Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) vs Nokia X6: A 2009 Smartphone Throwback

The late 2000s were a golden age for mobile innovation. The Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) and Nokia X6 were two flagship devices vying for dominance. Let's revisit these iconic phones and see how they stack up today, considering their original impact and limitations.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Satio (Idou) edges out the X6 thanks to its significantly faster processor and more advanced camera features, despite both being hampered by their age. However, the X6 offered a more polished Symbian experience and arguably better audio quality, making it a strong contender for music lovers.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)	Nokia X6 (2009)

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 - excl. Lat. America & Brazil
Speed	HSPA 7.2/3.6 Mbps	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - Satio(a) for the Americas	-

Launch
Announced	2009, February. Released 2009, October	2009, September. Released 2009, December
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	112 x 55 x 13 mm (4.41 x 2.17 x 0.51 in)	111 x 51 x 13.8 mm (4.37 x 2.01 x 0.54 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	126 g (4.44 oz)	122 g (4.30 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~210 ppi density)	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density)
Size	3.5 inches, 33.8 cm2 (~54.8% screen-to-body ratio)	3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~49.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors	TFT

Platform
CPU	600 MHz Cortex-A8	434 MHz ARM 11
GPU	PowerVR SGX	-
OS	Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5	Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	No
Internal	128MB; 256MB RAM	32GB 128MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	xenon flash, video LED flash	Carl Zeiss optics, Dual-LED flash, video light
Single	12 MP, AF	5 MP, AF
Video	w480p@30fps (via SW update)	480p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	VGA videocall camera	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	Yes
35mm jack	No	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.0, A2DP	2.0, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS; Ovi Maps 3.0
Radio	Stereo FM radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/HTML, RSS reader	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity	Accelerometer, proximity
	Gesture control MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player TV-out Office document viewer Organizer Predictive text input	Nokia WH-500 stereo headset in the retail package WMV/RV/MP4/3GP player MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A player Organizer Photo/video editor Voice command/dial TV-out Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	-	Up to 35 h
Stand-by	Up to 360 h (2G) / Up to 340 h (3G)	Up to 420 h (2G) / Up to 450 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 50 min (3G)	Up to 11 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery (BL-5J)

Misc
Colors	Black, Silver, Bordeaux	Blue on White, Red on Black
Price	About 180 EUR	About 130 EUR
SAR	-	1.31 W/kg (head) 1.13 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	1.58 W/kg (head)	1.11 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -87.0dB / Crosstalk -84.3dB	Noise -91.1dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB
Camera	Photo	Photo
Loudspeaker	Voice 71dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 69dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 72dB

Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)

Faster processor (Cortex-A8)
Higher resolution camera (12.1MP)
Early Android experience
Unique design

Variable battery life
Early Android software issues
Proprietary battery
Limited app availability compared to modern phones

Nokia X6 (2009)

Solid Symbian experience
Good audio quality
Slightly better battery life
More polished software (for its time)

Slower processor (ARM 11)
Lower resolution camera (5MP)
Less powerful than Satio
Limited app ecosystem

Display Comparison

Both phones featured 3.2-inch displays, but the Satio's screen had a slightly higher resolution (368x480 vs 360x480 on the X6). Color reproduction was decent for the time, but viewing angles were limited on both. The Satio's display was generally considered brighter.

Camera Comparison

The Satio boasted a 12.1-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, a significant upgrade over the X6's 5-megapixel camera. While image quality wasn't comparable to modern smartphones, the Satio's camera offered better detail and low-light performance. The X6's camera was adequate for casual snapshots.

Performance

The Satio's 600 MHz Cortex-A8 processor provided a noticeable performance advantage over the X6's 434 MHz ARM 11. Apps launched faster, and the overall user experience felt snappier on the Satio, especially considering it ran early Android. The X6, while functional, could feel sluggish at times.

Battery Life

The Nokia X6 generally had slightly better battery life, often lasting a full day with moderate use, while the Satio's battery life was more variable, depending on usage and Android version. Both phones used proprietary batteries, limiting replacement options.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) is for collectors and enthusiasts interested in experiencing early Android and a unique design. The Nokia X6 is for those nostalgic for Symbian and a solid music-focused device, or those seeking a reliable, albeit dated, phone for basic tasks.