Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 vs Nokia N97 mini: A Classic Smartphone Showdown

The mid-to-late 2000s were a golden age for smartphones, with innovative devices pushing the boundaries of mobile technology. Today, we're revisiting two iconic contenders: the Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 and the Nokia N97 mini. Let's see how these retro powerhouses stack up against each other.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia X2 edges out the N97 mini thanks to its slightly faster processor and generally more responsive UI. While both offer a taste of classic smartphone functionality, the X2 provides a marginally smoother experience, making it the preferred choice for those seeking a nostalgic mobile experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Ericsson Xperia X2	Nokia N97 mini

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps	HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA
	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - XPERIA X2a	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - American version

Launch
Announced	2009, September. Released 2010, January	2009, September. Released 2009, November
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	110 x 54 x 16 mm (4.33 x 2.13 x 0.63 in)	113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm, 75 cc (4.45 x 2.07 x 0.56 in)
Keyboard	QWERTY	QWERTY
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	155 g (5.47 oz)	138 g (4.87 oz)
	Optical trackpad	-

Display
Resolution	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~292 ppi density)	360 x 640 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~229 ppi density)
Size	3.2 inches, 29.1 cm2 (~49.1% screen-to-body ratio)	3.2 inches, 28.2 cm2 (~47.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colors	TFT resistive touchscreen, 16M colors
	XPERIA panels UI	Handwriting recognition

Platform
CPU	528 MHz ARM 11	434 MHz ARM 11
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM7200A	-
GPU	Adreno 130	-
OS	Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5/6.5.2 Professional	Symbian 9.4, Series 60 rel. 5

Memory
Card slot	microSDHC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	110MB 256MB RAM 512MB ROM	8GB 128MB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	Carl Zeiss optics, Dual-LED flash, video light
Single	8 MP, AF	5 MP, AF
Video	w480p@30fps	480p@30fps

Selfie camera
Video	-	VGA@15fps
	Videocall, via SW update	-

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

Comms
Bluetooth	2.1, A2DP	2.0, A2DP
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS; Nokia Maps
Radio	Stereo FM (via software update)	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, DLNA	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology

Features
Browser	WAP 2.0/HTML (IE), RSS feeds	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Adobe Flash Lite
Sensors	Accelerometer	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player MP4/Xvid/WMV9/H.264 player TV Out YouTube application Pocket Office Photo editor Organizer Voice memo/dial Predictive text input	MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player WMV/RealVideo/MP4 player TV-out Voice command/dial Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF) Video and photo editor Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 20 h	Up to 32 h
Stand-by	Up to 500 h (2G) / Up to 640 h (3G)	Up to 320 h (2G) / 310 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 10 h (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G)	Up to 7 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 6 h (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery (BST-41)	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery (BL-4D)

Misc
Colors	Elegant Black, Modern Silver	Gold, Cherry Black, Garnet, White
Price	About 140 EUR	About 120 EUR
SAR	-	0.90 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.90 W/kg (head)	0.67 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -81.3dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB	Noise -90.5dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB
Camera	Photo	Photo
Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 69dB / Ring 65dB	Voice 68dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 83dB

Sony Ericsson Xperia X2

Slightly faster processor
More responsive UI
Stylish design
Good build quality

Limited app ecosystem
Low-resolution display
Basic camera
Battery life could be better

Nokia N97 mini

Classic Nokia design
Symbian OS familiarity
Decent battery life
Compact size

Slower processor
Less responsive UI
Limited app ecosystem
Low-resolution display

Display Comparison

Both phones feature relatively small displays by today's standards. The Xperia X2 has a 3.2-inch touchscreen, while the N97 mini boasts a 3.2-inch display as well. Screen resolution was a limitation of the era, with both offering fairly low pixel densities. Viewing angles and color reproduction are not comparable to modern smartphones.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature 'photo' cameras, indicating basic camera functionality. Image quality is expected to be low by today's standards, with limited resolution and poor low-light performance. Neither phone is a serious contender for photography.

Performance

The Xperia X2 holds a slight advantage here. It's powered by a 528 MHz ARM 11 processor, compared to the N97 mini's 434 MHz ARM 11. While both run Symbian OS, the X2's extra processing power translates to slightly snappier performance and quicker app loading times. However, don't expect modern smartphone speeds.

Battery Life

The Nokia N97 mini generally had a slightly better battery life due to its slightly larger battery capacity (1200 mAh vs. the X2's 1000 mAh). However, battery life was heavily dependent on usage patterns, and both phones would require daily charging with moderate use.

Buying Guide

The Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 is ideal for collectors and enthusiasts seeking a slightly more powerful and responsive retro smartphone. The Nokia N97 mini is a good option for those who appreciate Nokia's classic design and Symbian OS, and are less concerned with peak performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Are these phones still usable in 2024?

Yes, but with limitations. Network compatibility can be an issue as 3G networks are being phased out. App availability is extremely limited. They are primarily suitable for collectors or those seeking a nostalgic experience.

❓ Which operating system do these phones use?

Both phones run Symbian OS, a mobile operating system popular in the late 2000s. It's significantly different from modern Android or iOS.