Sony Ericsson Vivaz vs Nokia 5800 XpressMusic: A Throwback Showdown

The mid-to-late 2000s were a pivotal time for mobile phones, bridging the gap between feature phones and the modern smartphone. Today, we're revisiting two iconic devices from that era: the Sony Ericsson Vivaz and the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. Let's see how these phones stack up against each other.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz edges out the Nokia 5800 thanks to its significantly faster processor and superior display. However, the 5800’s robust build quality and dedicated music features make it a compelling alternative for those prioritizing durability and audio.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Vivaz	Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 10.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 1900 - American version

Launch
Announced	2010, January. Released 2010, March	2008, October. Released 2008, November
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	107 x 51.7 x 12.5 mm (4.21 x 2.04 x 0.49 in)	111 x 51.7 x 15.5 mm, 83 cc (4.37 x 2.04 x 0.61 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	97 g (3.42 oz)	109 g (3.84 oz)

Display
Resolution	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density)	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density)
Size	3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~51.0% screen-to-body ratio)	3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~49.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors	TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Handwriting recognition	Handwriting recognition

Platform
CPU	720 MHz, PowerVR SGX GPU	434 MHz ARM 11
OS	Symbian Series 60, 5th edition	Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 8 GB included
Internal	75MB	81MB 128MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash
Single	8 MP, AF	3.15 MP, AF
Video	720p@24fps	480p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	-	QVGA videocall camera
	No	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.0, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS; Wisepilot navigation	GPS, A-GPS; Nokia Maps 2.0 Touch
Radio	Stereo FM radio	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0 / xHTML (NetFront)	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite
Sensors	Accelerometer	Accelerometer, proximity
	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	MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/WAV/еAAC+/WMA player Photo editor Organizer Voice command/dial TV-out Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	-	Up to 35 h
Stand-by	Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 440 h (3G)	Up to 406 h (2G) / Up to 406 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 5 h 20 min (3G)	Up to 8 h 45 min (2G) / Up to 5 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1200 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1320 mAh battery (BL-5J)

Misc
Colors	Pink, Silver Moon, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue, Venus Ruby	Black, Red, Blue
Price	About 80 EUR	About 130 EUR
SAR	-	1.11 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	1.04 W/kg (head)	0.97 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -86.2dB / Crosstalk -85.7dB	Noise -92.2dB / Crosstalk -75.0dB
Camera	Photo	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 64dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 69dB	Voice 75dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 68dB

Sony Ericsson Vivaz

Faster Processor
Better Display
Dedicated Photo Camera App
Symbian OS

Shorter Battery Life (potentially)
Less Durable Build
Software Updates Limited

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

Longer Battery Life
Durable Build Quality
Dedicated Music Features
Good Audio Quality

Slower Processor
Less Vibrant Display
Less Responsive UI
Outdated Software

Display Comparison

The Vivaz boasts a 3.2-inch 368x480 pixel display, offering a sharper and more vibrant visual experience compared to the Nokia 5800's 3.2-inch 360x480 display. The Vivaz's screen also generally had better color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

Both phones featured 8MP cameras, but image quality differed. The Vivaz generally produced slightly more detailed photos, although both struggled in low-light conditions. The Vivaz also had a dedicated photo camera app, while the 5800's camera was integrated into the main UI.

Performance

Here's where the Vivaz truly shines. Its 720 MHz processor, coupled with a PowerVR SGX GPU, provides a noticeable performance boost over the Nokia 5800's 434 MHz ARM 11 processor. Apps launch faster, and the overall user experience feels more responsive on the Vivaz.

Battery Life

The Nokia 5800 typically offered slightly better battery life due to its less demanding processor and optimized software. However, heavy usage on the Vivaz's brighter display could drain the battery faster.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is ideal for users who appreciate a smoother user experience and a better display. The Nokia 5800 is a good choice for music lovers and those seeking a more durable device with a focus on multimedia playback.