Sony Ericsson W800i

Print

Email

Bookmark

Share

It's not hard to see why the Sony Ericsson W800i is one of the most-anticipated mobile handsets in the market today. Not only does it sport a trendy orange and vanilla white design that stands out among the silver and black candybars, this Walkman phone comes packed with powerful features: 2-megapixel camera, MP3 player, video recording and playback, and FM radio. Only one question begs to be asked: How different is the W800i from the K750i?

Check out our photo gallery for different views of the W800i here.

Design
The most visible difference has to be their colors. The W800i's eye-catching blend of orange and white is flashy and clearly designed for the hip MP3-playing crowd, while the K750i, dressed in a sleek black outfit, is targeted at serious users who prefer to remain less conspicuous with their phones. That said, the slim form factor and lightweight design on both handsets, which allow them to be slipped easily into small pockets and handbags, should appeal equally to most users.

W800i in flashy orange and white versus the K750i in sleek black
(click for a larger image)

See the difference in sliding mechanism for the two phones
(click for a larger image)

One notable improvement made on the W800i is the lens sliding mechanism for the onboard camera. While users are required to manually slide open the lens cover on the K750i to activate the camera, this has been reduced to a simple switch (near the shutter button) on the W800i. This not only makes it easier to slide the lens cover but, more importantly, the new design lessens the likelihood of activating the camera accidentally when stuffing the phone in the pocket.

To facilitate instant music playback on the W800i, a Play button is located on the left side of the phone. The center button right above the joystick is now assigned to toggle between music playback and phone modes. On the K750i, the same button is a shortcut button which gives you access to customized features and Web links.

The W800i uses a dedicated port for connecting to the earphones
(click for a larger image)

The standard bundle comes with a earphone and handsfree kit
(click for a larger image)

We wished that Sony Ericsson had included a standard 3.5mm audio jack on the W800i, which would certainly have made it convenient for users to connect to the phone directly with their own headphones. However, the W800i does come with a handsfree adapter cable that offers a 3.5mm jack, so you can hook the phone up to a set of speakers or headphones for better sound reproduction. Users also have a choice of three different earbud sizes to go with the included earphones for best comfort and insulation against ambient noises.

Throughout tests, we found the phone keypad well-spaced and generally responsive. The only issue we had was with the multidirectional joystick which is not protruding enough, making it hard for those with bigger fingers to navigate accurately. The user interface is intuitive, so it should be fairly easy to master for those using a Sony Ericsson for the first time.

See what the W800i has to offer »