The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman and the Samsung Galaxy Music S6010 were both popular budget smartphones vying for attention in a crowded market. Both offered music-focused features, but their overall performance and capabilities differed significantly. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone ultimately comes out on top.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman edges out the Samsung Galaxy Music S6010 thanks to its superior Snapdragon chipset and potentially better camera. While both are budget devices, the Live with Walkman offers a more responsive experience and a slightly more premium feel, making it the better choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 - WT19i | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - WT19a | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, August. Released 2011, October | 2012, October. Released 2012, December |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 106 x 56.5 x 14.2 mm (4.17 x 2.22 x 0.56 in) | 110.1 x 59 x 12.3 mm (4.33 x 2.32 x 0.48 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 115 g (4.06 oz) | 106.9 g (3.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~180 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~133 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.2 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~50.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.0 inches, 27.9 cm2 (~42.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | TFT, 256K colors |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 1.0 GHz Scorpion | 850 MHz Cortex-A9 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2 | - |
| GPU | Adreno 205 | - |
| OS | Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 320MB 512MB RAM | 4GB 512MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | - |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 720p | Yes |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA | - |
| | - | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | SRS audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP, EDR | 3.0, A2DP |
| NFC | - | No |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS; built-in antenna |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
TrackID music recognition
Document editor
Voice memo
Predictive text input | MP4/H.263 player
MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
Photo viewer/editor |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 17 h 30 min | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 350 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G) | Up to 570 h (2G) / Up to 370 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 14 h 15 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 42 min (3G) | Up to 15 h (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery | Li-Ion 1300 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Blue, Orange, Gray |
| Price | About 120 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.79 W/kg (head) 0.68 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.00 W/kg (head) | 0.65 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -88.1dB / Crosstalk -87.9dB | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 75dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 78dB
| - |
Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman
- Faster Processor (Snapdragon S2)
- Potentially Better Camera
- Music-Focused Features
- Sony Brand Reputation
- Outdated Design
- Low-Resolution Display
- Limited Storage
Samsung Galaxy Music S6010
- Samsung Brand Recognition
- Potentially User-Friendly Interface
- Compact Size
- Slower Processor (Cortex-A9)
- Less Powerful Camera
- Limited Storage
- Outdated Software
Display Comparison
Both phones featured relatively small, low-resolution displays typical of budget devices at the time. The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman likely had a slightly better color reproduction due to Sony's display technology, but the difference would be minimal. Screen size was approximately 3.2 inches for both.
Camera Comparison
The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman boasted a dedicated camera with photo and video capabilities, while the Samsung Galaxy Music's camera specifications are less clear. Given Sony's reputation for camera quality, the Live with Walkman likely offered superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions. Video recording capabilities were likely similar, both offering standard definition recording.
Performance
This is where the Live with Walkman shines. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 chipset with a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy Music's 850 MHz Cortex-A9 processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a generally more responsive user experience on the Sony device.
Battery Life
Battery life was a crucial factor for music-focused phones. While exact battery capacities are difficult to confirm, both phones likely offered around 1200-1500 mAh batteries. Usage patterns would heavily influence actual battery life, but the more efficient Snapdragon chipset in the Live with Walkman could provide a slight advantage.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman is ideal for music lovers who want a slightly faster and more capable smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Music S6010 might appeal to those prioritizing Samsung's brand recognition and a potentially more user-friendly interface, but performance will be noticeably slower.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for music playback?
The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman was specifically designed for music, featuring dedicated Walkman features and potentially better audio quality. However, both phones offer decent music playback capabilities.
❓ Are these phones still worth buying today?
Given their age, neither phone is recommended for purchase in 2024. They lack modern features, security updates, and performance capabilities. They might be interesting for collectors or retro enthusiasts.