Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S

A spec-by-spec comparison of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S, taken from their full specification sheets. Green marks the better value in each measured row.

Head to head

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Price$7,328$38
Our rating7/106/10
Battery1,500 mAh1,500 mAh
Storage (max)32 GB32 GB
Screen size4.2 in4.2 in
Main camera8.1 MP8.1 MP
Weight (lower is lighter)117 g117 g
ReleasedMar 2011Sep 2011
Summary: Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is ahead on our rating.
★ Which should you buy? Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc is the stronger overall pick on the measured specs. If budget matters more than the extra capability, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S is the cheaper option.

Display

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
TypeLED-backlit LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colorsLED-backlit LCD, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
Size4.2 inches4.2 inches, 480 x 854 pixels
Resolution480 x 854 pixels (FWVGA), 233 ppi480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~233 ppi density)
ProtectionScratch-resistant glassScratch-resistant glass
FeaturesSony Mobile BRAVIA Engine, Multi-touchSony Mobile BRAVIA Engine

Platform

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
OSAndroid 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2Qualcomm MSM8255T Snapdragon S2
CPU1 GHz Scorpion1.4 GHz Scorpion
GPUAdreno 205Adreno 205

Memory

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Internal320 MB user storage, 512 MB RAM1GB (320MB user available), 512MB RAM
Card slotmicroSDHC, up to 32 GB (8 GB card often included)microSDHC, up to 32 GB (dedicated slot), 8GB card included

Main Camera

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Single8.1 MP8.1 MP, f/2.4, 24mm (wide), 1/3.2", AF
FeaturesAutofocus, LED flash, Exmor R sensor, Geo-tagging, Face detection, Smile detection, Image/video stabilization, Touch capture & touch focus, 3D sweep panoramaLED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, 3D sweep panorama
Video720p HD recording720p@30fps

Selfie Camera

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
SingleNoneNo

Battery

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
TypeLi-PoRemovable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery
Capacity1500 mAh—
Music playUp to 37 hoursUp to 37 h
Video playbackUp to 6 hours 25 minutes—
Talk time—Up to 7 h 35 min (2G) / 7 h 25 min (3G)

Body

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
Dimensions125 x 63 x 8.7 mm125 x 63 x 8.7 mm (4.92 x 2.48 x 0.34 in)
Weight117 g117 g (4.13 oz)
SIMMini-SIMMini-SIM

Comms

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth2.1, A2DP2.1, A2DP, EDR
GPSA-GPSYes, with A-GPS
NFCNoNo
RadioFM RadioStereo FM radio with RDS
USBmicroUSB 2.0microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go
HDMImicro-HDMI (Type D)microHDMI port

Launch

Sony Ericsson Xperia ArcSony Ericsson Xperia Arc S
AnnouncedJanuary 2011 (CES 2011)2011, August
StatusReleased March 2011Discontinued

Frequently asked questions

Which is newer, Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc or Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S?

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S — Mar 2011 for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc versus Sep 2011 for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S.

Is the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc or the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S rated higher?

We rate the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc 7/10 and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S 6/10.

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