Sony Ericsson Aino vs W995: A Retro Phone Face-Off

The Sony Ericsson Aino and W995 represent a fascinating era of feature-rich slider phones. Both offered a blend of multimedia capabilities and stylish design, but catered to slightly different audiences. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The W995 edges out the Aino thanks to its faster processor and slightly better multimedia features. While the Aino boasts a more modern design, the W995's performance and established reputation as a multimedia powerhouse give it the slight advantage for enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Aino	Sony Ericsson W995

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 Aino (a) for Americas	HSDPA 850 / 1900 - W995a

Launch
Announced	2009, May. Released 2009, October	2009, February. Released 2009, May
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	104 x 50 x 15.5 mm (4.09 x 1.97 x 0.61 in)	97 x 49 x 15 mm (3.82 x 1.93 x 0.59 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	134 g (4.73 oz)	113 g (3.99 oz)
	-	Built-in kickstand

Display
Resolution	240 x 432 pixels (~165 ppi density)	240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density)
Size	3.0 inches, 24.6 cm2 (~47.4% screen-to-body ratio)	2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~44.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT	TFT, 256K colors
	Limited touchscreen functionality	-

Platform
CPU	-	369 MHz ARM 11

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 16 GB, 8 GB included
Internal	55MB	118MB
Phonebook	1000 x 20 fields, Photo call	1000 x 20 fields, Photo call

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

Selfie camera
	No	Videocall camera

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.0, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; Wayfinder Navigator	GPS, A-GPS; Wayfinder navigator
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, incl. motion-based + downloadable
Java	Yes, MIDP 2.0	Yes, MIDP 2.0
Messaging	SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email	SMS, MMS, Email, IM
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 Organizer Voice memo/dial Walkman 4.0 player Shake control SensMe

Battery
Music play	Up to 31 h	Up to 20 h
Stand-by	Up to 380 h (2G) / Up to 367 h (3G)	Up to 370 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	Progressive Black, Cosmic Silver, Energetic Red
Price	About 120 EUR	About 100 EUR
SAR	1.00 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.74 W/kg (head)	1.18 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -81.4dB / Crosstalk -80.2dB	Noise -89.1dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB
Camera	Photo	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB

Sony Ericsson Aino

Sleek, modern design
Potentially better display viewing angles
Streamlined user interface

Limited performance
Unspecified camera quality
Fewer features compared to W995

Sony Ericsson W995

Faster processor (369 MHz ARM 11)
Better camera (8.1MP)
Robust multimedia features
Established reputation

Older design
Smaller display
Potentially shorter battery life under heavy use

Display Comparison

Both phones feature relatively small displays by today's standards. The Aino has a 3-inch QVGA display, while the W995 has a 2.8-inch QVGA display. Viewing angles and color reproduction are typical for the era, with the Aino potentially offering a slightly better experience due to its marginally larger size.

Camera Comparison

The Aino is advertised as having a 'Photo' camera, which is vague. The W995 features an 8.1MP camera with autofocus and LED flash. While image quality won't rival modern smartphones, the W995's camera is significantly better than the Aino's, offering more detail and better low-light performance.

Performance

The W995's 369 MHz ARM 11 processor provides a noticeable performance boost over the Aino's likely slower processor (specs are limited). This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive overall experience. The W995 feels snappier.

Battery Life

Battery life on both devices is expected to be moderate, around 8-12 hours of talk time. The W995's more powerful processor might slightly impact battery life under heavy use, but both are comparable.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Aino is ideal for those prioritizing a sleek, modern design and a more streamlined user experience. The Sony Ericsson W995 is a better choice for users who value performance, a robust multimedia experience (especially music), and a more feature-rich device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for music lovers?

The W995 is generally considered better for music lovers due to its more robust multimedia features and potentially better audio quality.

❓ Are these phones worth buying in 2023?

They offer a nostalgic experience for those interested in classic phones. However, their limited functionality compared to modern smartphones makes them more of a collector's item than a primary device.