up to 600 h (2G) / Up to 620 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 13 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 41 min (3G) | Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 15 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1750 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple, White | Black |
| Models | D2105, D2104, D2114 | C6916 |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | 0.72 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body) | 0.72 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.63 W/kg (head) 0.65 W/kg (body) | - |
Sony Xperia E1 dual
- Affordable
- Compact size
- Dual SIM support
- Low performance
- Poor camera quality
- Low-resolution display
- Limited storage
Sony Xperia Z1s
- High performance
- Excellent camera
- Full HD display
- Premium design
- Good battery life
- Higher price
- Can be bulky for some
Display Comparison
The Xperia Z1s boasts a 5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with excellent color accuracy and sharpness. The E1 Dual has a smaller 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) display, which feels noticeably less detailed and vibrant. The Z1s's larger size and higher resolution provide a much better viewing experience for media consumption and gaming.
Camera Comparison
The Xperia Z1s features a 20.7MP rear camera capable of capturing stunning photos and videos. It offers excellent detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance. The E1 Dual's 3.2MP camera is adequate for basic snapshots but struggles in challenging lighting conditions. The Z1s's camera is in a different league entirely.
Performance
Performance is where the Z1s truly shines. Its Snapdragon 800 chipset with a quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU offers significantly faster processing speeds compared to the E1 Dual's dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user interface on the Z1s. The E1 Dual can feel sluggish, especially when handling demanding apps.
Battery Life
The Xperia Z1s has a 3000 mAh battery, providing decent battery life for a flagship device. The E1 Dual has a smaller 1900 mAh battery, which is sufficient for light usage but may require frequent charging with more demanding tasks. The Z1s generally offers longer battery life due to its more efficient processor and larger battery capacity.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia E1 Dual is ideal for users on a tight budget who primarily need basic smartphone functionality like calls, texts, and light social media use. The Xperia Z1s is perfect for users who demand high performance, a great camera, and a premium design, and are willing to pay for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia E1 Dual still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and need a basic phone for calls and texts. Otherwise, there are better options available for a slightly higher price.
❓ What year was the Xperia Z1s released?
The Xperia Z1s was released in late 2013, making it a relatively old device. However, its powerful hardware still holds up reasonably well.
