Nokia X6 vs Nokia 5800: revisiting two music phone favourites
When Nokia finally embraced the touchscreen era, two models stood out for music lovers: the X6 and the 5800 XpressMusic. Both ran Symbian S60 5th Edition, both promised loud, clear audio, and both sold briskly at JB Hi-Fi and through carriers like Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone Australia. The 5800 arrived first in 2008, paving the way for the X6 in 2010, which arrived with a capacitive screen and a more refined feel in the hand.
Aussies snapped up the 5800 as a cheaper alternative to Apple's iPhone 3G, which was selling for a premium at the time. The X6 followed, marketed heavily with a bundled Comes with Music subscription that offered free track downloads for a year. Many buyers in Sydney and Melbourne compared the two before deciding which to pair with their prepaid SIM or postpaid plan.
Both phones shared Nokia's love of physical buttons, loud speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge, a feature that was already rare. The X6 used a 3.2-inch capacitive panel while the 5800 stuck with a smaller resistive screen that needed a firm press or a stylus. That single difference shaped how each device felt during daily use on the bus, in the arvo at a mate's place, or during a long drive down the Hume.
What follows is a closer look at how these two touchscreen music phones compare across design, display, audio, camera, software, and the realities of finding one in Australia's secondhand market today.
Design and build quality
The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic measured 111mm tall and weighed 109 grams, fitting comfortably in a single hand but feeling a touch plasticky along the back cover. The X6 was heavier at 122 grams and shorter at 111mm, with stainless steel banding and a glossy black front for a more premium look. Both shared a similar candy bar shape, but the X6's build felt closer to the finish people were starting to expect from mid-range handsets in 2010.
Button placement differed noticeably. The 5800 placed its power, volume, and camera shutter on the right edge, with a stylus tucked into the back cover for those who preferred poking at the screen. The X6 dropped the stylus entirely and shifted the controls to a cleaner layout, with a dedicated key for the music player. In the pocket of a pair of track pants on a hot Brisbane day, the X6 felt slightly more secure, while the 5800 was more forgiving for one-handed use.
Display and touch experience
The 5800 carried a 3.2-inch resistive display running at 360x640 pixels, which looked crisp but required deliberate presses. Typing on the on-screen keyboard felt closer to tapping a calculator than swiping through Android. The X6 upgraded to a capacitive panel of the same size and resolution, finally responding to the soft brush of a fingertip.
At a cafe in Newtown or while waiting for a train at Flinders Street, the capacitive screen made a real difference. Scrolling through contacts, pinching in the photo gallery, and playing games like Bounce Touch worked much more reliably. The 5800's resistive panel was more accurate with a stylus but struggled during fast typing, driving many owners to seek out alternative Symbian firmware downloads.
Music and multimedia features
This is where both phones earned their XpressMusic name. The 5800 had a single loudspeaker on the back and shipped with in-ear earphones tuned by Nokia. The X6 stepped things up with stereo speakers and the same bundled earphones, plus 32GB of internal storage that could swallow an entire Triple J Hottest 100 playlist without needing a microSD card.
Audio quality through headphones was comparable, with both phones supporting standard 3.5mm plugs and the same equaliser settings. The X6's extra storage and stereo output gave it a clear edge for anyone using the phone as a dedicated music device. For a look at how data plans shaped the music experience, the site's carrier data plan comparison shows how operators in other markets tackled similar music-hungry users.
| Feature | Nokia 5800 XpressMusic | Nokia X6 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 3.2-inch resistive, 360x640 | 3.2-inch capacitive, 360x640 |
| Internal storage | 81MB + microSD | 32GB (no card slot) |
| Rear camera | 3.15MP, single LED flash | 5MP, dual LED flash |
| Speakers | Mono, rear-mounted | Stereo, rear-mounted |
| Battery | 1320 mAh, removable | 1320 mAh, removable |
| Weight | 109g | 122g |
Camera and connectivity
The 5800 came with a 3.15-megapixel sensor and a single LED flash, producing decent shots in good light but struggling once the sun dipped. The X6 jumped to a 5-megapixel sensor with a dual-LED flash, delivering noticeably sharper images with better colour accuracy. Both recorded video at 30fps, though the X6 managed 480p compared to the 5800's 360p.
Connectivity was nearly identical: 3G HSDPA, Wi-Fi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, and micro-USB for charging. Neither phone had NFC, which was still rare in 2010. For Australian buyers, the lack of 4G LTE matters today, since Telstra and Optus have switched off their 3G networks, leaving these devices limited to Wi-Fi-based apps and basic GSM calls.
Software and performance
Both phones ran Symbian S60 5th Edition, which felt dated by 2010. Menus were text-heavy, transitions were stuttery, and the home screen offered little customisation compared to the Android handsets arriving from HTC and Samsung. The X6 shipped with Nokia's updated Belle Refresh in some markets, smoothing out animations and improving browser performance.
App support was thin. The Ovi Store offered a few highlights, but most Australians defaulted to the built-in social clients, a basic Facebook widget, and the YouTube app that loaded slowly over 3G. The 5800 suffered from the same software ceiling, and neither device received meaningful updates after Nokia shifted focus to Windows Phone.
Value on the Australian secondhand market
Today, the 5800 typically sells for between $30 and $60 on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, while the X6 commands $80 to $150 depending on condition. Collectors in Adelaide and Perth tend to pay a premium for boxed X6 units with the original Comes with Music voucher. Both phones work well as Wi-Fi-only devices for music playback and light browsing, but they will not make emergency calls on modern Australian networks.
A few things worth checking before buying:
- Battery health matters, since original BL-5J cells are over a decade old and often hold less than half their capacity.
- Confirm the loudspeaker still works, as both phones were known for buzzing at high volume.
- Test the touchscreen with a stylus, especially on the 5800, where dead spots are common.
- Look for the X6 with the original earphones, which add to the music experience.
- Avoid units sold without a charger, since the older micro-USB cables are getting harder to find.
For a closer look at how these older Nokia devices fit into the broader story of mobile music, readers can visit the about page. The X6 remains the better pick for music lovers and anyone who wants a smoother touchscreen, while the 5800 still makes a charming backup device for someone chasing pure nostalgia.