BenQ-Siemens S88 review

The interface is straightforward. Once you access the camera application you can see that BenQ-Siemens has taken a hint from camera manufacturers and added all the necessary options that you would find in an entry level digital camera -- you can adjust the white balance, ISO, image size and even put it in macro mode for close ups. The autofocus is quick, as is the shutter speed, and the image doesn't take ages to save either. You can also switch the camera to video mode and shoot video in MPEG4 format, which is useful if you want to record something instead of just take a quick snapshot, but do keep in mind that the video mode won't take full advantage of the 2-megapixel lens and therefore the images won't be as clear.

The MP3 player is good and features shuffle mode, a 3D surround option, an equaliser and is loud enough to hear on the underground. Combined with the miniSD slot, this is definitely a feasible portable music player, but as usual with mobile phones it is let down by the proprietary headphones and it doesn't give you the option of using any different ones. It is possible to use a Bluetooth stereo headset, which is expensive, or the built-in speaker, which is surprisingly loud but won't win any prizes for best sound quality.

The S88 also features Bluetooth, WAP browser, Tri-Band support, SMS and MMS messaging, speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones, java games, voice recorder, alarm, calendar, to do list, calculator, currency converter, stopwatch, note pad and comes with a USB cable. You also have the option of using the S88 as a modem via Bluetooth or the provided USB cable, and this means you can access the Internet via your phone, on a PDA or laptop.

Performance
The picture quality is good but the OLED screen left us unimpressed. We didn't find it as bright as some LCD screens, such as the Sony Ericsson K750i's display, and this degraded the 262k-colour experience. The images also looked pixelated on the S88's screen and more akin to those taken by a 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera.

We also found that ghosting occurred when we went from one image to another. For example, when we changed from the main screen to another screen we noticed a ghost-like shadow of the previous text or image. This isn't a major problem and doesn't affect how the phone works, but lets down the phone's polished image.

The audio quality on calls on the S88 is clear, as is the speakerphone. The battery life was also good -- the phone lasted for over a week on standby, or around seven hours' talktime.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Kate Macefield