Need help choosing an Android phone

[Foxi4]

With a phone contract nearing its end comes a very important decision - picking a new phone. Unfortunately this year, my carrier offered me quite a pickle as far as the choice is concerned. After a few conversations where they were offering me low-tier single-core phones thinking that they're talking with a complete moron, we've finally reached the point where they're offering me something moderately interesting... for vastly different reasons.

The problem I'm facing is that they're offering me the Sony Xperia M and the HTC Desire 500.

Sony Xperia M is based on the Snapdragon S4 MSM8227 SoC, meaning it's a Dual Core 1GHz Krait CPU with an Adreno 305 GPU, while the HTC Desire 500 is based on Snapdragon S200 8625Q, meaning a Quad Core 1.4GHz CPU with an Adreno 203 GPU.

After watching a couple of benchmarks, the HTC Desire 500 is marginally better in everyday computing tasks, but the Adreno 305 GPU in the Xperia M would probably be superior for gaming.

It's a very difficult choice for me since the Xperia M is offering a mid-range processor from the older S4 line while the Desire 500 is taunting me with a more recent Snapdragon 200... albeit a low-end one. Additionally, I can get the Xperia M for practically free (25 cents... ) while ordering the Desire 500 requires an extra $80.

My questions are as follows:

• Which one would you choose and why?
• Is the Adreno 203 a massive bottleneck in terms of gaming applications or does the Quad Core setup make up for the difference?
• Which of those two devices will be better for emulation purposes? I would assume that the stronger CPU would be better?

Discuss.

 

[Kirito-kun]

Why not just get an unlocked used Nexus 4? It'll provide a significantly better experience than both of those phones. Wouldn't be much more expensive either.

 

[Foxi4]

Because I just said that I'm getting an offer from a provider, I'm getting the phones for next to nothing for the sake of "staying with them".

I don't need an alternative, I need a clean-cut choice between the two.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I've heard more good things about the HTC than the Xperia really. If you want to do a bit of mobile gaming, including emulation, than the HTC would probably be the better choice.

Although, rooting and putting a custom ROM would probably be easier on the Xperia (which I strongly recommend doing so you can get better performance without all the bloatware shit phone companies load on phones.) Though at this point the HTC Desire should have a quick tool for it...


From a features point of view, the HTC wins out over the Xperia.

 

[Foxi4]

I've heard more good things about the HTC than the Xperia really. If you want to do a bit of mobile gaming, including emulation, than the HTC would probably be the better choice.

Although, rooting and putting a custom ROM would probably be easier on the Xperia, (which I strongly recommend doing so you can get better performance without all the bloatware shit phone companies load on phones.) Though at this point the HTC Desire should have a quick tool for it at this point...


From a features point of view, the HTC wins out over the Xperia.

I'm not 100% certain about that, the HTC does have a severely inferior GPU. The Xperia is likely to handle Android-based games much better since it has the Adreno 305, the HTC on the other hand has a quad core CPU which will do wonders in emulation... Hmm...

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I'm not 100% certain about that, the HTC does have a severely inferior GPU. The Xperia is likely to handle Android-based games much better since it has the Adreno 305, the HTC on the other hand has a quad core CPU which will do wonders in emulation... Hmm...

To be fair, most emulators on Android don't use more than 2 cores, so from a "gaming" point of view the Xperia would probably be best.

But that also means worse battery life, according to Phone Arena.

 

[Kirito-kun]

Because I just said that I'm getting an offer from a provider, I'm getting the phones for next to nothing for the sake of "staying with them".

I don't need an alternative, I need a clean-cut choice between the two.

Those phones are so low-end they'd cost next to nothing even if you buy then unlocked. Still, if you have to pick, go with the Adreno 305. It's more than twice as powerful compared to the 203. As for CPU, it's not as important for gaming. 1 GHz dual-core should be sufficient. It's not like most Android games use more than two threads anyways.

 

[Foxi4]

To be fair, most emulators on Android don't use more than 2 cores, so from a "gaming" point of view the Xperia would probably be best.

But that also means worse battery life, according to Phone Arena.

Don't give a damn about battery life, I don't mind charging every night. I'm gradually leaning towards the Xperia, I can get it with a far superior contract as far as monthly payments go and I don't need to pay extra while, according to benchmarks, the GPU does provide the gaming edge.

I take it that the general consensus is that Dual Core won't be a massive bottleneck in emulators? I'm not planning on emulating anything beyond the GBA anyways - I can play all my PSX games at full speed on the PSP anyways and I have zero interest in N64.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Don't give a damn about battery life, I don't mind charging every night. I'm gradually leaning towards the Xperia, I can get it with a far superior contract as far as monthly payments go and I don't need to pay extra while, according to benchmarks, the GPU does provide the gaming edge.

I take it that the general consensus is that Dual Core won't be a massive bottleneck in emulators? I'm not planning on emulating anything beyond the GBA anyways - I can play all my PSX games at full speed on the PSP anyways and I have zero interest in N64.

Yeah, if you don't plan on going past GBA than you should be more than fine. Hell, I have some old single core 800MHz phone that can emulate all that stuff just fine lol.

 

[Foxi4]

Some extra results:

Quadrant Benchmark:
Xperia M: 4217
HTC Desire 500: 5385

NeneMark2:
Xperia M: 64.4FPS
HTC Desire 500: 38.5FPS

AnTuTu:
Xperia M: 10145
HTC Desire 500: 11203

As expected, CPU-wise the HTC Desire has a marginal edge while GPU-wise the Xperia M is almost twice as proficient.

I think the Xperia M wins my heart overall, opinions?

 

[Kirito-kun]

Some extra results:

Quadrant Benchmark:
Xperia M: 4217
HTC Desire 500: 5385

NeneMark2:
Xperia M: 64.4FPS
HTC Desire 500: 38.5FPS

AnTuTu:
Xperia M: 10145
HTC Desire 500: 11203

As expected, CPU-wise the HTC Desire has a marginal edge while GPU-wise the Xperia M is almost twice as proficient.

I think the Xperia M wins my heart overall, opinions?

Take the Sony. The GPU more than makes up for the CPU.

 

[Foxi4]

Yeah, I think so too, especially since the Xperia M comes with a far superior plan and I don't need to pay extra for it.

 

[porkiewpyne]

I completely understand how you feel since I am contract-bound and using the el cheapo lower tier packages, so I only ever get offered not-so-flashy phones.

I can't really answer the technical questions. But here's my 2 cents regarding the first question. Like you said, the HTC Desire 500 does seem slightly superior specwise except for the GPU but being the cheapskate I am, I am not sure if the $80 is justified, given they are not your top-of-the-range models. If I were to make a choice, I'd go with the Xperia, though it's mostly personal. Slightly tired of HTC, liking the Xperia's form factor better, yea.

 

[Foxi4]

I forgot that the Xperia M is extremely sexy...

 

[Zerousen]

Xperia M.

 

[Foxi4]

It's shaping up to be another instance of Foxi4Sony, except with actually good reasons. ;O;

Thanks for helping with the decision lads, I think my mind is set on the Xperia M now, mostly due to the massive superiority of the GPU, but also because the phone just looks nicer. Technically the camera is worse but... "oh dear", who cares about mobile phone cameras when 9 out of 10 times the photos will looks crap without good optics anyways.

 

[geishroy]

i wouldn't base my phone purchase on benchmarks alone. these kind of tests are typically inflated by the phone developers. while they may deny it, it is well documented on the internet. Go for the features you need and the GPU you can afford. the most recent opengl support should be top priority.

 

[UltraMew]

iPhone. [jk]

 

[Foxi4]

The Xperia M is heading my way, just spoke with the consultant. Thanks for all your opinions, you've all been helpful!

 

[gman666]

Just wanted to assure you that the xperia m will be vastly superior in power consumption as well as performance per core. The cpu on the xperia m is built on a smaller fabrication process and should be more power efficient. Also a simple overclock to about 1.2~1.3 will close the gap against the htc. The a5 on the htc is inferior to the cpu on the Xperia. Also, In terms of developer support for custom roms and such i would go for xperia.