Sony Ericsson Aino vs C905: A Retro Camera Phone Battle

The Sony Ericsson Aino and C905 represent a golden era of feature phones, particularly known for their impressive camera capabilities. Both devices offered a unique blend of multimedia features and stylish designs. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Aino edges out the C905 thanks to its superior processing power and slightly better multimedia features. While the C905 was a camera pioneer, the Aino’s more modern chipset and improved UI provide a more enjoyable user experience, making it the preferred choice for most.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Aino	Sony Ericsson C905

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 2100
Speed	HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 Aino (a) for Americas	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - C905a

Launch
Announced	2009, May. Released 2009, October	2008, June. Released 2008, October
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	104 x 50 x 15.5 mm (4.09 x 1.97 x 0.61 in)	104 x 49 x 18-19.5 mm
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	134 g (4.73 oz)	136 g (4.80 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	240 x 432 pixels (~165 ppi density)	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 24.6 cm2 (~47.4% screen-to-body ratio)	2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~35.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT	TFT, 256K colors
	Limited touchscreen functionality	-

Memory
Call records	30 received, dialed and missed calls	30 received, dialed and missed calls
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	Memory Stick Micro (M2), up to 8 GB, 2 GB/ 8 GB included
Internal	55MB	160MB
Phonebook	1000 x 20 fields, Photo call	1000 x 20 fields, Photo call

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	xenon flash
Single	8.1 MP, AF	8 MP, AF
Video	480p@30fps	320p@30fps

Selfie camera
	No	No

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Alert types	-	Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, AAC ringtones
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.0, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; Wayfinder Navigator	GPS, A-GPS; Wayfinder Navigator 7
Radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	2.0	2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront 3.5), RSS reader	WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS reader
Games	Yes, incl. motion-based + downloadable	Yes + downloadable
Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0	Yes, MIDP 2.0
Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Sensors	Accelerometer	Accelerometer
	Remote play for Playstation 3 Photo editor Organizer Voice memo SensMe Predictive text input	MP3/AAC/MP4 player TrackID music recognition Photo editor TV-out Organizer Voice memo/dial Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 31 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 367 h (3G)	Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 360 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G)	Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 4 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery	Removable Li-Po 930 mAh battery (BST-38)

Misc
Colors	Obsidian Black, Luminous White	Night Black, Ice Silver, Copper Gold, Tender Rose
Price	About 120 EUR	About 180 EUR
SAR	1.00 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body)	1.02 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.74 W/kg (head)	0.77 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -81.4dB / Crosstalk -80.2dB	-
Camera	Photo	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB	Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 73dB

Sony Ericsson Aino

More powerful processor
Larger display
Front-facing camera
Slightly better battery life
Improved UI

Design might be less iconic than the C905
Availability can be challenging

Sony Ericsson C905

Pioneering camera technology
Classic and iconic design
Excellent image quality for its time
Relatively easier to find parts

Slower performance
Smaller display
No front-facing camera
Older software

Display Comparison

The Aino featured a 3.0-inch 360x480 pixel display, offering a slightly sharper image compared to the C905's 2.8-inch display. While both were OLED, the Aino's larger size provided a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones were renowned for their cameras. The C905 was a trailblazer with its 8.1MP camera and Xenon flash, offering excellent image quality for its time. The Aino also had an 8.1MP camera, but with slightly improved image processing and potentially better low-light performance due to its newer chipset. The Aino also had a front-facing camera, a feature absent in the C905.

Performance

The Aino boasted a more powerful processor (likely a Qualcomm MSM7200A) compared to the C905, resulting in smoother navigation and faster app loading. The C905, while capable, felt noticeably slower by today's standards.

Battery Life

The Aino generally offered slightly better battery life than the C905, likely due to its more efficient processor and optimized software. Both phones, however, would require frequent charging with heavy usage.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Aino is ideal for those seeking a feature-rich phone with a decent camera and a responsive user interface. The C905 is best suited for dedicated camera enthusiasts who appreciate its pioneering camera technology and classic design, and are willing to accept a slightly slower experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for photography?

While the C905 was a pioneer, the Aino's newer chipset and image processing generally result in slightly better photo quality, especially in low light. The Aino also has a front-facing camera.

❓ Are spare parts readily available for these phones?

Spare parts for both phones can be challenging to find, but the C905 might have slightly better availability due to its longer lifespan and wider distribution.