I have a few tests to go through with each of the devices (Xperia X10, Nexus One, HTC Desire), then you can come to your own conclusions to which is better overall. I’ll throw in my thoughts just to give you an idea.
So hit “Read More” to get into it!
Overview
Just to set the record straight of what device is running what and so forth.
- Sony Ericsson Xperia X10i (Unbranded)
- Android 1.6
- Baseband: 1.0.16
- Kernel Version: 2.6.29
- HTC Desire (Telstra)
- Android 2.1
- Baseband: 32.30.00.28U_4.05.00.11
- Kernel Version: 2.6.29
- Google Nexus One (Unbranded)
- Android 2.1 (CM)
- Baseband: 32.26.00.24H_4.04.00.03_2
- Kernel Version: 2.6.33.3
Each device has the same 1GHz Snapdragon CPU but with different amounts of RAM, each device will have it’s strong and weak points.
Let’s get into it!
Contents
Network
In for this test, I’ll do a speedtest over the networks as well as over WiFi to see which device is faster.
They are in order of Optus -> Telstra -> WiFi
Xperia X10
Desire
Nexus One
Note: 3G isn’t working on my N1, so I can only do the WiFi test, sorry.
Speaker Loudness / Quality
For this test, I played the same song (Muse – Neutron Star Collision) across the devices to see which had better speaker quality and loudness, without distortion.
Xperia X10
The Xperia X10 was quite loud, and didn’t distort during more full on parts of the song, but it sounds like the speaker is being played out of a tin can. There is a massive lack of bass, which makes it almost painful to listen to. It’s quite a let down considering Sony Ericsson’s phones are usually very multimedia based.
Desire
The Desire has a very full/rich sound. There is more bass which makes it sound clearer, but it isn’t as loud as the X10. I much prefer this over the X10
Nexus One
The Nexus One is very much the same as the Desire due to it’s hardware being almost identical. Clear, full & very nice to listen to.
Browser Speed
The Browser Test was completed by getting of each of the devices to visit Browser Load Time Stopwatch to see how long it would take to load the page. Each device was using the same WiFi connection.
Xperia X10
16.002 Seconds (Click on image for larger version)
Despite longer loading times, the X10’s display makes it easy to read text from a distant zoom settings. Whereas the Desire & N1 are harder to read when zoomed out.
Desire
13.637 Seconds (Click on image for larger version)
Nexus One
13.413 Seconds (Click on image for larger version)
Startup Test
Pretty straightforward test this one. Boot up the phone, and time it until it has completely booted.
Xperia X10
Startup time: 34.9 seconds.
Desire
Startup time: 58.8 seconds.
Nexus One
Startup time: 43.1 seconds.
Benchmarking
With this benchmarking, I just had each phone run BenchmarkPi & Linpack to gather the results.
Xperia X10
- BenchmarkPi
- 6856ms
- Linpack
- 4.135 MFLOPS
- Benchmark
-
null null null
Processor ARMv7 Processor rev 2 (v7l) Linux BogoMIPS 664.53
Memory RAM 274608 Memory SWAP 0
Graphics
Total graphics score;22.749748
Draw opacity bitmap;7.725386;MPixels per sec
Draw transparent bitmap;6.1891813;MPixels per sec
CPU Whetstone
Total CPU score;496.848
MWIPS DP;35.11236;MWIPS(DP)
MWIPS SP;41.85852;MWIPS(SP)
MFLOPS DP;4.4961786;MFLOPS(DP)
MFLOPS SP;5.8619056;MFLOPS(SP)
VAX MIPS DP;25.776737;VAX MIPS(DP)
VAX MIPS SP;24.944239;VAX MIPS(SP)
Memory
Total memory score;317.87982
Copy memory;288.85037;Mb/sec
Filesystem
Total file system score;87.093704
Creating 1000 empty files;5.488;sec
Deleting 1000 empty files;3.804;sec
Write 1M into file;2.8058362;M/sec
Read 1M from file;172.41379;sM/sec;
SD card perfomance
Creating 250 empty files;5.376;sec
Deleting 250 empty files;4.552;sec
Write 1M into file;41.322315;M/sec
Read 1M from file;166.66667;sM/sec;
Desire
- BenchmarkPi
- 3143ms
- Linpack
- 6.61 MFLOPS
- Benchmark
-
HTC HTC Desire telstra_wwe/htc_bravo/bravo/bravo:2.1-update1/ERE27/171554:user/release-keys
Processor ARMv7 Processor rev 2 (v7l) Linux BogoMIPS 662.40
Memory RAM 407900 Memory SWAP 0
Graphics
Total graphics score;26.907843
Draw opacity bitmap;9.538891;MPixels per sec
Draw transparent bitmap;6.918919;MPixels per sec
CPU Whetstone
Total CPU score;662.6978
MWIPS DP;50.65856;MWIPS(DP)
MWIPS SP;52.246605;MWIPS(SP)
MFLOPS DP;6.032299;MFLOPS(DP)
MFLOPS SP;8.652224;MFLOPS(SP)
VAX MIPS DP;33.14035;VAX MIPS(DP)
VAX MIPS SP;33.40154;VAX MIPS(SP)
Memory
Total memory score;313.08676
Copy memory;284.49503;Mb/sec
Filesystem
Total file system score;63.702538
Creating 1000 empty files;12.466;sec
Deleting 1000 empty files;4.974;sec
Write 1M into file;1.5777848;M/sec
Read 1M from file;126.582275;sM/sec;
SD card perfomance
Creating 250 empty files;6.956;sec
Deleting 250 empty files;14.008;sec
Write 1M into file;36.900368;M/sec
Read 1M from file;208.33333;sM/sec;
Nexus One
- BenchmarkPi
- 3065ms
- Linpack
- 7.095 MFLOPS
- Benchmark
-
HTC Nexus One google/passion/passion/mahimahi:2.1-update1/ERE27/24178:user/release-keys
Processor ARMv7 Processor rev 2 (v7l) Linux BogoMIPS 662.40
Memory RAM 395284 Memory SWAP 0
Graphics
Total graphics score;28.508915
Draw opacity bitmap;10.143636;MPixels per sec
Draw transparent bitmap;7.293447;MPixels per sec
CPU Whetstone
Total CPU score;698.18585
MWIPS DP;52.77045;MWIPS(DP)
MWIPS SP;55.0055;MWIPS(SP)
MFLOPS DP;6.6500983;MFLOPS(DP)
MFLOPS SP;9.248034;MFLOPS(SP)
VAX MIPS DP;35.42859;VAX MIPS(DP)
VAX MIPS SP;34.88929;VAX MIPS(SP)
Memory
Total memory score;333.38382
Copy memory;302.9385;Mb/sec
Filesystem
Total file system score;91.62842
Creating 1000 empty files;6.296;sec
Deleting 1000 empty files;4.663;sec
Write 1M into file;2.524615;M/sec
Read 1M from file;181.81818;sM/sec;
SD card perfomance
Creating 250 empty files;8.476;sec
Deleting 250 empty files;6.52;sec
Write 1M into file;37.037037;M/sec
Read 1M from file;238.09525;sM/sec;
LCD vs AMOLED
In this test, I simply took a photo (using the N1) to show the difference between LCD (right) and AMOLED (left). You can draw your own conclusions. But remember the X10 has 65K colours until the update to Android 2.1 in September. But you can clearly tell AMOLED is far more vibrant.
AMOLED (Desire) vs LCD (Xperia X10)
Keyboard Comparison
For this one, I simply typed out the phrase “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” on each of the devices keyboards. I have not practised this phrase, so it’s pretty fair dinkum’.
I do have both N1 and X10i but I would like to give one away to my brother which one should be. I like the camera and display on X10 but I have also fallen in love with the OS 2.1 on N1 and CAR HOME feature.
so which do you prefer? whats your conclusion?
For casual use, the X10. As it has a better keyboard for typing texts.
But the Desire for work/school because of it’s better integration of everything.
I don’t particularly like the N1 at all.
Regards the problems you’re having with networks etc. you could try fiddling with some “hidden” settings if you haven’t already.
(This works on my Desire anyway, haven’t tried N1):
1. Enter *#*#4636#*#* on the dialer screen
2. Go to Phone info
3. Try setting the “Preferred network type”
4. Other option – hit “Menu” button, then select from the different radio bands
Would be interested to learn if you find any improvements this way!
if i have to compare between desire, x10, or nexus, it’ll always be the Nexus1 for me. Simply for the following reasons; – Nexus1 will always get OS updates first (google i/o reported 2.2 updates in matter of weeks) – Background noise canceling technology. – X10 is not multi-touch, and i don’t like their UI, tooo gimicky and they tried too hard for the wow factor! i like the default android UI – from what i’ve been reading HTC Sense just kills the battery life. there has been some tests done to compare same devices with Sense on vs off…… Read more ยป
Good points you’ve made there Simon. And as I said, I want you guys to come to your own conclusions and I’m glad you have!
I have nfi why the 3G isn’t working, the N1 is my brothers and it wasn’t working when he gave it to me and I haven’t got around to fixing it ๐
What happened to the X10 on Telstra? 714 ping? Is that a bug or a feature? Other than that, the results seem clear. I’m off to order my phone from the UK, happy that I shall never have to utter the T-word again.
I’ll buy you a beer one day for that, if you like.
I thought it was a one off (the speed), but I did the speedtest many times, and it returned results around what I posted. It just didn’t like Telstra.
Haha good job, hope you enjoy it!
๐
It’s not called the Desire for nothing…