Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 vs. Apple iPhone 4 Specs Comparison

Sony Ericsson has a very strong play coming to AT&T in 2010 – the XPERIA X10. With specifications straight out of Star Trek, is one of the most advanced devices ever released by Sony Ericsson. However, the new iPhone 4, despite its shortcomings, has set the bar in smartphone functionality that is nearly unmatched by other devices. We put the XPERIA X10 (specs courtesy Sony Ericsson) head to head with the iPhone 4 (specs courtesy of Apple) in a detailed specifications comparison. The North American market has been dominated by the iPhone family of phones, and it is now even more powerful than before with the updated 4th version. However, momentum behind Android is accelerating quickly with an avalanche of devices coming out for it. Both phones have rich application environments – the iPhone with App Store, and the XPERIA X10 with the Google Android Market.

The XPERIA X10 will come to the USA courtesy of AT&T (and labeled as the XPERIA X10a) on August 15th 2010 for $149 or less with a two year contract; this could be one interesting matchup against the $199 iPhone 4. We’ve highlighted the winner of each category in Green, the loser in Red, and neutral/subjective specs are in Yellow. Any categories left in White we couldn’t make a decision based on incomplete data, or felt was too trivial to really base a winner on. Please leave a comment with anything we’ve missed or errors in our work – we worked hard to make sure this was as accurate as possible.

I’ve used both devices extensively and there are certain advantages with the iPhone 4 that does set it apart from the XPERIA X10 or any other phone for that matter. The insane clarity of the retina display on the iPhone 4 is indisputable. Some people will hold the retina display as the feature that makes it better than the XPERIA X10. We feel that the XPERIA X10 does have several features (as we highlighted in green) that do give it key advantages over the iPhone 4, though. The best recommendation is for someone to use both phones and see how they feel, which will be possible after mid August in most AT&T stores.

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11
Aug 2010
POSTED BY Christopher MacManus
POSTED IN

Hardware, Mobile

DISCUSSION 82 Comments
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  • Nicholas72

    hmmmm .. after the 16 mill colors, will that place it in the green compared to the iphone 4. It doesn’t matter, the price is too good to pass up not holding this thing in my hand. luv the xperia, wish the entire column was green though, and not just green but unbeatable, like hulk green.

    • Anonymous

      hey Nicholas:
      I am looking forward to get Xperia. my question is whether I can download an application for Xperia to let me communicate with Black berry or iPhone? Like whatsapp Application which let iPhone & BB to chat, sent text or pictures for free !!! ( Like BB system but between iphone & BB)

      Thank you very much in advance

      ALI

  • Rajesh_mp9

    Xperia X10 is simply Superb & Awesome… ITs a real head-turner if you buy the white one.. :) ( on ebay/amazon ).
    Else, go get the black on AT&T. Its awesome. Iphone is absolutely no match… This is reality, no exaggeration

    • Anonymous

      hi there:
      I am looking forward to get Xperia. my question is whether I can download an application for Xperia to let me communicate with Black berry or iPhone? Like whatsapp Application which let iPhone & BB to chat, sent text or pictures for free !!! ( Like BB system but between iphone & BB)

      Thank you very much in advance

      ALI

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  • Chriswilliams

    You have the specs for the iphone 4 wrong, its got a 1ghz a4 processor not 800mhz

    • Italyforlife

      trust me it doesnt matter, sony and ericsson both make and higher end electronics and the specs have always been the best. you cannot compare hardware specs. ericsson and nokia have superior hardware specs a then apple by wayyyyyyy. do you have any idea when 5MP camera was a standard on these phones..well eyars ago lol…please do you research…

  • Chriswilliams
  • http://www.sonyinsider.com/ Sony Insider

    Actually, it’s 800mhz.

    Here is my source (search for 800mhz in the text):

    http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4-review/12

    Regards,

    Christopher MacManus
    Founder, Sony Insider
    http://www.sonyinsider.com

    The information contained in this message or any of its attachments
    may be confidential and is intended for the exclusive use of the
    addressee(s). Any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other
    dissemination or use of this communication is strictly prohibited
    without the express permission of the sender. The views expressed in
    this email are those of the individual and not necessarily those of
    Sony, Sony Insider, or Sony affiliated companies. Sony Insider email
    is for business use only.

  • http://www.sonyinsider.com/ Sony Insider

    The information about the processor at that site is incorrect..see my text above. Thank you for trying to help, though. :)

    • Jamie Turbill

      FFS ur an idiot really. Why are you trying to say that apple dont know how fast their processor is? its 1ghz and thats the end of it.

  • DC

    While here in Australia, i’ve used the Xperia, it’s an amazing phone.. in fact it’s so good that i would buy one… assuming there was no iPhone 4…

    I’m sorry, i own Everything Sony – but one thing they don’t have is the edge over Apple in Smartphones.

    The Apple App store alone is enough to crown the device, but here in Australia, we dont have the ‘death’ grip, which makes the iPhone 4 that much better… the screen is incomparable to anything of its kind… the camera is amazing – so is the Xperia’s one actually… but Seriously, I’d shut up if you find a phone as featured as these two, but as easy to use as the iphone…

    Sorry, i know this is a sony fansite, and that’s why im here, but alot of the greens and reds and yellows and whatever are incorrect.

    And Yes, the Processor is actually , 1GHz.

    ‘Replacing the Samsung S5PC100 ARM A8 600 MHz CPU used in the 3GS, the new iPhone uses the ARM Cortex A8 core, much like its bigger sibling, the iPad. The iPad’s A4 is clocked at 1 Ghz.’

    source: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPhone-4-Teardown/3130/2

    Besides, it’s up to the individual to decide whats the better phone, not specs…

    Clearly Apple gets my vote – and the sales are on my side… but don’t get me wrong, the XPERIA is an amazing phone and only you can decide when you use the devices.

  • http://www.txtimpact.com justinbryan

    Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is really an amazing device i think it is one of the best device ever lauched in the history of Sony Ericsson mobile phones. Features, look and configuration everything is just awesome!

  • Powaowa

    processors should BOTH be 1Ghz

    Sony I think has the better camera, Ipone has way better screen (resolution and strength) and more ram.

    I give edge to I phone but really, both are fantistic phones

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  • Icarus9775

    I love how after everybody proved that Sony insider was wrong about the processor, he didnt even come back and respond, probably kicking himself for posting an article without proper research ,

    • Italyforlife

      seriously it doesnt matter cause the qualcomm chipset is far superior then the one by A4. They both have 1Ghz but the specs for the snapdragon outweigh the A4 :) PLUS you GOT SONY CAMERA THAT BEATS IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.americanrecordablemedia.com/ DVD Duplicator

    Both of these smartphones have it’s pros and cons so select wisely.

  • Chinku

    hey..wt about this firmware update…?? xperia hs some battery problems…

  • Konnichiwa Domo

    dude that is so sad. you should come back and admit that you were wrong about the processor speed. i’m just saying

  • http://www.sonyinsider.com/ Sony Insider

    I appreciate the input, but I was correct. Check out this anandtech article, which clearly states,

    “Given Apple’s unwillingness to talk about the architecture here I think the safest bet is that we’re looking at an 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 core in the iPhone 4 and a 1GHz core in the iPad.”

    http://www.anandtech.com/show/3794/the-iphone-4…

    • Jamie Turbill

      i can only LOL at the fact your still trying to say that your right and everybodys wrong. Like this comment if you agree

  • http://www.sonyinsider.com/ Sony Insider

    What are you talking about? The article I linked to clearly states, “Given Apple’s unwillingness to talk about the architecture here I think the safest bet is that we’re looking at an 800MHz ARM Cortex A8 core in the iPhone 4 and a 1GHz core in the iPad.”

  • Ramiro

    It’s 800mhz, but clock speed has been irrelevant for nearly a decade now, or do you still use your 3.5ghz p4 over a 2.4ghz core i3? I can guarantee that even a single core atom at around 1.8ghz would outperform an older 3.5ghz p4, and qualcomm has already poised thier upcoming scorpion as the main competitor to apple’s cortex-a8 because, qualcomm understands that clock speed isn’t everything :-)

    • Italyforlife

      By the way Ramiro you have no idea what u talking about you comparing snapgradon 1GHz to a P4 lol…THe Snapgradon is a better chipset then the A4 by apple. they both use the Arm v7 instruction set so they have the same instruction set and 1 Ghz but the Snapdragon has much higher performance for multimedia-related SIMD operations. Plus it can also do 1080p ;)
      SO therefore the Qualcomm chipset is superior to the A4 chipset. Qualcomm makes better stuff ;) plus you got sony in the picture. Sony has a bigger influence overall market share when it comes to electronics then Apple so please. Aplle just started making the iphone lol cant compete with the best of both industries sony and Ericsson.

      THANK YOU
      LM

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000903843979 Alex Accarino

        Apple has been making electronics for quite some time……to the first mac and to the first iPod. But it’s not how many phones the company makes, it’s the quality/experience of the phone. And Apple has done a good job at that! iPad and iPhone sales are off the charts from millions being sold……..You always here stories of people that lined up days for the first sales of iPad and iPhone. Where’s Sony’s stories?

        • Mr Guestington

          You also hear stories of people lining up to see Twilight. Did you have an actual point to make?

          • Lukeclarka

            lmao, Mr Guerington….you are my hero. Alex, people by into w.e garbage the media feeds them.

          • Georges

            That is absolutely true. Popularity is no indication of quality or really anything and in fact, I notice when most things are really popular, it is a bad indication for me personally. Yeah, the iPhone brings an unmatched experience, that is, having thousands of applications while missing on key fundamental tasks and functions which end up being most important, but people do not seem to care.

            Now excuse me while I remove my 8GB memory stick from my Ericsson k850i and drag and drop files back and forth for the rest of the day. Just because I can.

          • http://www.facebook.com/Wonderbaum Rickard Thunder Vegusdal

            Haha Georgs, I seriously thought I was going to die when I read that. Hilarious, and just so true.

          • Oragonline

            its a da*m phone people.

  • http://www.sonyinsider.com/ Sony Insider

    It is meaningful and relevant to have processor information in a specifications comparison list.

  • SETHH

    XPERIA X10 All the way. No Apple here EVER. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SONY FAN AND ALWAYS BE ONE.

    • Serghuerta10

      Is the x10 worth trading my IPhone 3gs for?

  • Hayder

    Just question, what about the hearing problem? I heard that XPERIA X10 has hearing problem from both sides, is it real? If someone can answer me.

  • Joao

    WRONG…. TFT capacitive touchscreen, AND 384 RAM memory… :P

  • @asphaltrunner

    i have a Blackberry curve 8520 and to be honest… i have had 4 now. constantly being replaced… i have had the chance to toy around with both the 1phone4 and the x10 and i have to tell you, I wound up ordering the x10 i get it once i get home (trucker on the road)
    the functionality of both phones was impressive but the honors go to the x10.
    navigation and actual usability were substantially greater with the x10.
    Media and data management again better with the x10 .
    Apple came through with their “jail break” concept to expand on the apps for their entry but the overall comfort with the design was to Sony’s obvious benefit.

  • Tommyliu22

    Rear 5.0 MP backside illuminated CMOS image sensor with video (720p HD at 30 fps), LED flash. Front VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 fps. Those Specs on the APPLE IPOD are Far Superrior in terms of taking pictures of moving images. Run a Test of the Iphone and the Experia with Moving subjects and you will notice that the Iphone has superrior photos even though it has a 5.0 MP Camera where as the sony has 8.1

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Wilcox/100000355519112 Brandon Wilcox

      i agree the iPhone may have less mp but its pictures come out so much better cuz of the led flash, plus the new hdr setting improves the iPhone pictures even more when not using the led. i have to say that category belong to iPhone.

      • Italyforlife

        are u serious or on crack…the iphone stands no chance against sony the leader in electronics and imagery. first of all sony ericsson was the fist phone to release the 12.1 MP and the best camera phones are Nokia and ericsson. Apple have no clue about that. they just came out withthe 5mp crappy lens. sony has carl zeiss lens with image stability and so forth the list goes on…please do your resaerch before you say somethign gay liek that. Iphone is a commercial hybrid bastard phone with nothing in it made by apple.

    • Italyforlife

      you have no idea what u saying…you are telling the iphone 5mp cheap camera is better thenthe sony’s camer…are you serious plus the Xperia has image stabilzer and way better quality and everything that comes with the cybershot…you telling me its better then then cybershot carl zeiss lens…are you smoking crack?

      • Italyforlife

        and oh yeah by the way Xperia hardware does both 720p and 1080p whereas the iphone does only 720p…just wanted to put that in :)

  • http://www.israel-cctv.com מצלמות אבטחה

    I have to agree…

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Wilcox/100000355519112 Brandon Wilcox

    iPhone also uses gestures, u seem to have forgotten that in the meters list. thats another step above the xperia.

  • Demi_cassara

    I recognize the distinctions between the two devices. However, I will make the acquisition of sony ericsson xperia x10. The table you prepared was important for my choice.

  • Masoud1100

    hi
    Screen sensitivity in Xperia X10 is much less than iphone 4. Voice is not comparable either with that in iphone.Other things I think in Xperia X10 are much better than iphone 4. iphone 4 has a lot of games that makes it a play station not a phone.

  • Masoud1100

    hi
    Screen sensitivity in Xperia X10 is much less than iphone 4. Voice is not comparable either with that in iphone.Other things I think in Xperia X10 are much better than iphone 4. iphone 4 has a lot of games that makes it a play station not a phone.

  • Mercuryprince

    Besides Multitouch, retina display in iPhone4 remaining features are better in XPERIA X10. Though the collection of apps available for XPERIA X10 are less when compared to that of iPhone4, the Android market is growing, and it is open source. Thus not restricted to iTunes similar mode. Does not matter the number of apps, only few will be popular. Also, any popular available iPhone apps has equivalent in Android.

    If you genuinely look for a smartphone features, then you have it in XPERIA X10.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000903843979 Alex Accarino

    As nice as the phone is(and it is)……….I still wouldn’t let go of my iPhone 4 cause of Apps and the iOS interface.

  • Nycko_h

    ok, just look this vidéo to play yours médias. What is better ?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDcJK2ApSeo

    • caro

      Hi, I have a x10, I used to have an ipod touch and I really loved it, I love listen to music, but my mom and dad convince me to get a sony ericcson phone because of the camera. and belive me, I love my 8.1 mp camera in my phone, but everyhting else, it’s a little complicated, because i don’t like the timescape or the browser, … what do you suggest, should I get an iphone?
      I really want to record in hd, but in the other hand the iphone is just like any other apple product: a little bit to expensive for the hardware they gave you. I meant 5mp camera, not external memory, no flash, small and not removable battery…

      • Ohyuejin

        Hey, if you already have an X10, then no, there really is no point in getting an iPhone 4.
        The specs of the X10 are fantastic, especially the 8.1 MP cam, ability to record in 720hd. It really is an all in one phone. And the Xperia X10 might not have multi touch, but there is an update next year arnd Q1 that enables multi-touch for the X10, just so you know. And don’t forget that the X10 is very upgradable, due to it running on Android, it will have updates so long as SE continues to support the X10′s development. Not to mention the free apps you get from the Market.

        If you find the Sony Ericcson stuff complicated, there is an alternative where you get a custom ROM for your phone from XDA developers, and its free. It removes stuff like timescape, mediascape, etc, making it WAY faster, over 2 times faster than the Google Nexus 1 in fact. Be advised though, there might be some glitches, but XDA developers will fix em over time.

        I myself am a X10 user, and I am VERY satisfied with my phone. It acts as my phone, media player, web browser when I’m on the move, even as my GPS. Its also fast and personally, I think it looks sleeker than the iPhone 4, which kinda looks like a brick.

  • Tapdog1

    can’t read this on an iPhone, tried with both of mine and right hand side is cut off. what am I doing wrong? I would really like to read it, if you email me I will send you a screenshot.

  • Sisman Aluwi

    To me a good phone is a phone that I can make calls anywhere inside/outside of building. As I understand, iPhone has the tendency of dropping calls and poor signal strength. As for the xPeria X10, it has strong signal and few drop calls. All said, the winner is xPeria X10.

  • Fdas

    anyways.. this article is top on seo.. LOL

  • EpPart

    I’ve got a X10… AND IT’S AWESOME!!!!!!

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    I’ve used both devices extensively and there are certain advantages with the iPhone 4 that does set it apart from the XPERIA X10 or any other phone for that matter

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    The XPERIA X10 will come to the USA courtesy of AT&T (and labeled as the XPERIA X10a) on August 15th 2010 for $149 or less with a two year contract; this could be one interesting matchup against the $199 iPhone 4!

  • http://www.concretestained.net Concrete Grinding MIAMI

    We feel that the XPERIA X10 does have several features (as we highlighted in green) that do give it key advantages over the iPhone 4, though.

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    The iPhone with App Store, and the XPERIA X10 with the Google Android Market.

  • http://viettelonline.com USB 3G

    iPhone 4 is better.

  • leecher27

    will get my sensous black x10 tomorrow…. :-) :-):-)

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  • http://www.facebook.com/bondai Bondai Razali

    Xperia Vs IP4 = Android vs IO4 = Democracy Vs Conrol Freak…. who will win??
    in my case, Xperia won… i like my phone to be how i want it to be.. fully customisable homescreen with real multitasking…
    if u like to fiddle around, oveclocking you cpu etc, then Android is the one…
    but if u want something that is easy to use and like being controlled of what you can and cannot do, then go with IP4

  • http://twitter.com/irukshi_silva Irukshi Silva

    The only problem with the Xperia x10 is with the screen and video calling thing while the iphone 4 has many problems like with the signal, the fact that u can only use stuff from itunes(unless you jailbreak it) and the phone feels wierd, Steve jobs had said something bout the screen being really strong and all but tht has been proven WRONG!! The processer on the Xperia is faster than the iphone4 but just 2 secs i think. My opinion is that the Xperia x10 is better!!! I’m so glad I did’nt go buy the iphone4!!!!

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  • Richard pereira

    happy me i got bouth the whaite xperia x10i with android 2.1, nice phone and the iphone 4 with ios4.2, also nice phone, they sleep next to eatch other, ahahahahahahahah, but i use the x10 i for work and the iphone4 for swaggin, happy me. holla

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