Nostalgia is a powerful force, and these two phones represent different eras of mobile technology. The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman aimed to blend classic Walkman audio with a modern smartphone experience, while the Nokia C6-01 was a popular Symbian device. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman takes the win due to its significantly more powerful processor and impressive battery life. While the Nokia C6-01 offers video recording, the Mix Walkman's A6 chip provides a smoother, faster experience overall, despite both being dated devices.
| 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 / 1700 / 1900 / 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 10.2/2 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - American version |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, August | 2010, September. Released 2010, 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) | 103.8 x 52.5 x 13.9 mm, 65 cc (4.09 x 2.07 x 0.55 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 88 g (3.10 oz) | 131 g (4.62 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla 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 (~51.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | AMOLED |
| | - | Nokia ClearBlack display
|
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift (ARM v7-based) | 680 MHz ARM 11 |
| Chipset | Apple A6 (32 nm) | - |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) | Broadcom BCM2727 |
| OS | iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 10.3.4 | Symbian^3, upgradable to Nokia Belle OS |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included |
| Internal | 256MB (100MB user available) | 340MB 256MB RAM 1GB ROM |
| Phonebook | Yes, Photocall | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 8 MP |
| Video | 320p | 720p@25fps, 720p@30fps (via SW update) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular | - |
| Single | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard) | VGA |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 3.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | No | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| 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, compass |
| | SNS integration
Walkman player (MP3/eAAC+/WMA/MP4/H.263)
SensMe
TrackID music recognition
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | TV-out
SNS integration
WebTV
MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player
DivX/XviD/MP4/WMV/H.264 player
Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
Voice command/dial
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 13 h | Up to 50 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 465 h | Up to 408 h (2G) / Up to 372 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h 40 min | Up to 11 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Ion 1050 mAh battery (BL-5CT) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black with pink cloud band, Black with pink band, Black with green bird band, Black with green band | Silver Grey, Black |
| Models | A1428, A1429, A1442, iPhone5,1, iPhone5,2 | - |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.91 W/kg (head) | 1.10 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -76.5dB |
Noise -88.2dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 51h | - |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 751:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 75dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB |
| Performance |
Basemark X: 2229 | - |
Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman
- Powerful A6 Chipset
- Excellent Battery Life (51h)
- Walkman Audio Integration
- Decent Contrast Ratio Display
- Limited Camera Functionality (Photo Only)
- Outdated Software
- Potentially Difficult to Find Parts/Support
Nokia C6-01
- Video Recording Capability
- Classic Nokia Design
- Relatively Affordable (if found)
- Symbian OS (for collectors)
- Slow Performance
- Limited Display Quality
- Short Battery Life
- Outdated Software
Display Comparison
Both phones feature relatively small displays by today's standards. The Mix Walkman's contrast ratio of 751:1 is respectable for its time, suggesting decent image quality. The Nokia C6-01's display is likely less vibrant. However, resolution and overall screen technology are both limited on both devices.
Camera Comparison
The Nokia C6-01 has a slight edge here, offering both photo and video recording capabilities. The Mix Walkman is listed as having a photo camera only. Image quality on both will be limited by the sensors and processing capabilities of the time, but the C6-01's video recording is a useful addition.
Performance
This is where the Mix Walkman truly shines. Its Apple A6 chipset and dual-core 1.3 GHz processor are significantly faster than the Nokia C6-01's 680 MHz ARM 11. Expect noticeably smoother app performance and quicker loading times on the Mix Walkman. The C6-01 will feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
The Mix Walkman boasts an incredible endurance rating of 51 hours. This is a massive advantage over the Nokia C6-01, which likely offered a much shorter battery life. This makes the Mix Walkman far more practical for extended use.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is for audio enthusiasts and those seeking a slightly more modern (though still retro) smartphone experience. The Nokia C6-01 is best suited for collectors of classic Nokia phones or those seeking a very basic, functional device for calls and messaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with limitations. Network compatibility and app availability are major concerns. They are best suited for basic tasks or as collector's items.
❓ Which phone is easier to find?
The Nokia C6-01 is generally easier to find on online marketplaces, though both are becoming increasingly rare.