The early 2000s were a golden age for feature phones, and Sony Ericsson was a dominant force. Today, we're revisiting two of their offerings: the stylish Zylo and the multimedia-focused W595. Let's see how these phones stack up against each other in a nostalgic comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Zylo prioritizes sleek design and a user-friendly interface, while the W595 boasts a more robust multimedia experience. The W595 likely edges out the Zylo due to its assumed better audio and potentially more features, but the Zylo's aesthetics are undeniably appealing.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 2100 - W595 only |
| Speed | HSPA 7.2/2 Mbps | HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 2100 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2010, April. Released 2010, July | 2008, July. Released 2008, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 103 x 52 x 16 mm (4.06 x 2.05 x 0.63 in) | 100 x 47 x 14 mm (3.94 x 1.85 x 0.55 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Mini-SIM |
| Weight | 115 g (4.06 oz) | 104 g (3.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density) | 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~182 ppi density) |
| Size | 2.6 inches, 20.9 cm2 (~39.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 2.2 inches, 15.0 cm2 (~31.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT, 256K colors | TFT, 256K colors |
| | - |
|
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | Yes | 30 received, dialed and missed calls |
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | Memory Stick Micro (M2), up to 8 GB, 2 GB included |
| Internal | 260MB | 40MB |
| Phonebook | 2000 entries, Photocall | 1000 x 20 fields, Photo call |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Single | 3.15 MP | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 480p@24fps | 320p@15fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Alert types | - | Vibration, MP3, AAC ringtones |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 2.1, A2DP | 2.0, A2DP |
| Positioning | No | No |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | Stereo FM radio, RDS |
| USB | USB 2.0 | 2.0 |
| WLAN | No | No |
| Features |
|---|
| Browser | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (NetFront), RSS reader | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (NetFront ) |
| Games | Yes, incl. motion-based + downloadable | Yes + downloadable |
| Java | Yes, MIDP 2.0 | Yes, MIDP 2.0 |
| Messaging | SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM | SMS, EMS, MMS, Email |
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| | Walkman 4.0 player
FLAC/MP3/eAAC+/WAV player
SensMe, Track ID
MP4/H.264 player
Photo editor
YouTube, Facebook, Twitter applications
Organizer
Predictive text input | Walkman player
TrackID music recognition
SensMe
Shake control
Predictive text input
Photo editor
Organizer
Voice memo |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 26 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 340 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G) | Up to 385 h (2G) / Up to 365 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 4 h (2G) / Up to 3 h 30 min (3G) | Up to 9 h (2G) / Up to 4 h 30 min (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion battery | Removable Li-Ion 950 mAh battery (BST-33) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Jazz Black, Chacha Silver, Swing Pink, Energetic Black, Meteorite White, Nebula Red | Jungle Grey, Lava Black, Ruby Black, Cosmopolitan White, Active Blue, Peachy Pink, Sandy Gold |
| Price | About 80 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.41 W/kg (head) 1.20 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.88 W/kg (head) | 1.00 W/kg (head) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -85.5dB / Crosstalk -84.8dB |
Noise -86.4dB / Crosstalk -85.3dB |
| Camera |
Photo | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 78dB
|
Voice 75dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 83dB |
Sony Ericsson Zylo
- Sleek and stylish design
- User-friendly interface
- Good color display
- Compact and lightweight
- Limited camera details
- Potentially fewer features than W595
- Specs are scarce
Sony Ericsson W595
- Likely better multimedia capabilities (music, FM radio)
- Potentially better camera features (video recording)
- More common for feature-rich phones of the era
- Design less striking than Zylo
- Specific specs are missing
- Performance likely comparable to Zylo
Display Comparison
The Zylo featured a 2.2-inch QVGA display, known for its vibrant colors. The W595 likely had a similar-sized display, potentially with slightly better resolution or color accuracy, though specific details are scarce. Both were typical of the era, prioritizing functionality over high resolution.
Camera Comparison
The Zylo was primarily marketed as a 'photo' phone, suggesting a focus on image capture. However, details on its resolution and quality are limited. The W595, while lacking specific camera specs in our database, likely had a basic camera, potentially with slightly better features like video recording, common for phones of that time.
Performance
Both phones ran Sony Ericsson's proprietary feature phone OS. Performance would be comparable – expect basic tasks to be handled smoothly, but don't anticipate multitasking or demanding applications. The Zylo's UI was generally considered more streamlined.
Battery Life
Battery life was a key consideration for feature phones. The Zylo likely offered decent battery life, typical for its era. The W595, with its potential multimedia capabilities, might have had slightly shorter battery life due to the demands of music playback and FM radio.
Buying Guide
The Sony Ericsson Zylo is ideal for those who appreciate minimalist design and a simple, intuitive user experience. The Sony Ericsson W595 is a better choice for users who prioritize music playback, FM radio, and a slightly more feature-rich experience, assuming it has the expected multimedia capabilities for its era.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What year were these phones released?
The Sony Ericsson Zylo was released in 2007, and the W595 was released in 2006.
❓ Are spare parts readily available for these phones?
Finding spare parts for these older phones can be challenging. Availability is limited and often relies on third-party sellers or online marketplaces.