 |
|
|
|
| Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 The Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 doesn't quite live up to the hype, but given some serious effort on Sony Ericsson's part to dramatically improve and fortify the Panels interface experience, this could be a much better device in the future. Right now, the panels are useful, but spare, and the best panel, the multimedia panel, is really just a way of accessing what would be a menu on another S/E device. We want Panels with cool features; Panels that actually do stuff, not just goldfish swimming around. Beyond the Panels, though, there is mostly a very plain build of Windows Mobile, with a few surprises, especially in the multimedia department. The phone is still a very nice device, with a top-notch Web browser, great productivity apps and the best hardware specs around. But it could have been designed better, and it could have come to market with so much more. Release: November 2008. Price: $800.
Pros: Great screen. Fast networking. Excellent multimedia experience, from the menus to the players. Great traveling companion, even abroad.
Cons: Panels interface leaves us wanting much, much more. Lacks robust messaging options. Hardware design lacking.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
Good |
76%
VERY GOOD |
Excellent |
|
|
| Sony Ericsson W760 |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 If the Sony Ericsson W580i was a solid music phone (it was), the Sony Ericsson W760 is a solid 3G phone all around. The great music player hasn't gotten any worse with age, though we'd like it to get a little better. The best part is how much the W760 benefits from U.S. 3G access. Calls sounded great on AT&T's HSDPA network, and Web browsing speeds were very good. Even better was the tethered modem support, a nice surprise for a phone that seems to be all about music. The PC Suite let us synchronize our Outlook contacts and calendar, which was another nice surprise, and they kept coming. Don't expect much from the gaming capabilities and you won't be disappointed. Don’t expect much from the camera and you'll be pleased. Navigation was a miss, more of a bonus than a worthwhile feature, but there was such a nice mix of near-hits and Bulls-eyes that the phone comes out a winner in the end. Release: June 2008. Price: $180.
Pros: Fast network speeds. Solid music player. Great call quality. Good PC sync capabilities. Good Web browser.
Cons: No IM for messaging, nor IMAP for Gmail. Music app could use some polish. Media Manager needs improvement. Music phones are better with 3.5mm headphone jack.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
72%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| Sony Ericsson W350 |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 The Sony Ericsson W350 looks fantastic, but its performance doesn't quite live up. Perhaps we've been spoiled by the high-end Walkman experience we've had on other Sony Ericsson phones, like the Sony Ericsson W580i, but as a bargain phone, with a low-resolution screen and some flimsy hardware, the Walkman experience just doesn't work. We love the design, but when the tiny buttons and difficult controls make using the device more difficult, that love begins to wane. Worst of all, the Sony Ericsson Media Manager is the most difficult media transfer software we've used with a modern music phone, which makes the phone's prospects even more grim. In spite of the design, the phone packs some decent Web browsing and camera features, so its not a total wash, but if you're buying this phone for the music, you're probably better off investing just a bit more in a better Walkman phone, or looking elsewhere. Release: June 2008. Price: $1.
Pros: Attractive design. Easy to synch with Outlook contacts and calendar. Good camera. Fine Web browser.
Cons: Typing and navigation difficult, even in messaging and music functions. Media Manager is buggy and difficult to use. Music experience needs drastic improvement to match other Walkman phones.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
59%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| Sony Ericsson Z750 |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 We can think of five Sony Ericsson phones we would have rather seen imported to AT&T's network. Don't believe us? Check out any of these. The Sony Ericsson Z750 gets some of S/E's best, like the well designed menus and the excellent music player, but ends up with a clunky look and a feature set that falls off a short pier. The phone is a middling phone, which is disappointing because AT&T has plenty of middling 3G multimedia phones in its lineup, and Sony Ericsson has much better in its huge stable of imports. Perhaps a Walkman phone fan in need of 3G for a lousy Web experience would enjoy this phone, but for most people we'd suggest waiting, because the company can certainly do better. Release: April 2008. Price: $150.
Pros: Great music player. Good call quality with top-ranking battery life for long calls. Polished interface.
Cons: We've seen better looking Sony Ericsson phones (like, all of them). Low-end Web browser and video experience. Barely makes use of 3G functions.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
57%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| Sony Ericsson W580i |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Specs » Gallery » |
 If our review score seems lower than our enthusiasm, our scoring takes into account amenities we've come to expect on a modern music phone, like music streaming or access to a music store, or at least some DRM-controlled content. While the W580i may lack these features, it is still a polished phone, and by that we mean that every feature, like the pedometer and scheduling apps, looks good, is useful and functions without flaw. The Walkman player is second to none, and the alert features, most of which involve music and flashing lights, complement the lighthearted nature of the phone nicely. It may not have scored highly, but the Sony Ericsson W580i left us feeling good about the solid slider, and for music phone shoppers that should count for a lot. Release: September 2007. Price: $80.
Pros: Good calling. Fun alerts. Best-in-class music player. Cool gimmicks don't detract from a solid phone.
Cons: Few messaging presets. Stiff, small keys. Disappointing camera. No 3G connectivity or advanced music features.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
66%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Archive