Nostalgia is a powerful force, and few brands evoke it quite like Sony Ericsson. Today, we're pitting two iconic devices against each other: the Mix Walkman, known for its media focus, and the W705, a slider phone with a dedicated Walkman player. Let's see which one holds up best.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Mix Walkman takes the win due to its significantly better battery life and a more modern chipset (Apple A6). While the W705 boasts a classic slider design and Walkman branding, it lacks detailed specs and likely trails in performance. The Mix Walkman offers a more compelling overall experience.
| 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 7.2/2 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM | GSM / HSPA |
| | - | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 W705a |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, August | 2008, October. Released 2009, March |
| 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) | 95 x 47.5 x 14.3 mm (3.74 x 1.87 x 0.56 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 88 g (3.10 oz) | 98 g (3.46 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 240 x 400 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~155 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~167 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.0 inches, 25.6 cm2 (~50.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 2.4 inches, 17.8 cm2 (~39.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT, 256K colors |
| 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 8 GB, 4 GB included |
| Internal | 256MB (100MB user available) | 120MB |
| Phonebook | Yes, Photocall | 1000 entries, Photocall |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 320p | Yes |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | face detection, FaceTime over Wi-Fi or Cellular | - |
| Single | 1.2 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard) | - |
| Video | 720p@30fps | - |
| | No | Videocall camera |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| 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 | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | WAP 2.0/HTML, RSS |
| Games | Yes | Yes + downloadable |
| Java | Yes | Yes, MIDP 2.0 |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, IM | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer |
| | SNS integration
Walkman player (MP3/eAAC+/WMA/MP4/H.263)
SensMe
TrackID music recognition
Document viewer
Voice memo
Predictive text input | MP3/AAC/MP4 player
Walkman 3.0 player
Shake control
SensMe
TrackID music recognition
YouTube service in Media Center
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice memo
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 13 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 465 h | Up to 400 h (2G) / Up to 350 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h 40 min | Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 4 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 950 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black with pink cloud band, Black with pink band, Black with green bird band, Black with green band | Luxury Silver, Passionate Red |
| Models | A1428, A1429, A1442, iPhone5,1, iPhone5,2 | - |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 160 EUR |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | 1.15 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.91 W/kg (head) | 1.01 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
- Excellent battery life (51h)
- Modern chipset (Apple A6)
- Better performance
- Decent display contrast
- Design may not appeal to everyone
- Camera is basic
Sony Ericsson W705
- Classic slider design
- Walkman branding
- Compact size
- Missing detailed specs
- Likely lower performance
- Unknown display quality
- Unknown battery life
Display Comparison
The Mix Walkman's display, with a contrast ratio of 751:1, suggests a reasonably good viewing experience for its time. The W705's display details are unavailable, but it likely utilized a standard LCD panel common in 2007-era phones. Expect the Mix Walkman to offer slightly better image quality.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a photo camera, but specific resolution and quality details are scarce for the W705. Given the A6's capabilities, the Mix Walkman likely produced slightly better image quality, though both would be considered basic by modern standards.
Performance
Here's where the Mix Walkman truly shines. Powered by an Apple A6 chipset (the same chip found in the iPhone 5), it offers a substantial performance advantage over the W705, which likely used a less powerful ARM processor. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the Mix Walkman.
Battery Life
The Mix Walkman boasts an impressive endurance rating of 51 hours. This is a major advantage over the W705, which likely had a smaller battery and less efficient hardware. Battery life was a key consideration in older phones, and the Mix Walkman excels here.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is ideal for those seeking a retro media player with decent performance and exceptional battery life. The W705 is best suited for dedicated collectors or those prioritizing the classic slider form factor and Walkman aesthetic, understanding it will be a more basic experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What year were these phones released?
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman was released around 2012, while the W705 was released in 2007.
❓ Are spare parts readily available for these phones?
Finding spare parts for both phones can be challenging due to their age. Online marketplaces and specialized retro phone repair services are your best bet.
