Nostalgia is a powerful force, and Sony Ericsson phones hold a special place in many hearts. Today, we're pitting two of their offerings against each other: the music-focused Mix Walkman and the classic W350. Let's see which one holds up best in a modern context.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Mix Walkman clearly takes the lead thanks to its significantly more powerful Apple A6 chipset and impressive 51-hour endurance rating. While the W350 offers a simpler, more compact experience, the Mix Walkman's performance and battery life make it the superior choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - WT13i | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - W350i |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 - GSM A1428 | - |
| 4G bands | 4, 17 - GSM A1428 | - |
| EDGE | Up to 200 kbps | Class 10 |
| GPRS | Up to 115 kbps | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | - |
| Technology | GSM | GSM |
| | - | GSM 850 / 1800 / 1900 - W350a |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, August | 2008, January. Released 2008, May |
| 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) | 104 x 43 x 10.5 mm (4.09 x 1.69 x 0.41 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 88 g (3.10 oz) | 80 g (2.82 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 240 x 400 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~155 ppi density) | 176 x 220 pixels (~148 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.0 inches, 25.6 cm2 (~50.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 1.9 inches, 11.4 cm2 (~25.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT, 256K colors |
| | - | Wallpapers, screensavers |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift (ARM v7-based) | - |
| Chipset | Apple A6 (32 nm) | - |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) | - |
| OS | iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 10.3.4 | - |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | 30 received, dialed and missed calls |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | Memory Stick Micro (M2), up to 4 GB, 512 MB included |
| Internal | 256MB (100MB user available) | 14MB |
| Phonebook | Yes, Photocall | 1000 x 20 fields, Photo call |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | - |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 1.3 MP |
| Video | 320p | No |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular | - |
| Single | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard) | - |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| | No | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Alert types | - | Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3, AAC ringtones |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | No | No |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g | No |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (NetFront), RSS reader |
| Games | Yes | Yes + downloadable |
| Java | Yes | Yes, MIDP 2.0 |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM | SMS, EMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | - |
| | SNS integration
Walkman player (MP3/eAAC+/WMA/MP4/H.263)
SensMe
TrackID music recognition
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | Walkman player
TrackID music recognition
Predictive text input
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice memo |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 13 h | Up to 15 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 465 h | Up to 300 h |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h 40 min | Up to 7 h |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 780 mAh battery (BST-36) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black with pink cloud band, Black with pink band, Black with green bird band, Black with green band | Electric black, Ice blue, Hypnotic black, Graphic white, Wisteria Purple, Turbo Red, Pink |
| Models | A1428, A1429, A1442, iPhone5,1, iPhone5,2 | - |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 70 EUR |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | 1.48 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.91 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -76.5dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 51h | - |
| Camera |
Photo | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 751:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark X: 2229 | - |
Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman
- Powerful Apple A6 Chipset
- Exceptional 51-hour Battery Life
- Better Display Contrast
- Retro Design
- Potentially Bulky for a Feature Phone
- Camera Quality Limited by Age
Sony Ericsson W350
- Extremely Compact and Portable
- Simple and Easy to Use
- Classic Sony Ericsson Design
- Very Limited Performance
- Poor Battery Life (estimated)
- Low-Resolution Display
- Lack of Detailed Specs
Display Comparison
The Mix Walkman boasts a contrast ratio of 751:1, suggesting a reasonably vibrant display for its time. The W350, lacking detailed specs, likely features a smaller, lower-resolution screen typical of feature phones of that era. Image quality on the Mix Walkman would likely be noticeably better.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having a 'photo' camera, suggesting basic camera functionality. Given the age of these phones, image quality from either device will be limited. The Mix Walkman's more powerful processor *might* allow for slightly better image processing, but don't expect miracles.
Performance
Here's where the Mix Walkman truly shines. Powered by an Apple A6 chipset (the same as the iPhone 5), it offers a substantial performance advantage over the W350, which likely runs on a much slower, proprietary platform. Expect smoother app usage and faster overall responsiveness on the Mix Walkman.
Battery Life
The Mix Walkman's 51-hour endurance rating is phenomenal. The W350, without specific battery details, would likely offer a shorter battery life, typical of older feature phones.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is ideal for those seeking a retro-styled phone with decent performance and exceptional battery life, particularly music lovers. The W350 is best suited for users prioritizing extreme portability and a very basic feature phone experience, perhaps as a secondary device or for specific niche uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still usable with modern SIM cards?
Likely not without modification. These phones use older SIM card technologies. You may need to find an adapter or a specialized service to make them compatible.
❓ Can I install apps on the Mix Walkman?
While it runs an Apple A6 chipset, it's not a full iOS device. App compatibility is limited, but you might find some basic Java apps.
