While all the attention tends to go to the high-end handsets -- with a plethora of features that are rarely used -- it's worth having a look lower down the chain for hidden gems. A potential diamond in the rough is the Sony Ericsson K660i. It might not be laden with glamorous features, but its simplicity could just be what you're looking for.
It's currently available from 3, for free on a monthly contract starting at £15 a month.
Design
There's something very attractive about keeping things simple that the K660i exemplifies. Rather than opt for flashy design gimmicks, the K660i is understated, with a straightforward candybar layout that's easy to understand. The navigation keys and keypad are easy to press and its slim design ensures it'll slip into most pockets.
A silver frame, similar to the iPhone's, adds a touch of quality, but if you're looking for a large touchscreen you should go elsewhere, because the K660i's is modestly sized and not touch-sensitive. An interesting addition to the keypad is a set of shortcut keys, which give you quick access to certain browser features -- we'll discuss these later on.
Features
The K660i's simple design is reflected internally with a straightforward interface that's responsive and easy to use. It's not a super-phone, but the K660i does have some stand-out features, including HSDPA (3.5G), which allows you to browse the Web at high speeds. Its browser allows you to view full Web pages.
The keypad shortcut keys we mentioned earlier light up when you're using the browser, allowing you to quickly search Google, add a bookmark, visit the Sony Ericsson fun and downloads site and zoom in and out of a page, similar to Opera Mini. The browser works fine, but we prefer Opera Mini, which the K660i supports.
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quetzal 29 October 2012
Good: Design, camera, audio, alarm clock options, clear interface, keypad
Bad: No camera flash, no 3.5mm headphone jack, slow at times
Comment: After having my current phone fail on me, I had to temporarily go back to using this old favourite. It may not be touchscreen sensitive but to be honest I barely noticed, and there was something pleasantly nostalgic about the numeric keypad. Plus the more I used it, the more features I found I missed. Aside from the customisable alarm options, the media interface in particular is beautifully designed with pretty decent graphics - though that applies across the board; from the spacing of the keypad, to the array of shortcut buttons and internet browser. The wide audio volume range from barely discernible to fairly loud has minimal distortion, though on video streaming there may occasionally be purely due to streaming speeds.
There aren't many complaints I can make aside from the obvious screen size, but it's sufficient for the basics. And the camera can take some amazing photos despite its relatively low resolution, so long as there's good light. It can be slow at times, but that's in comparison to newer phones with higher specs and would probably fare better among its contemporaries.
Overall, it's a phone that delivers all the basic necessities brilliantly and its design has that sense of quality about it that gives it that extra pizazz. It may not be a touchscreen giant, but it does ticks a lot of boxes. Keyword: decent.
Alexander Lai 11 March 2012
Good: Good looking, decent camera, 3.5G, relatively cheap, tough
Bad: No camera flash, Sony Ericsson's propriety port and no 3.5mm jack
Comment: First thing about it? I've owned one of these for almost 5 years now and it's tough. It's still going strong and there's barely any cosmetic damage on my unit except for some scratching on the chrome sides.
General performance is very acceptable. Works as one expects a phone of this caliber to. Typing on the keypad is a breeze and the shortcuts for the browser are a huge bonus!
Battery life is also great! It lasts an average of 2 to 3 days between charges with mostly heavy texting and some audio playback via the earphones.
Overall, a good legacy product. I really loved this phone to bits.
Davester 26 November 2010
Good: easy to use
Comment: Its quite chunky and sluggish and it doesnt have a 3.5 headphone jack but apart from that its a decent phone and really hard to break i did anything to break it but it survived 3 years!!!!
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