Sony Xperia M5 vs. Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman: A Retro Showdown

Sony has a rich history in mobile phones, and these two devices represent different eras. The Xperia M5, released in 2015, aimed for a mid-range experience, while the Live with Walkman, from 2011, prioritized audio quality. Let's see how they stack up today.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia M5 is the clear winner in almost every category. Its superior processor, display, and camera offer a vastly improved user experience. However, the Live with Walkman holds a certain nostalgic charm and a dedicated audio focus that some might appreciate.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia M5	Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E5603, E5653	HSDPA 900 / 2100 - WT19i
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E5603	-
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps	HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA
	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E5653	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - WT19a

Launch
Announced	2015, August. Released 2015, September	2011, August. Released 2011, October
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	145 x 72 x 7.6 mm (5.71 x 2.83 x 0.30 in)	106 x 56.5 x 14.2 mm (4.17 x 2.22 x 0.56 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	142.5 g (5.04 oz)	115 g (4.06 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	-

Display
Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density)	320 x 480 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~180 ppi density)
Size	5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~66.0% screen-to-body ratio)	3.2 inches, 30.5 cm2 (~50.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	TFT

Platform
CPU	Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53	1.0 GHz Scorpion
Chipset	Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 (28 nm)	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon S2
GPU	PowerVR G6200	Adreno 205
OS	Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDHC (dedicated slot), 2 GB included
Internal	16GB 3GB RAM	320MB 512MB RAM
	eMMC 5.0	-

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash
Single	21.2 MP, f/2.2, PDAF	5 MP, AF
Video	4K@30fps, HDR	720p

Selfie camera
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, AF	VGA
Video	1080p@30fps	-

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

Comms
Bluetooth	4.1, A2DP, LE, aptX	2.1, A2DP, EDR
NFC	Yes	-
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, A-GPS
Radio	FM radio, RDS	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	-	ANT+ MP4/H.264/WMV player MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV player TrackID music recognition Document editor Voice memo Predictive text input

Battery
Music play	Up to 62 h 30 min	Up to 17 h 30 min
Stand-by	Up to 671 h (2G) / Up to 656 h (3G)	Up to 350 h (2G) / Up to 400 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 11 h 49 min (2G) / Up to 12 h 11 min (3G)	Up to 14 h 15 min (2G) / Up to 6 h 42 min (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 2600 mAh, non-removable	Removable Li-Ion 1200 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Gold	Black, White
Models	E5603, E5606, E5653	-
Price	About 110 EUR	About 120 EUR
SAR	0.32 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.19 W/kg (head) 0.40 W/kg (body)	1.00 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -94.1dB / Crosstalk -93.4dB	Noise -88.1dB / Crosstalk -87.9dB
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 839 (nominal), 2.69(sunlight)	-
Loudspeaker	Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 68dB	Voice 75dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 78dB
Performance	Basemark OS II 2.0: 860Basemark X: 7780	-

Sony Xperia M5

Superior performance
Better display
Improved camera
More modern features
Larger storage options (likely)

May feel dated now
Design might not appeal to everyone

Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman

Dedicated audio focus
Compact size
Nostalgic appeal
Simple user interface

Outdated performance
Poor display quality
Basic camera
Limited storage
Difficult to find in working condition

Display Comparison

The Xperia M5 boasts a significantly better display. Its contrast ratio of 839:1 (nominal) and 2.69:1 (sunlight) indicates superior image quality and visibility, especially outdoors. The Live with Walkman's display, while adequate for its time, lacks the brightness and clarity of the M5. Resolution is also notably lower on the Live.

Camera Comparison

The Xperia M5's camera is a major upgrade. While specific details are missing in the provided data, the M5 was known for its 13MP camera with autofocus and image stabilization. The Live with Walkman's camera was basic by comparison, offering lower resolution and limited features. Video recording capabilities are also significantly better on the M5.

Performance

The Xperia M5's Mediatek Helio X10 chipset and Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU provide a substantial performance advantage over the Live with Walkman's Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 and 1.0 GHz Scorpion processor. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and a more responsive user interface on the M5. The Live will feel sluggish by modern standards.

Battery Life

While specific battery capacities aren't provided, the Xperia M5 likely had a larger battery capacity than the Live with Walkman, given its larger size and more power-hungry components. However, the Live's older processor and smaller screen likely resulted in decent battery life for its time.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia M5 is for those seeking a functional, capable smartphone with a decent camera and a modern feel. The Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman is for audiophiles and those seeking a retro device with a focus on music playback and a simpler user experience – assuming you can find one in working condition!