While the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo isn’t the fastest or the most fully-featured smartphone you can buy, it brings some high-end features to the mid-range market. Its opponent here is the good-looking LG Optimus Black, which sounds suspiciously like a character from a Harry Potter novel. Which one should you buy? Let’s run the numbers…
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Stat-fight: Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo vs. LG Optimus Black
Highlights: the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo features a 3.7-inch LED-backlit LCD with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. Also of note is an 8.0 MP digital camera. The rival LG Optimus Black, meanwhile, boasts a slightly roomier 4.0-inch (480 x 800 pixel) NOVA LCD plus a 5.0 MP camera. See the full smartphone comparison below…
| Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo | VS | LG Optimus Black | |
| Display | 3.7-inch LED-backlit LCD | 4.0-inch NOVA LCD | |
| Resolution | 480 x 854 pixels | 480 x 800 pixels | |
| Keyboard | No | No | |
| Processor | 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon | 1GHz TI OMAP 3630 | |
| Software | Android 2.3 | Android 2.2, upgradeable to 2.3 (Gingerbread) | |
| Storage | Up to 32GB | Up to 32GB | |
| Rear camera | 8.0 Megapixels with autofocus, touch-to-focus, LED flash, image stabilization, geo-tagging, face and smile detection and 720p video capture | 5.0 Megapixels with autofocus, an LED flash, geo-tagging and 720p HD video capture | |
| Front camera | Yes | Yes | 4G | No | No |
| 3G | 3G/HSDPA (7.2Mbps) | 3G/HSDPA (7.2Mbps) | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11b/g/n | |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 with A2DP | 2.1 with A2DP | |
| Size | 57.0 x 116.0 x 13.0mm | 63.5 x 121.0 x 9.2mm | |
| Weight | 126g | 109g | |
| Talktime | 7.0 hours | 6.0 hours | |
| Standby | 400 hours | 350 hours |
Analysis: Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo vs. LG Optimus Black
Best Connectivity: Draw (1-1)
Best Size/Weight: Optimus Black (1-2)
The LG Optimus Black is the slimmer of the two phones with a depth of only 9.2mm. Nice. Consequently, the Optimus Black is wider, measuring 63.5mm to the Xperia Neo’s 57.0mm. If weight is an issue, then the Xperia Neo is 126g, while LG’s skinny phone is a mere 109g.
Best Camera/Video: Xperia Neo (2-2)
Sony Ericsson has opted for a 8.0 Megapixel camera in its phone, which boasts autofocus, touch-to-focus, LED flash, image stabilization, geo-tagging, face and smile detection and 720p video capture. It supports a max resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels. For video calls and self portraits, there’s also a front-facing camera.
Unfortunately for the Optimus Black, it boasts a poorer specification, specifically a 5.0 Megapixel camera. Yes. There’s autofocus, an LED flash, geo-tagging and 720p HD video capture. But the maximum resolution of the camera is 2592 x 1944 pixels. Like the Neo, a second camera located on the front is ideal for video calls.
Best Display: Xperia Neo (2-3)
Display size is key and the Xperia Neo features a 3.7-inch (480 x 854) touch-sensitive LED-backlit LCD screen. Measuring 4.0 inches, Optimus Black’s touch-sensitive NOVA LCD screen is bigger. In this battle, it has a slightly lower screen resolution of 480 x 800 pixels.
Best Processor: Draw (3-4)
Best Software: Xperia Neo (4-4)
Out of the box, Android 2.3 on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo beats Android 2.2 on the Optimus Black. LG’s phone is upgradeable to 2.3, however.
Best Storage: Draw (5-5)
Best Battery life: Xperia Neo (6-5)
Best Extras: Draw (7-6)
The Xperia Neo also includes GPS/A-GPS, DLNA content sharing, Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, digital compass, HDMI out and a stereo FM radio. In comparison, the Optimus Black features GPS/A-GPS, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA content sharing and a digital compass.
BPF Verdict: The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo wins!
See if these two phones make our Top 20 Best Smartphones list…
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