Sony Ericsson W950i

Status: 🟡 Parts missing or broken

Specs

Launch date: 2006, February
Software platform: Symbian 9.1, UIQ 3.0
Display: 240 x 320 pixels, 4:3 ratio (~154 ppi density), TFT resistive touchscreen, 256K colors
CPU and Memory: 32-bit Philips Nexperia PNX4008 208 MHz, 4GB
Connectivity:

Cellular: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 , UMTS 2100
WLAN: No
Bluetooth: 2.0, A2DP
Positioning: No
Radio: Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB: 2.0

External storage: No
Camera(s): Main: No, Secondary: No
Other notable features: MP3/AAC/MP4 player, Predictive text input, Photo editor, Organizer, Voice memo
Battery: Removable Li-Ion 900 mAh battery (BST-33)
Dimensions & Weight: 106 x 54 x 15 mm (4.17 x 2.13 x 0.59 in), 112 g (3.95 oz)
Source: GSMArena.com

The Sony Ericsson W950i was something like the “musical twin brother” of the M600i: both devices were built on the same hardware platform with Symbian UIQ 3.0, had similar dimensions and casing, and their firmware could even be cross-installed. But while the M600i stood out with its unusual Half-QWERTY keyboard, the W950i received a classic 12-key layout and a strong focus on music. Its main trump card was an incredible 4 GB of built-in storage — with no need for expansion cards — which effectively turned the phone into a full-fledged pocket music player.

Its main rival was considered to be the Nokia N91, which came with a hard drive of the same 4 GB capacity. These two devices competed for the title of the ultimate “music smartphone,” but each played to a different strength. The N91 relied on hardware — a dedicated audio hardware stack designed for audiophiles with discerning ears. The W950i, on the other hand, enchanted with software: the Walkman 3.0 player was both attractive and convenient, and the ability to sort tracks by mood made interacting with the music library feel almost like a game. As a result, the device looked modern and bold, especially compared to its “stone-age” competitors.

I got to know this smartphone through a friend who bought the W950i with his very first paycheck from working on an elevator repair crew. I remember how we admired the orange backlighting of the touch keys and scrolled through the playlist, as if holding not a phone but a stylish musical instrument. For that time, the W950i felt extraordinary — both a compact computer and a music box, carrying the soul of a true Walkman.

🇺🇦 HELP US HELP OTHERS, SAVE ANIMALS IN UKRAINE

All photos from Vintage Cellphone and PDA Museum by TiredSysadmin are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.