Remember the days of dedicated music phones? The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic were titans of that era, boasting impressive audio features and unique designs. But which one truly delivered the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to settle the score.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman takes the crown thanks to its significantly more powerful processor and vastly superior battery life. While the Nokia 5800 holds a certain nostalgic charm, the Mix Walkman offers a more modern and capable experience, especially for music enthusiasts.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - WT13i | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - GSM A1428 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 4, 17 - GSM A1428 | - |
| EDGE | Up to 200 kbps | - |
| GPRS | Up to 115 kbps | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 1900 - American version |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, August | 2008, October. Released 2008, November |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 95.8 x 52.8 x 14.3 mm (3.77 x 2.08 x 0.56 in) | 111 x 51.7 x 15.5 mm, 83 cc (4.37 x 2.04 x 0.61 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 88 g (3.10 oz) | 109 g (3.84 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 240 x 400 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~155 ppi density) | 360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.0 inches, 25.6 cm2 (~50.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~49.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| | - | Handwriting recognition |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift (ARM v7-based) | 434 MHz ARM 11 |
| Chipset | Apple A6 (32 nm) | - |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) | - |
| OS | iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 10.3.4 | Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included |
| Internal | 256MB (100MB user available) | 81MB 128MB RAM |
| Phonebook | Yes, Photocall | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 3.15 MP, AF |
| Video | 320p | 480p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular | - |
| Single | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard) | QVGA videocall camera |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | No | GPS, A-GPS; Nokia Maps 2.0 Touch |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite |
| Games | Yes | - |
| Java | Yes | - |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM | - |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| | SNS integration
Walkman player (MP3/eAAC+/WMA/MP4/H.263)
SensMe
TrackID music recognition
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/WAV/еAAC+/WMA player
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice command/dial
TV-out
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 13 h | Up to 35 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 465 h | Up to 406 h (2G) / Up to 406 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h 40 min | Up to 8 h 45 min (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery (BL-5J) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black with pink cloud band, Black with pink band, Black with green bird band, Black with green band | Black, Red, Blue |
| Models | A1428, A1429, A1442, iPhone5,1, iPhone5,2 | - |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | 1.11 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.91 W/kg (head) | 0.97 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -76.5dB |
Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -75.0dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 51h | - |
| Camera |
Photo | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 751:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 75dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 68dB |
| Performance |
Basemark X: 2229 | - |
Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman
- Significantly faster processor
- Exceptional battery life (51h)
- Potentially better display contrast
- More modern chipset
- Design may not appeal to everyone
- Camera is still basic
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
- Classic Nokia design
- Simple and intuitive operating system
- Nostalgic appeal
- Slow performance
- Short battery life
- Outdated display
- Limited app support
Display Comparison
Both phones feature relatively small displays by today's standards. The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman's display, while lacking specific resolution details, benefits from a reported contrast ratio of 751:1, suggesting better image quality than the Nokia 5800's. However, both screens are designed primarily for viewing album art and basic text, not high-resolution media.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer basic photo capabilities. Neither phone was known for its exceptional camera quality. The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman's camera is likely slightly better due to the more modern chipset, but don't expect flagship-level results from either device. Both are primarily for quick snapshots.
Performance
This is where the Mix Walkman truly shines. Its Apple A6 chipset and dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift processor are significantly more powerful than the Nokia 5800's 434 MHz ARM 11. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall user experience on the Mix Walkman.
Battery Life
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman boasts an incredible endurance rating of 51 hours, a massive advantage over the Nokia 5800. This translates to significantly longer music playback time and overall usage between charges, making it a clear winner in this category.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is ideal for those seeking a retro device with solid performance and long battery life, prioritizing music playback and a more responsive user experience. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is best suited for collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts who appreciate its unique design and simpler operating system, valuing a classic mobile experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for listening to music?
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is the better choice due to its faster processor, smoother playback, and significantly longer battery life for extended listening sessions.
❓ Are apps available for both phones?
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman, with its more modern chipset, likely has access to a wider range of apps, although app support will still be limited compared to modern smartphones. The Nokia 5800's app selection is even more restricted.
