HTC Desire (A8181) vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i)
Side by side comparison between HTC Desire vs Sony Ericsson Xperia Active phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
3.7"
SLCD
SLCD
480x800
5
MP
MP
576MB
RAM
RAM
Single-core
1400
mAh
mAh
(Removable)
vs
What's the better phone? Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
6 Advantages 
7 Advantages | 26 Common items in both devices |
| 1GHz 32bit Single-core |
| Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC |
| 16 million |
| (back) 5MP |
| LED flash |
| Only digital zoom |
| Autofocus |
| +19 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Model | Desire (A8181) | Xperia Active (ST17i) |
| Other model names | HTC Desire A8181, HTC Bravo | Sony Ericsson Xperia active ST17, ST17i |
| Country or region available | feature not registered |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | HTC | Sony Ericsson |
| Release date | 3/31/2010 | 10/1/2011 |
| Depth | 11.9 millimeters (0.47 inches) | 16.5 millimeters (0.65 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 60 x 119 millimeters (2.36 x 4.69 in) | 55 x 92 millimeters (2.17 x 3.62 in) |
| Weight | 135 grams (4.73 ounces) | 111 grams (3.89 ounces) |
| Build, materials | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Protection against water and others | Not supported | IP67 certified: dust proof and waterproof over 1 meter and 30min |
📲 Display | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Display type | TFT Super LCD | TFT LED-Backlit LCD |
| Screen size | 3.7" inches | 3" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~54.6% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~53% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 480x800 pixels | 320x480 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 252 PPI | 192 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass | Dragontrail Glass |
| Refresh rate | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Display features | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| System version | Android 2.1 Eclair | Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread |
| Firmware update | Android 2.2.1 Froyo | Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ICS |
| User Interface | feature not registered | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Chipset | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 MSM8255 (45nm) |
| CPU | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 1GHz Scorpion (Single-core) | Single-core, 1 processor: 1x 1GHz Scorpion (Single-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 200 | Qualcomm Adreno 205 |
| Performance (benchmark) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| RAM memory | 576MB LPDDR | 512MB LPDDR2 |
| Internal storage | 512MB (151MB available) | 1GB (320MB available) |
| External storage | Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC (dedicated slot) | Until 32GB microSD, microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) Standard mini-SIM (2FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) Standard mini-SIM (2FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 7.2/2 Mbps | 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G | 2G, 3G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | UMTS 900/2100 | UMTS 900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | CSD, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | 5 megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 2560x1920 pixels | 2592x1944 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | HD (1280x720) 30 fps | HD (1280x720) 30 fps |
| Flash | LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | feature not registered | Supported |
| Image stabilization | feature not registered | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Only digital zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | feature not registered | Not supported |
| HDR | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | Not supported | Not supported |
| Front camera resolution | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video recording (secondary) | Not supported | Not supported |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Focal length | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | feature not registered | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Loudspeaker | Supported | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | feature not registered | Not supported |
| Radio | FM (RDS) | FM (RDS) |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.263, H.264, WMV9 | MP4, H.263, H.264 |
| Audio formats | MP3, AAC+, WAV, WMA9 | MP3, eAAC+, WAV |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| USB | MicroUSB 2.0 | MicroUSB 2.0 |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | Not supported | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 + A2DP | 2.1 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g [wifi3] (2.4GHz) | 802.11 b/g/n [wifi4] (2.4GHz) |
| DLNA | feature not registered | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Not supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | feature not registered | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor Compass Proximity sensor | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Compass Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) |
| Battery capacity | 1400 mAh | 1200 mAh |
| Charger, watts | Wired charging | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 6.5 hours | 5.5 hours |
| Standby | 360 hours (15 days) | 335 hours (14 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| Call control | Voice recorder | Voice recorder |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, Flash player | HTML, XHTML, Flash player |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black, Brown, Silver, White • Video recording at 720p only Android Froyo update • Optical mouse (Touchpad) • HTC Sense UI Java framework | • Colors: Orange/black, White/black • 2GB microSD included • Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine • WiFi hotspot Java framework |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| HTC Desire (A8181) | Sony Ericsson Xperia Active (ST17i) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 1.12W/kg (head), 1.07W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |