The third Walkman phone launched to date, the W900i is also possibly the most feature-packed model so far. In addition to having a 2-megapixel autofocus camera and Memory Stick Duo slot as with the W800i, the new Sony Ericsson swivel handset now comes with enhanced 30 frames-per-second (fps) video recording, 470MB of onboard memory, as well as 3G connectivity. While its bulky swivel design may be a major gripe for some, the W900i remains a phone that many power users will find hard to resist.
Design
Design
At 109 x 24 x 49mm and weighing 148g, the W900i is probably one of the larger handsets in Sony Ericsson's arsenal today and certainly not one that slips into tight pockets (think Motorola's pink Razr TV ad). Its black glossy surface also tends to attract fingerprints and greasy stains, which can be quite an eyesore for some users. The phone is available in white as well.
On the flip side, the larger size of the W900i offers a comfortable feel when making calls. The big number keys are also responsive and very intuitive for SMS texting. Most of all, we like the semi-automatic swivel design which most users will find similar to its predecessor model, the S700i. One push of the top display panel and the phone snaps into place, revealing the number keypad. The swivel mechanism works both ways, so the phone caters to both left- and right-handers. A selection of sound effects is available for the swivel action.
The layout of the buttons on the W900i is somewhat similar to the W550i, with everything accessible when the phone is closed, save for tasks associated with the number pad. This basically means you will need to swivel open the handset when text messaging or dialing a number manually.
On top of the standard Walkman feature buttons for activating the player, playing and skipping tracks, the W900i also comes with common functional keys as well as camera activation, video call and Internet buttons. Of special note are the two programmable "skip track" keys (when not in Music Player mode) and the Activity Menu button that offers quick access to new events, my shortcuts and bookmarks.
The W900i's large 2.2-inch, 262K-color TFT with QVGA (320 x 240-pixel) resolution is sharp and crisp. However, like the W550i, it does not have a lens cover for its camera, though Sony Ericsson has assured that this is protected by a high-density scratch-resistant material.
