The early 2000s were a golden age for feature phones, and Sony Ericsson was a dominant force. Today, we're revisiting two of their offerings: the J105 Naite and the W880. Both represent a snapshot of mobile technology from that era, but which one holds up better?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson W880 likely edges out the J105 due to its integrated camera and music player capabilities, hallmarks of Sony's Walkman branding. While the J105 was a solid, basic phone, the W880 offered a more feature-rich experience for the time, making it the slightly more desirable choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 2100 | UMTS 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps | Yes, 384 kbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / UMTS |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - Naite (a) for Americas | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2009, May. Released 2009, October | 2007, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 108 x 47 x 12.6 mm (4.25 x 1.85 x 0.50 in) | 103 x 46.5 x 9.5 mm (4.06 x 1.83 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 84 g (2.96 oz) | 71 g (2.50 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~222 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.2 inches, 15.0 cm2 (~29.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 1.8 inches, 10.0 cm2 (~20.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT, 256K colors |
| | Wallpapers, screensavers | Wallpapers, screensavers |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | 30 received, dialed and missed calls | 30 received, dialed and missed calls |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | Memory Stick Micro (M2), up to 4 GB, 1 GB included |
| Internal | 100MB | 16MB |
| Phonebook | 1000 contacts, Photo call | 1000 x 20 fields, Photo call |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | 2 MP | 2 MP |
| Video | 320p@15fps | QCIF |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | Yes | VGA videocall camera |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Alert types | - | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, AAC ringtones, composer |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.0, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | No | No |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| WLAN | No | No |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/ HTML (NetFront) | WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS reader |
| Games | Yes + downloadable | Yes + downloadable |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | Yes, MIDP 2.0 |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, RSS | SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging |
| | MP3/eAAC+/WMA player
MP4/WMV/H.263 player
TrackID
Organizer
Voice memo
Predictive text input
E-manual
Eco friendly materials
Ecomate, CO2 Calculator | Walkman player 2.0
TrackID music recognition
Predictive text input
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice memo/dial |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 33 h 45 min | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 600 h (2G) / Up to 583 h (3G) | Up to 425 h (2G) / Up to 425 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h 45 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 6 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 2 h 50 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 950 mAh battery (BST-33) | Removable Li-Po 950 mAh battery (BST-33) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Vapour Silver, Ginger Red | Flame Black, Steel Silver, Havana |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.47 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.22 W/kg (head) | 1.45 W/kg (head) |
Sony Ericsson J105 Naite
- Simple and easy to use
- Durable build quality
- Potentially longer battery life (due to fewer features)
- Reliable for calls and texts
- Lacks camera
- Limited functionality
- Slow performance
- Basic design
Sony Ericsson W880
- Integrated camera
- Music playback capabilities (Walkman branding)
- More stylish design
- Color screen
- Slower performance than J105 (potentially)
- Lower battery life than J105 (potentially)
- Limited camera quality
- Outdated technology
Display Comparison
Both phones likely featured small, low-resolution color screens typical of the era. The W880 might have had a slightly brighter or more vibrant display due to Sony's focus on multimedia, but the difference would be minimal. Expect a resolution around 128x160 pixels on both.
Camera Comparison
The W880 had a built-in camera, a significant advantage over the J105 which likely lacked one. The W880's camera would have been a low-resolution affair (likely 2MP), but still offered a basic photo-taking capability. The J105 would have no camera functionality.
Performance
Performance would be limited by the processors of the time. Expect slow menu navigation and basic functionality. The J105, being a simpler device, might feel marginally faster in core tasks, but overall, performance would be similar and quite slow by modern standards.
Battery Life
Battery life would depend on usage, but both phones likely offered a decent standby time. The J105, with fewer features, might have slightly better battery life under light use. Expect a few days of standby time on both.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson J105 Naite is ideal for someone seeking a simple, reliable phone for calls and texts, prioritizing durability and ease of use. The Sony Ericsson W880 is better suited for those who want a basic multimedia experience, including photos and music playback, and appreciate a more stylish design.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What year were these phones released?
The Sony Ericsson J105 was released around 2003-2004, while the W880 came out in 2005.
❓ Are spare parts still available for these phones?
Finding spare parts for these phones is increasingly difficult. They are largely unsupported by manufacturers, and availability is limited to online marketplaces and repair shops specializing in vintage phones.
