Nokia Lumia 800 vs Nokia N9: A Retro Smartphone Showdown

The Nokia Lumia 800 and N9 represent a fascinating era in smartphone history, showcasing Nokia's innovative designs and operating systems. Both devices hold a special place in the hearts of many, but which one truly delivers a better experience today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to settle the debate.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Nokia N9 edges out the Lumia 800 thanks to slightly better battery life and a more impressive sunlight readability on its display. While both offer a unique glimpse into Nokia's past, the N9's Meego OS and superior screen performance give it a slight advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names	Nokia Lumia 800	Nokia N9

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-819	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - for Canada	-

Launch
Announced	2011, October. Released 2011, November	2011, June. Released 2011, September
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm, 76.1 cc (4.59 x 2.41 x 0.48 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	142 g (5.01 oz)	135 g (4.76 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass	Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~252 ppi density)	480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~251 ppi density)
Size	3.7 inches, 39.0 cm2 (~54.7% screen-to-body ratio)	3.9 inches, 41.9 cm2 (~58.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED	AMOLED
	Nokia ClearBlack display	Anti-glare polariser

Platform
CPU	1.4 GHz Scorpion	1.0 GHz Cortex A8
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2	TI OMAP 3630
GPU	Adreno 205	PowerVR SGX530
OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, upgradable to 7.8	MeeGo 1.2 Harmattan

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	16GB 512MB RAM	16GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash	Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash
Single	8 MP, AF	8 MP, AF
Video	720p@30fps	720p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	-	VGA
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP, EDR	2.1, A2DP, EDR
NFC	-	Yes
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	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, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player MP4/H.264/WMV player Document viewer/editor Video/photo editor	SNS integration TV-out Dolby Digital Plus

Battery
Music play	Up to 55 h	Up to 50 h
Stand-by	Up to 265 h (2G) / Up to 335 h (3G)	Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 450 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 9 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G)
Type	Non-removable Li-Ion 1450 mAh battery (BV-5JW)	Non-removable Li-Ion 1450 mAh battery (BV-5JW)

Misc
Colors	Black, Cyan, Magenta, White	Black, Cyan, Magenta, Glossy white
Price	About 140 EUR	About 140 EUR
SAR	1.27 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body)	1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.94 W/kg (head)	1.16 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -87.3dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB	Noise -90.9dB / Crosstalk -83.6dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 35h	Endurance rating 39h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.069:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 60dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 61dB	Voice 61dB / Noise 58dB / Ring 66dB

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	Noise -87.3dB / Crosstalk -87.8dB	Noise -90.9dB / Crosstalk -83.6dB
Battery (old)	Endurance rating 35h	Endurance rating 39h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.069:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 60dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 61dB	Voice 61dB / Noise 58dB / Ring 66dB

Nokia Lumia 800

Compact and durable design
Familiar Windows Phone OS
Slightly faster processor
Good color reproduction in camera

Limited app ecosystem compared to Android/iOS
Weaker sunlight display performance
Older technology

Nokia N9

Unique and premium design
Better sunlight display readability
Slightly longer battery life
Interesting Meego OS (for enthusiasts)

Meego OS is discontinued and lacks updates
Slower processor
Limited app availability
Can feel sluggish at times

Display Comparison

Both phones boast a 'nominal' infinite contrast ratio, which is a marketing term more than a quantifiable measurement. However, the N9 distinguishes itself with a measured 3.069:1 contrast ratio in sunlight, indicating significantly better outdoor visibility compared to the Lumia 800, which lacks this specification. The Lumia 800's screen is generally considered adequate, but the N9's is noticeably brighter and more readable in challenging lighting conditions.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. General consensus suggests the Lumia 800's camera produces slightly more vibrant colors, while the N9's camera tends to be more accurate in color reproduction. Image quality on both is adequate for their time but doesn't compare to modern smartphone cameras.

Performance

The Lumia 800's Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.4 GHz Scorpion CPU provides a slightly faster processing speed than the N9's TI OMAP 3630 with a 1.0 GHz Cortex A8 CPU. However, the actual performance difference in real-world usage is minimal. Both phones can handle everyday tasks, but may struggle with demanding modern apps. The Windows Phone OS on the Lumia 800 is generally more optimized for the hardware than Meego on the N9.

Battery Life

The N9 holds a slight advantage in battery endurance, boasting a rated 39 hours compared to the Lumia 800's 35 hours. While both are respectable for their age, the N9's slightly larger battery capacity contributes to its longer runtime.

Buying Guide

The Nokia Lumia 800 is ideal for those seeking a familiar Windows Phone experience and a compact, durable device. The Nokia N9 is for enthusiasts interested in exploring the now-defunct Meego OS and appreciating a unique, premium design with a slightly better display.