The Nokia 6131 NFC and N950 represent distinct eras in Nokia’s mobile strategy. The 6131 NFC, a late-era Symbian device, focused on adding practical features like NFC to a reliable platform. Conversely, the N950 was a bold experiment – a developer-focused device running MeeGo, intended to showcase a future Nokia ultimately didn’t pursue. This comparison dissects their differences, revealing which phone best aligns with your priorities.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing simplicity and established functionality, the Nokia 6131 NFC is the more sensible choice. However, the Nokia N950, with its more powerful processor and developer-centric features, is the clear winner for those interested in mobile development or exploring alternative operating systems.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| EDGE | Class 10 | - |
| GPRS | Class 10 | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2007, February. Released 2007, Q1 | 2011, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 92 x 47 x 20 mm (3.62 x 1.85 x 0.79 in) | - |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 104 g (3.67 oz) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~245 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.2 inches, 15.0 cm2 (~34.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.0 inches, 44.1 cm2 |
| Type | TFT LCD, 16M colors | LCD |
| | Second external display
256K colors, 1.36 inches, 128 x 160 pixels
Downloadable themes | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 |
| Chipset | - | TI OMAP 3630 |
| GPU | - | PowerVR SGX530 |
| OS | - | MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan OS |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed calls | - |
| Card slot | microSD (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 11MB | 8.5GB user available, 1GB RAM |
| Phonebook | 1000 x 15 fields, Photo call | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 1.3 MP | 12 MP, AF |
| Video | Yes | Yes |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | Yes |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.0 | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (payments) | - |
| Positioning | No | GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | Pop-Port | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | - | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, RSS feeds |
| Games | 3D Soccer and Snake + downloadable | - |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | - |
| Messaging | SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging | - |
| Sensors | - | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | Push-to-open mechanism
Push to talk
MP3/MP4/AAC player
SyncML
Predictive text input
Presence enhanced contacts
Organizer
Voice dial/memo | MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA/FLAC player
MP4/H.264/WMV player
Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF viewer)
Video/photo editor
Predictive text input (Swype) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 240 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 3 h 20 min | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 860 mAh, removable (BL-4C) | Removable Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Red, Sand | Black |
| Price | About 250 EUR | - |
| SAR | 1.23 W/kg (head) 0.47 W/kg (body) | 0.80 W/kg (head) 1.24 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.96 W/kg (head) | - |
Nokia 6131 NFC
- Reliable Symbian OS
- Integrated NFC functionality
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Limited processing power
- Outdated software ecosystem
- Lack of advanced features
Nokia N950
- Powerful TI OMAP 3630 processor
- Developer-focused MeeGo OS
- Larger display for enhanced usability
- MeeGo OS lacked mainstream app support
- Higher battery consumption
- Less intuitive for non-developers
Display Comparison
Specific display details for the Nokia 6131 NFC are unavailable, but based on its market positioning, it likely featured a standard resistive touchscreen with a modest resolution. The Nokia N950, while not boasting cutting-edge specs by today’s standards, offered a larger display, benefiting from the processing power of the OMAP 3630 to render a more responsive user interface. The N950’s display was designed for showcasing the MeeGo OS, prioritizing clarity for developer tools and applications.
Camera Comparison
Details regarding the Nokia 6131 NFC’s camera are scarce. It likely featured a basic camera suitable for casual snapshots. The Nokia N950, while not a camera-centric device, offered a more capable imaging experience, benefiting from the OMAP 3630’s image signal processor. The N950’s camera was adequate for documentation and testing purposes, aligning with its developer focus, but wasn’t intended to compete with dedicated camera phones of the era.
Performance
The Nokia N950’s TI OMAP 3630 chipset, featuring a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 CPU, represents a significant performance leap over the likely hardware within the Nokia 6131 NFC. The Cortex-A8 architecture, while dated, allowed for smoother multitasking and more complex applications. The 6131 NFC, constrained by its Symbian foundation and likely less powerful processor, was geared towards core communication functions. This difference in processing power directly impacts the user experience, with the N950 being demonstrably more capable of handling demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Battery life on both devices would have been heavily influenced by usage patterns. The Nokia 6131 NFC, with its less demanding hardware and Symbian OS, likely offered reasonable battery endurance for typical phone calls and messaging. The Nokia N950, with its more powerful processor and larger display, would have experienced faster battery drain, particularly during development tasks. The N950’s battery capacity was likely optimized to support extended development sessions, but real-world usage would vary significantly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nokia 6131 NFC if you need a dependable phone with NFC for contactless payments and data transfer, and value the familiarity of the Symbian OS. Buy the Nokia N950 if you prefer a more powerful processor for experimentation, are comfortable with a less mainstream OS (MeeGo), and intend to utilize its developer tools for app creation or OS customization.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the MeeGo OS on the Nokia N950 still usable today, and can I install modern apps?
While the Nokia N950’s MeeGo OS is still functional, its app ecosystem is extremely limited. Modern app compatibility is virtually non-existent without significant porting efforts, making it primarily a platform for historical exploration and development experimentation.
❓ What practical applications does the NFC functionality on the Nokia 6131 NFC offer in 2024?
The Nokia 6131 NFC’s NFC functionality remains useful for basic contactless data transfer and potentially for legacy NFC-based access control systems. However, its compatibility with modern mobile payment systems like Apple Pay or Google Pay is unlikely.
❓ Could the Nokia N950 be used for basic web browsing and email?
Yes, the Nokia N950 can handle basic web browsing and email, though the experience will be significantly slower and less feature-rich compared to modern smartphones. The OMAP 3630 processor and MeeGo OS are capable, but limited by today’s web standards and app availability.
