Nokia's legacy is filled with iconic devices, and the Asha 503 and N9 stand out as distinct examples of their respective eras. The Asha 503 represents Nokia's foray into the affordable feature phone market, while the N9 was a bold attempt at MeeGo. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Nokia N9 is the clear winner. While the Asha 503 offers affordability and a decent feature set for its time, the N9's superior display, processing power, and camera capabilities make it a more compelling device, despite its age. It's a smartphone experience versus a feature phone.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2013, October. Released 2013, November | 2011, June. Released 2011, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 102.6 x 60.6 x 12.7 mm (4.04 x 2.39 x 0.5 in) | 116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm, 76 cc (4.59 x 2.41 x 0.48 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 110.2 g (3.88 oz) | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~133 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~251 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.0 inches, 27.9 cm2 (~44.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.9 inches, 41.9 cm2 (~58.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | AMOLED |
| | - | Anti-glare polariser |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 |
| Chipset | - | TI OMAP 3630 |
| GPU | - | PowerVR SGX530 |
| OS | Nokia Asha software platform 1.2 | MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 4 GB included | No |
| Internal | - | 16GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | 480p@19fps | 720p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | VGA |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 3.0, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | No | GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio | FM radio (via third party software) |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | - | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, RSS feeds |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | SNS apps
MP4/H.263 player
MP3/AAC player
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | SNS integration
TV-out
Dolby Digital Plus |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 34 h | Up to 50 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 840 h (2G) / Up to 840 h (3G) | Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 450 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 12 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1200 mAh, removable (BL-4U) | Non-removable Li-Ion 1450 mAh battery (BV-5JW) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Yellow, black, green, red, blue, white | Black, Cyan, Magenta, Glossy white |
| Price | About 90 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.43 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) | 1.16 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -88.3dB / Crosstalk -82.1dB |
Noise -90.9dB / Crosstalk -83.6dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 39h |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 635:1 (nominal), 1.281 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.069:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 75dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 61dB / Noise 58dB / Ring 66dB |
Nokia Asha 503
- Extremely affordable
- Decent battery life
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to use interface
- Limited functionality
- Basic camera
- Low-resolution display
- Outdated software
Nokia N9
- Stunning AMOLED display
- Unique design
- Better performance
- Photo and video recording
- More versatile operating system (MeeGo)
- Outdated software (MeeGo)
- Limited app ecosystem
- Can be difficult to find parts/support
- Battery life can be shorter with heavy use
Display Comparison
The Nokia N9 boasts a truly exceptional display. Its 'Infinite' nominal contrast ratio (effectively a near-black OLED) and 3.069:1 sunlight contrast are significantly better than the Asha 503's 635:1 nominal and 1.281:1 sunlight contrast. The N9's AMOLED screen offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, providing a far superior viewing experience. The Asha 503's screen is adequate for its price point but lacks the N9's visual punch.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo capabilities, but the N9's camera is more versatile. It supports both photo and video recording, whereas the Asha 503 is primarily focused on still photography. The N9's image quality is generally better, benefiting from its more advanced hardware and software processing. The Asha 503's camera is adequate for casual snapshots.
Performance
The N9's TI OMAP 3630 chipset with a 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 CPU provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Asha 503. While the Asha 503 is sufficient for basic tasks, the N9 handles multitasking and more demanding apps with greater ease. MeeGo, while not as polished as later operating systems, still offered a more robust smartphone experience.
Battery Life
Both phones share the same endurance rating of 39 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the N9's more power-hungry display and processor might result in slightly shorter real-world battery life, especially with intensive use.
Buying Guide
The Nokia Asha 503 is ideal for users seeking a basic, ultra-affordable phone primarily for calls, texts, and simple apps. The Nokia N9 is for those interested in experiencing a unique, albeit dated, smartphone with a beautiful display and a focus on design, and who don't mind the limitations of MeeGo.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Nokia N9 worth buying in 2023?
It depends. If you appreciate unique designs and a beautiful display, and are comfortable with an older operating system, then yes. However, be aware of the limited app support and potential difficulty finding parts.
❓ What operating system did the Nokia N9 use?
The Nokia N9 ran MeeGo, a Linux-based operating system developed as a successor to Nokia's Symbian platform.
