The Sony Ericsson brand evokes nostalgia for many, particularly for its iconic Walkman phones. Today, we're pitting two of these classics against each other: the Mix Walkman and the W8. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one holds up best in a modern context.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman clearly takes the crown. Its significantly more powerful Apple A6 chipset and impressive 51-hour endurance rating vastly outperform the W8's older hardware. While both offer a photo camera, the Mix Walkman's processing power provides a noticeable advantage.
| 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 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2011, June. Released 2011, August | 2011, April. Released 2011, 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) | 99 x 54 x 15 mm (3.90 x 2.13 x 0.59 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 88 g (3.10 oz) | 104 g (3.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 240 x 400 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~155 ppi density) | 320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~192 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.0 inches, 25.6 cm2 (~50.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.0 inches, 26.8 cm2 (~50.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT |
| | - | Timescape UI |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.3 GHz Swift (ARM v7-based) | 600 MHz ARM 11 |
| Chipset | Apple A6 (32 nm) | Qualcomm MSM7227 Snapdragon S1 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX 543MP3 (triple-core graphics) | Adreno 200 |
| OS | iOS 6, upgradable to iOS 10.3.4 | Android 2.1 (Eclair) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | - |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 256MB (100MB user available) | 128MB 168MB RAM |
| Phonebook | Yes, Photocall | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | - |
| Single | 3.15 MP | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 320p | 480p@30fps |
| 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 | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP |
| Positioning | No | GPS, A-GPS |
| 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 |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML | HTML |
| 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 | Walkman player
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player
TrackID music recognition
Voice memo
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 13 h | Up to 23 h 40 min |
| Stand-by | Up to 465 h | Up to 446 h (2G) / Up to 476 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 9 h 40 min | Up to 4 h 45 min |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1200 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black with pink cloud band, Black with pink band, Black with green bird band, Black with green band | Azure, Orange, Red |
| Models | A1428, A1429, A1442, iPhone5,1, iPhone5,2 | - |
| Price | About 70 EUR | About 100 EUR |
| SAR | 1.18 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.91 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -91.3dB / Crosstalk -76.5dB |
Noise -86.8dB / Crosstalk -84.1dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 51h | - |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 751:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 737:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 70dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 69dB |
| Performance |
Basemark X: 2229 | - |
Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman
- Significantly faster performance (Apple A6)
- Exceptional battery life (51h)
- More responsive user experience
- Potentially better camera image quality
- May be larger than the W8
- Retro design might not appeal to everyone
Sony Ericsson W8
- Truly vintage Sony Ericsson experience
- Potentially more compact size
- Simpler, more basic interface
- Slow performance (ARM 11)
- Short battery life (estimated)
- Limited app compatibility
- Outdated technology
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a nominal contrast ratio of around 740:1. While this isn't exceptional by today's standards, it was respectable for the time. Expect decent viewing angles and color reproduction, but don't anticipate vibrant, high-resolution visuals. The Mix Walkman *might* have a slightly better display due to the more advanced chipset's image processing capabilities, but it's likely minimal.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are equipped with a photo camera, but details are scarce. Given the Mix Walkman's superior processing power, it's likely to produce slightly better image quality, with improved noise reduction and faster processing. However, don't expect flagship-level photography from either device.
Performance
This is where the Mix Walkman shines. The Apple A6 chipset with a 1.3 GHz dual-core Swift processor is a significant upgrade over the W8's 600 MHz single-core ARM 11. Expect noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience on the Mix Walkman. The W8 will feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
The Mix Walkman boasts an incredible endurance rating of 51 hours, a testament to its efficient chipset and optimized software. The W8's battery life is likely considerably shorter, though specific figures are unavailable. This is a major advantage for the Mix Walkman.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is ideal for those seeking a retro experience with a surprisingly modern performance boost. The W8 is best suited for collectors or those prioritizing a truly vintage feel and a more compact form factor, accepting its limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are apps easily available for these phones?
The Mix Walkman, with its Apple A6 chipset, *might* have access to a limited selection of older apps. The W8's older platform will have extremely limited app availability.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
Both phones are likely to have similar durability, being built with older materials and construction techniques. However, the Mix Walkman's more modern components might be slightly more resilient.
