Sony Ericsson C702 Cyber-shot

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By Joseph Hanlon, CNET.com.au
Jul 28, 2008

Last year fashion phones were all the rage, and for LG this may still be the case. For everyone else, rugged phones are the new black with Telstra (actually ZTE), Samsung, and now Sony Ericsson releasing handsets that can take a pounding, a splashing and a sand storm, then call a friend afterwards to boast about it. However, Sony Ericsson is attempting to walk the line between these two markets--showcasing the rugged C702 at a recent Nicholas X Morley fashion show during Fashion Week 2008 in Sydney.

Editors' note:

This review is based on tests done by our sister site CNET.com.au. As such, please note that there may be slight differences in the testing procedure and ratings system. For more information on the actual tests conducted on the product, please inquire directly at the site where the article was originally published. References made to some other products or telcos in this review may not be available or applicable in Asia.

Design

The early images we saw of the C702 seemed to defy the C702's rugged, outdoor-sy feel with a teeny-bopper candy blue exterior. Our review unit looks more the part, with a black rubber, non-slip lower half married to a matte finished metal-look plastic on top, with all the trimmings fitting into this limited color palette. In short, our C702 looks like a butch phone.

The C702 sports a bright and colorful 2.4-inch display which is a must for when it's doubling as the viewfinder in camera mode. Under the screen, the keypad is a familiar combination of nav-keys and a T9 number pad. In truth, the keys on the number pad are probably no bigger than the rice-sized keys we saw on the W890i, and while this still seems like a poor use of the available space, this keypad is comfortable to use. Unfortunately, the five-way navigation panel isn't as comfy, with the hollow square-style button feeling sharp under our thumbs.

If you've hated in the past how Sony Ericsson persists with M2 memory instead of microSD, and proprietary headphone inputs instead of a 3.5mm port, then be prepared to keep your hatred simmering--both minor annoyances are back in this current range of Sony Ericsson handsets. Unlike recent Walkman branded release, the bundled stereo headset does not come with a 3.5mm headphone adapter.

Features

Similar to Samsung's M110, the C702 has a certification of resistance; in this case an Ingress Protection rating of 54 (IP54) where the first figure represents a 5 on a scale of 6 for dust protection, and the second figure indicates a 4 on a scale of 8 for water resistance--this means it's dust protected and able to withstand water splashing on the surface without damaging the phone.

Unlike the M110, the C702 is also loaded with features. The back of the handset is home to the 3.2-megapixel Cyber-shot branded camera and features dual-LED photolights and a sliding lens cover. The camera software includes face detection auto-focus and panoramic photo stitching, while the right panel of the numeric keypad alters the camera settings when in shooting mode.

The C702 will be one of the first of several Sony Ericsson handsets to feature on-board GPS this year, to be followed by the C902 and the X1. The review unit we've received came with Google Maps and Wayfinder maps pre-installed for navigation, plus an application called Tracker for coupling the GPS with your personal fitness regime. The C702 also comes with Bluetooth 2.0 built-in and a USB cable for syncing files with your PC.

Performance And Overall »