Remember the days of feature phones evolving into early smartphones? The Samsung i8510 INNOV8 and Sony Ericsson W995 were key players in that transition. Both offered unique features and aimed to capture the burgeoning smartphone market. Let's revisit these titans of 2008 and see how they stack up today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The INNOV8 edges out the W995 thanks to its larger screen and 8MP camera. However, the W995’s superior music capabilities and slightly faster processor give it a strong showing. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities: multimedia or music.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/0.384 Mbps | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 - American version | HSDPA 850 / 1900 - W995a |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2008, July. Released 2008, September | 2009, February. Released 2009, May |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 106.5 x 53.9 x 17.2 mm (4.19 x 2.12 x 0.68 in) | 97 x 49 x 15 mm (3.82 x 1.93 x 0.59 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 136 g (4.80 oz) | 113 g (3.99 oz) |
| | Optical trackpad | Built-in kickstand |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~143 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.8 inches, 24.3 cm2 (~42.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~44.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 16M colors | TFT, 256K colors |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 330 MHz ARM 11 | 369 MHz ARM 11 |
| OS | Symbian 9.3, Series 60 rel. 3.2 | - |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | - | 30 received, dialed and missed calls |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | Memory Stick Micro (M2), up to 16 GB, 8 GB included |
| Internal | 8GB 128MB RAM, 16GB 128MB RAM | 118MB |
| Phonebook | - | 1000 x 20 fields, Photo call |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 8.1 MP, AF |
| Video | 480p@30fps, 320p@120fps | 320p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | Videocall camera | - |
| | - | Videocall camera |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Alert types | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.0, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS; Wayfinder navigator |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS reader |
| Games | - | Yes, incl. motion-based + downloadable |
| Java | - | Yes, MIDP 2.0 |
| Messaging | - | SMS, MMS, Email, IM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| | Business card scanner
AVI(DiVX/XviD)/WMV/RV/MP4/3GP player
MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A player
Video editing
TV-out
Organizer
Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
Predictive text input
Voice memo | MP3/AAC/MP4 player
TrackID music recognition
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice memo/dial
Walkman 4.0 player
Shake control
SensMe |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 20 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 310 h (2G) / 330 h (3G) | Up to 370 h (2G) / Up to 360 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h 30 min (2G) / 2 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 4 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 930 mAh battery (BST-38) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Progressive Black, Cosmic Silver, Energetic Red |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | 0.28 W/kg (head) 0.50 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.41 W/kg (head) | 1.18 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -87.6dB / Crosstalk -84.6dB |
Noise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 78dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 77dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB |
Samsung i8510 INNOV8
- Larger AMOLED display
- Better camera quality
- More modern design (for the time)
- HSDPA support for faster data speeds
- Slower processor than W995
- Less impressive music features
- Bulky design
Sony Ericsson W995
- Faster processor (slightly)
- Excellent music playback capabilities
- Compact and stylish design
- Xenon flash for better low-light photography
- Smaller screen
- Lower camera quality
- Less modern design
- No Wi-Fi
Display Comparison
The INNOV8 boasts a 3.8-inch AMOLED display, significantly larger than the W995's 2.8-inch screen. AMOLED offered vibrant colors and better contrast, a notable advantage. The W995's screen, while smaller, was still respectable for its time.
Camera Comparison
The INNOV8's 8MP camera was a clear winner over the W995's 8.1MP camera. While megapixel count isn't everything, the INNOV8 generally produced better image quality, especially in low light. The W995 had a Xenon flash, which helped in darker conditions.
Performance
While both phones use an ARM 11 processor, the W995 has a slightly faster clock speed (369 MHz vs 330 MHz). In real-world usage, this difference was minimal, but the W995 felt marginally snappier. Both phones struggled with demanding apps by today's standards.
Battery Life
Battery life was comparable on both devices, typically offering a day of moderate use. Both phones suffered from battery drain when using the camera or playing music extensively.
Buying Guide
The Samsung i8510 INNOV8 is ideal for users who prioritize a larger display and a decent camera for basic photography. The Sony Ericsson W995 is a better choice for audiophiles and those who value a more compact form factor and robust music features.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone was released first?
The Sony Ericsson W995 was released in late 2007, while the Samsung i8510 INNOV8 followed in early 2008.
❓ Did either phone have Wi-Fi?
No, neither the Samsung i8510 INNOV8 nor the Sony Ericsson W995 had Wi-Fi connectivity.
❓ What operating systems did these phones use?
Both phones ran proprietary operating systems. The INNOV8 used Samsung's Bada OS, while the W995 used Sony Ericsson's proprietary UI based on Symbian.
