The Sony Ericsson Satio (also known as Idou) and Vivaz were flagship smartphones from 2009, boasting impressive features for their time. Both aimed to deliver a premium multimedia experience, but key differences set them apart. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone truly stood out.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz edges out the Satio thanks to its slightly faster processor, dedicated GPU for improved graphics, and marginally better overall user experience. While the Satio had a larger screen, the Vivaz's performance advantages make it the winner in this retro smartphone battle.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/3.6 Mbps | HSPA 10.2/2 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - Satio(a) for the Americas | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2009, February. Released 2009, October | 2010, January. Released 2010, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 112 x 55 x 13 mm (4.41 x 2.17 x 0.51 in) | 107 x 51.7 x 12.5 mm (4.21 x 2.04 x 0.49 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 126 g (4.44 oz) | 97 g (3.42 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| 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 (~51.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors | TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| | - | Handwriting recognition |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 600 MHz Cortex-A8 | 720 MHz, PowerVR SGX GPU |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX | - |
| OS | Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5 | Symbian Series 60, 5th edition |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included | microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included |
| Internal | 128MB; 256MB RAM | 75MB |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | xenon flash, video LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 12 MP, AF | 8 MP, AF |
| Video | w480p@30fps (via SW update) | 720p@24fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | VGA videocall camera | - |
| | - | No |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.0, A2DP | 2.1, A2DP |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS | GPS, A-GPS; Wisepilot navigation |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio | Stereo FM radio |
| USB | 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/HTML, RSS reader | WAP 2.0 / xHTML (NetFront) |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Accelerometer |
| | Gesture control
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
TV-out
Office document viewer
Organizer
Predictive text input | Facebook and Twitter apps
WMV/RV/MP4/3GP player
MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A player
TrackID music recognition
TV out (VGA resolution)
Organizer
Document viewer
Gesture control
Voice memo
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 360 h (2G) / Up to 340 h (3G) | Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 440 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 50 min (3G) | Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 5 h 20 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1200 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Bordeaux | Pink, Silver Moon, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue, Venus Ruby |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 80 EUR |
| SAR EU | 1.58 W/kg (head) | 1.04 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -87.0dB / Crosstalk -84.3dB |
Noise -86.2dB / Crosstalk -85.7dB |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 71dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB |
Voice 64dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 69dB |
Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)
- Larger screen (slightly)
- Stylish design
- Good multimedia capabilities
- Slower performance
- Occasional sluggishness
- Less responsive camera
Sony Ericsson Vivaz
- Faster processor and GPU
- Smoother performance
- More responsive camera
- Slightly better battery life (potentially)
- Smaller screen (slightly)
- Design less distinctive than Satio
Display Comparison
Both phones featured a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen. However, the Satio boasted a slightly larger resolution of 368x480 pixels compared to the Vivaz's 368x480. While the difference is minimal, the Satio's screen felt a bit more spacious. Viewing angles and color reproduction were generally good on both devices, typical of the era.
Camera Comparison
Both phones featured 8.1-megapixel cameras with autofocus and LED flash. Image quality was decent for the time, but not exceptional. The Vivaz's GPU likely contributed to slightly faster image processing and a more responsive camera experience. Low-light performance was a weakness on both devices.
Performance
The Vivaz held a clear advantage here. It featured a 720 MHz Cortex-A8 processor paired with a PowerVR SGX GPU, while the Satio had a 600 MHz Cortex-A8 processor. This resulted in noticeably smoother performance on the Vivaz, especially when handling graphics-intensive tasks and games. The Satio could occasionally feel sluggish by comparison.
Battery Life
The Satio had a slightly larger battery capacity (1150 mAh) compared to the Vivaz (1200 mAh). However, the Vivaz's more efficient processor and GPU usage often resulted in comparable or even slightly better battery life in real-world usage. Heavy multimedia use would drain both batteries relatively quickly.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)? Collectors of vintage smartphones or those seeking a larger screen for media consumption might appreciate the Satio. Who should buy the Sony Ericsson Vivaz? Users prioritizing smoother performance, better graphics, and a slightly more refined user experience will find the Vivaz more appealing.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What operating system did these phones use?
Both the Satio and Vivaz ran Sony Ericsson's proprietary UI Edition 2.0, based on Symbian OS.
❓ Are these phones still usable today?
While technically usable, these phones are quite dated. App support is limited, and they lack modern features like 4G connectivity and high-resolution displays. They are primarily of interest to collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience.
