What You Should Know About Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones

What You Should Know About Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones

My wife hopped over from Nokia to Sony Ericsson some time ago - and hasn't looked back.  Over time I've started to think that maybe I'll do the same... here's why!


Ease of Use - Good

It's all a matter of taste, I suppose, but I just don't find the Sony Ericsson phones particularly user-friendly.  However my wife, who is far more used to them, swears blind that they are much easier to use than the Nokias.  The icons and menus are always very clear - I just tend to find the controls back-to-front compared to what I'm used to.  I'm sure it's something you'd get used to quickly though if you're used to another system.  They seem to like little paddle joysticks in the centre of the controls, which I've never been quite sure about personally, but it seems to work okay and perhaps gives a little more flexibility when it comes to games etc.


Reliability - Good

My wife has had very few problems with her phones, though one model did lock up on her a few times.  The phones were often a little bulky in the past and although this trend seems to have changed, they remain surprisingly heavy.  Still, they appear relatively robust compared to some other models.

 
Pre-installed Applications - Average

There seems little noteworthy about the applications on Sony Ericsson phones on the whole - they are unexciting but they work.  There are some fun but generally useless programs on the phones my wife has owned.  A notable exception to this is the software suite for the camera - this has a lot more features than the equivalent Nokia application.

 
Technical Features - Good
 
There don't tend to be a huge number of features, but such features as there are tend to be very good.  The cameras are good quality and have a number of useful and fun features built in.  The MP3 players also are very good quality.  Sony Ericsson obviously aim for a limited number of very good features rather than a large number of average technical features, which isn't a bad idea - it all depends what's more important to you really.

The model my wife currently owns has motion control, meaning that you can for instance play driving games simply by tipping the phone to steer - a bit odd, but strangely enjoyable!  Part of the reason that Sony Ericsson mobile phone are often a bit bigger than models of other makes is because the screens tend to be larger.  This has numerous advantages and the displays are always crystal clear.  Sound quality and reception also rate very highly.


Battery Life - Excellent
       
This is a big win area for Sony Ericsson - their batteries are excellent.  They can easily go several days without needing charging up, even with fairly continuous use throughout those days.  Compared to the Nokia batteries...  well, there's simply no contest: Sony Ericsson win hands-down.  As this is a key issue for mobile phone users, this is probably the greatest strength of the Sony Ericsson range.


Overall

The Sony Ericsson phones are perhaps not the most attractive phones, but they are reliable, relatively sturdy, have good features and excellent battery life.  They don't have any obvious weakness.  I'm definitely thinking about getting a Sony Ericsson phone next, having rather fallen out of love with Nokia considering the problems I've had with my latest phone.  Unlike me, my wife always spends ages looking at all the available options when the time comes for her to get a new phone, and she always ends up opting for a Sony Ericsson model - so I guess that tells you something!


I hope you found this information useful!

CaptainD


See also:  What You Should Know About Nokia Mobile Phones