The Sony Ericsson Vivaz and Satio (Idou) were flagship smartphones from 2009, both vying for the title of best camera phone. While both offered impressive features for their time, they took different approaches. This review dives deep into a head-to-head comparison to determine which device ultimately delivered a better experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Satio (Idou) edges out the Vivaz thanks to its significantly faster Cortex-A8 processor and slightly better overall camera capabilities. While the Vivaz had a decent screen, the Satio’s performance and camera features made it the more compelling choice for enthusiasts.
| 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 7.2/3.6 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - Satio(a) for the Americas |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, January. Released 2010, March | 2009, February. Released 2009, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 107 x 51.7 x 12.5 mm (4.21 x 2.04 x 0.49 in) | 112 x 55 x 13 mm (4.41 x 2.17 x 0.51 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 97 g (3.42 oz) | 126 g (4.44 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 (~54.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors | TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| | Handwriting recognition | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | 720 MHz, PowerVR SGX GPU | 600 MHz Cortex-A8 |
| GPU | - | PowerVR SGX |
| 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 | 128MB; 256MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | xenon flash, video LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 12 MP, AF |
| Video | 720p@24fps | w480p@30fps (via SW update) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | VGA videocall camera |
| | No | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS; Wisepilot navigation | GPS, A-GPS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio | Stereo FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0 / xHTML (NetFront) | WAP 2.0/HTML, RSS reader |
| 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 | Gesture control
MP4/H.264/WMV player
MP3/WAV/WMA/eAAC+ player
TV-out
Office document viewer
Organizer
Predictive text input |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 430 h (2G) / Up to 440 h (3G) | Up to 360 h (2G) / Up to 340 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 5 h 20 min (3G) | Up to 11 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 50 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Po 1200 mAh battery | Removable Li-Po 1000 mAh battery |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pink, Silver Moon, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue, Venus Ruby | Black, Silver, Bordeaux |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR EU | 1.04 W/kg (head) | 1.58 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -86.2dB / Crosstalk -85.7dB |
Noise -87.0dB / Crosstalk -84.3dB |
| Camera |
Photo |
Photo |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 64dB / Noise 59dB / Ring 69dB |
Voice 71dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB |
Sony Ericsson Vivaz
- Vibrant Display
- User-Friendly Interface
- Decent Camera for its time
- Good build quality
- Slower Processor
- Less Advanced Camera Features
- Limited App Support compared to later smartphones
Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou)
- Faster Cortex-A8 Processor
- Superior Camera with Xenon Flash
- More Advanced Camera Features
- Better Performance
- Potentially Shorter Battery Life
- More Complex User Interface
- Finding a working unit can be difficult
Display Comparison
Both phones featured a 3.2-inch display, but the Satio’s display was generally considered to have slightly better color accuracy and viewing angles. The Vivaz’s display was bright and vibrant, but lacked the Satio’s refinement. Resolution was similar, around 360x480 pixels.
Camera Comparison
Both phones boasted impressive camera specs for their time. The Satio (Idou) had a 12.1MP camera with Xenon flash, while the Vivaz had an 8.1MP camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Satio's larger sensor and Xenon flash generally produced better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The Satio also offered more advanced camera features like ISO settings and white balance adjustments.
Performance
This is where the Satio truly shines. Its 600 MHz Cortex-A8 processor was a significant upgrade over the Vivaz's 720 MHz processor (though clock speed isn't everything). The Cortex-A8 architecture offered superior performance and responsiveness, making the Satio noticeably faster for multitasking and demanding applications. The Satio's PowerVR SGX GPU also provided a smoother gaming experience.
Battery Life
The Satio (Idou) had a slightly larger battery (1150 mAh) compared to the Vivaz (1200 mAh). However, the Satio's more powerful processor and features likely resulted in similar or slightly shorter battery life in real-world usage. Both phones offered around 8-10 hours of talk time and 24 hours of standby.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is suitable for users prioritizing a vibrant display and a straightforward user experience. The Sony Ericsson Satio (Idou) is ideal for photography enthusiasts and those who value faster performance and a more feature-rich camera system, assuming they can find one in working condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What operating system did these phones use?
Both the Vivaz and Satio ran Sony Ericsson's proprietary UI Edition 2.0, based on Symbian OS.
❓ Are these phones still worth anything today?
From a practical standpoint, no. They are outdated and lack modern features. However, they may hold some collector's value for enthusiasts of vintage smartphones.
