From time to time we like to compare two of the newest smartphones to give readers some idea of which might be the better option for them. In today’s comparison we’re looking at the Sony Xperia S vs. the HTC One V, both Android smartphones. Although the HTC One V is a lower-end offering than the premium Xperia S, it still has something to offer and can beat the Xperia S on certain aspects.

We’ve used information from our previous articles on the Xperia S and HTC One V as well as details from a Know Your Mobile report so read on to find out more about these two new handsets. Starting with processors the clear winner here is the Xperia S with a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon while graphics are provided by an Adreno 220. The HTC One V has a 1GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon and Adreno 205 GPU.

Moving on to displays it’s another clear win for the Xperia S with its 4.3-inch LED-backlit LCD display with resolution of 1280×720 and pixel density of 342ppi. The HTC One V by comparison has a 3.7-inch TFT LCD display with resolution of 800×480 and pixel density of 252ppi, certainly a noticeable difference although it’s still clear and bright.

For cameras the Xperia S has a 12-megapixel rear camera with 720p video capture along with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The HTC One V has a 5-megapixel rear camera with 720p video recording capability so once again the Xperia S wins out.

Storage next and this is one of the areas where the HTC One V holds its own. The Xperia S has 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage but that’s not expandable with microSD card. Meanwhile the HTC One V has less RAM with 512MB and only 4GB of internal storage. However the One V storage is expandable with microSD cards up to another 32GB.

Taking a look at operating systems this is where the HTC One V beats the Xperia S for a change. The Xperia S was surprisingly launched on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a Timescape interface and 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update to follow later. However the HTC One V comes running the latest Android 4.0 ICS with the new and improved HTC Sense 4.0 UI overlay.

Finally we’ll take a look at the design and the Xperia S wins here with a contemporary sleek form factor although it’s not as slim or light as the HTC One V. The Xperia S is 10.6mm thick and weighs 144g while the One V is 9.2mm thick and weighs 117g. However the design of the One V lets it down as it looks like something we’ve seen too many times before.

Ultimately we’d say that for a low-end device the HTC One V is decent enough and if the latest OS is important to you this may be your choice. Generally though the Xperia has more to offer and looks appealing too. We’d like to know which you’d choose from these two new smartphones? Maybe you have your eye on a different new handset?