Nokia Lumia 800 vs Nokia 600: A Throwback Tech Showdown

Remember the days of Nokia dominating the mobile landscape? The Lumia 800 and 600 were both popular choices, offering a blend of functionality and affordability. But which one truly held the edge? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to settle the score.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia Lumia 800 takes the crown. Its superior Snapdragon processor, higher resolution display, and generally more premium feel give it a noticeable advantage over the Nokia 600, despite both being budget-friendly devices from their time.

PHONES
Phone Names Nokia Lumia 800 Nokia 600
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-819HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
SpeedHSPA 14.4/5.76 MbpsHSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPAGSM / HSPA
 HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - for Canada-
Launch
Announced2011, October. Released 2011, November2011, August
StatusDiscontinuedCancelled
Body
Dimensions116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm, 76.1 cc (4.59 x 2.41 x 0.48 in)111 x 53 x 13 mm, 72 cc (4.37 x 2.09 x 0.51 in)
SIMMicro-SIMMini-SIM
Weight142 g (5.01 oz)100 g (3.53 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass-
Resolution480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~252 ppi density)360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density)
Size3.7 inches, 39.0 cm2 (~54.7% screen-to-body ratio)3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~48.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLEDTFT
 Nokia ClearBlack display -
Platform
CPU1.4 GHz Scorpion1.0 GHz
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2-
GPUAdreno 205-
OSMicrosoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, upgradable to 7.8Symbian Belle OS
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included
Internal16GB 512MB RAM2GB
Main Camera
FeaturesCarl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flashLED flash
Single8 MP, AF5 MP
Video720p@30fps720p@30fps
Selfie camera
 NoNo
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth2.1, A2DP, EDR3.0, A2DP, EDR
NFC-Yes
PositioningGPS, A-GPSGPS, A-GPS
RadioStereo FM radio, RDSStereo FM radio, RDS; FM transmitter; built-in antenna
USBmicroUSB 2.0microUSB 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximity, compassAccelerometer, proximity, compass
 MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Document viewer/editor Video/photo editorSNS integration MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/еAAC+/WMA player Photo editor Organizer Voice command/dial Predictive text input
Battery
Music playUp to 55 hUp to 60 h
Stand-byUp to 265 h (2G) / Up to 335 h (3G)Up to 540 h (2G) / Up to 600 h (3G)
Talk timeUp to 13 h (2G) / Up to 9 h 30 min (3G)Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 6 h 30 min (3G)
TypeNon-removable Li-Ion 1450 mAh battery (BV-5JW)Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-4J)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Cyan, Magenta, WhiteBlack, White, Pink and Lime
PriceAbout 140 EURAbout 240 EUR
SAR1.27 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU0.94 W/kg (head)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -87.3dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB-
Battery life Endurance rating 35h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker Voice 60dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 61dB -
OUR TESTS
Audio qualityNoise -87.3dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB-
Battery (old)Endurance rating 35h-
CameraPhoto / Video-
DisplayContrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
LoudspeakerVoice 60dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 61dB-

Nokia Lumia 800

  • Faster Processor
  • Better Display
  • Slightly Longer Battery Life
  • More Premium Build Quality

  • Older Software
  • Limited App Ecosystem (compared to modern smartphones)
  • Basic Camera

Nokia 600

  • More Affordable
  • Compact Size
  • Decent Battery Life

  • Slower Processor
  • Lower Resolution Display
  • Less Premium Build
  • Limited Features

Display Comparison

The Lumia 800 boasts a 3.7-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and excellent contrast (though the 'infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term). The Nokia 600 has a smaller 3.2-inch LCD screen. While both are adequate, the Lumia 800's display is noticeably better in terms of clarity and visual appeal.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature basic camera setups. The Lumia 800 generally produces slightly better image quality due to its more advanced processing capabilities, but neither phone is a photography powerhouse by today's standards. Video recording is also present on both.

Performance

Here's where the Lumia 800 shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.4 GHz Scorpion CPU provides a significant performance boost compared to the Nokia 600's 1.0 GHz processor. Apps launch faster, and multitasking is smoother on the Lumia 800.

Battery Life

The Lumia 800 has a slightly better endurance rating (35h) compared to the Nokia 600, suggesting a longer battery life in typical usage. However, both phones' batteries are relatively small by modern standards.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Lumia 800 is ideal for those seeking a slightly more powerful and feature-rich experience, even within a budget. The Nokia 600 is a good choice for users prioritizing affordability and a compact form factor, but are less concerned with performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones still usable today?
While functional, these phones are quite dated. Software updates are long gone, and app compatibility may be an issue. They're best suited for nostalgia or very basic tasks.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
Both phones were known for their relatively robust build quality, typical of Nokia devices. The Lumia 800 might have a slight edge due to its slightly more premium materials.