Sony Ericsson W890i review

Sony Ericsson W890i Review

Reviewed by: Andrew Lim

Reviewed on: 17 March 2008

One of our pet peeves about the W880i was that its 2-megapixel camera wasn't fantastic. We're glad to see a better, 3.2-megapixel snapper on the W890i. Sadly, this upgraded camera still doesn't have a flash or LED photo light, so shots in low light don't come out well.

Still, what does work and is one of the most compelling reasons to buy the W890i is HSDPA (3.5G). Unlike the W880i that only had 3G, the W890i can surf the Web at a much faster speed than on EDGE or 3G-only phones.

The W890i's screen is relatively large given the phone's diminutive size

Having downloaded an array of apps, including Google Maps for mobiles and Opera Mini 4, we were doing our Internet thing in no time at all. Our only word of advice is to keep an eye out on what data charges you're on. We recommend that if you love the Internet then go for a flat-rate data tariff.

Performance
Audio during calls is loud and clear without any noticeable distortions or muffling during calls. You're not going to get great sound quality from the loudspeaker when using it to listen to music, but it's alright. We're pleased to report that audio quality from the MP3 player using the provided headphones is good enough to replace your standalone music device, which is arguably the main selling point of a Sony Ericsson Walkman phone.

Its camera, however, isn't substantial enough to replace your dedicated snapper. Without a flash or LED photo light, your best bet would be to stick to daylight pictures. There's not an autofocus option either so close-up shots aren't clear.

The battery life is good, lasting for over two days with moderate to high use before needing recharge. Obviously, you'll use up more battery power if you use HSDPA and have a pair of stereo Bluetooth headphones connected to it on a regular basis.

Conclusion
The Sony Ericsson W890i will go down in the mobile phone history books as one of Sony Ericsson's best handsets ever. The combination of solid features with a solid, slim casing works a real treat.

Certainly, the W890i has its flaws -- the camera isn't perfect and could certainly do with a flash, and it would be good if the phone had Wi-Fi. For what it is, though, the handset performs really well. If you're after a more business-centric phone then there's the similarly featured Nokia E51. As Walkman phones go, we dare say this is the best one yet.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday