The Sony Ericsson Vivaz and Nokia N97 were flagship smartphones from a bygone era, both running Symbian OS. They represented the peak of mobile technology at the time, but which one offered a better experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to settle the debate.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz edges out the Nokia N97 thanks to its significantly faster processor and superior video recording capabilities. While the N97 boasts a larger screen and QWERTY keyboard, the Vivaz's performance and multimedia features make it the slightly better overall choice for those nostalgic for Symbian.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 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 / 2100 - American version |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, January. Released 2010, March | 2008, November. Released 2009, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 107 x 51.7 x 12.5 mm (4.21 x 2.04 x 0.49 in) | 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, 88 cc (4.61 x 2.18 x 0.63 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 97 g (3.42 oz) | 150 g (5.29 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density) | 360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~210 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~51.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.5 inches, 33.8 cm2 (~52.1% 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) |
| Internal | 75MB | 32GB 128MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | Carl Zeiss optics, LED flash, video light |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 720p@24fps | 480p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Video | - | VGA@15fps |
| | 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 |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS; FM transmitter |
| 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, compass |
| | 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 |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 40 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 440 h (3G) | Up to 432 h (2G) / 408 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 5 h 20 min (3G) | Up to 9 h 30 min (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1200 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery (BP-4L) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pink, Silver Moon, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue, Venus Ruby | White, Black |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.90 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.04 W/kg (head) | 0.67 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -86.2dB / Crosstalk -85.7dB |
Noise -90.7dB / Crosstalk -89.5dB |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 64dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 69dB |
Voice 72dB / Noise 67dB / Ring 75dB |
Sony Ericsson Vivaz
- Faster Processor (720 MHz)
- 720p Video Recording
- Sleek Design
- Good Multimedia Performance
- Smaller Screen
- Slightly Shorter Battery Life
- Limited App Ecosystem (Symbian)
Nokia N97
- Larger Screen (3.5-inch)
- Physical QWERTY Keyboard
- Potentially Better Battery Life
- Classic Nokia Build Quality
- Slower Processor (434 MHz)
- Standard Definition Video Recording
- Less Responsive UI
- Symbian OS limitations
Display Comparison
The Nokia N97 features a 3.5-inch AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and good viewing angles. The Vivaz has a 3.2-inch LED display. While both are respectable for their time, the N97's AMOLED technology provides a slightly richer visual experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a 5-megapixel camera. However, the Vivaz supports 720p video recording, a significant advantage over the N97's standard definition video. Image quality is comparable, but the Vivaz's video capabilities are a clear winner.
Performance
Here's where the Vivaz shines. Its 720 MHz processor significantly outperforms the N97's 434 MHz ARM 11 processor. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user interface on the Vivaz.
Battery Life
The Nokia N97 generally offered slightly better battery life than the Vivaz, likely due to the more efficient processor and potentially larger battery capacity (though exact figures are difficult to confirm definitively). Expect around 8-10 hours of moderate use on the N97 versus 6-8 hours on the Vivaz.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is ideal for users who prioritize speed and multimedia, especially video recording. The Nokia N97 is better suited for those who heavily rely on a physical QWERTY keyboard for typing and prefer a slightly larger display for browsing and productivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for typing?
The Nokia N97's physical QWERTY keyboard makes it significantly better for extended typing sessions compared to the Vivaz's touchscreen keyboard.
❓ Is Symbian OS still worth using?
Symbian is a legacy operating system. While it has its charm for nostalgia, it lacks the app support and modern features of contemporary mobile OSes like Android or iOS.
