Sony Ericsson W300i review

Average user rating

8.8

excellent

Average user rating from 4 users

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Sony Ericsson W300i user reviews

October 25, 2006

Posted by: Katya Power

"Great overall quality, design, features and price"

What I like:

Radio, music quality, exchangeable faceplates, weight

What I don't like:

Poor camera, smaller screen size than other non-flip Sony phones

Review:

If anyone needs help, picture quality proof or simply wants to discuss, feel free to contact me. me0kat@gmail.com

This phone has been recommended to me by a family member who used Ericssons for 10 years, and I have to agree, for overall quality, Sonys are top of the line.

This compact gadget is small enough to fit in your palm. It opens up easily with one hand and it's lighter than Razrs. It's well equipped with all the latest features. Mp3 and RADIO (which is hard to find) are my favorite, the sound quality and reception are exceptional. A reminder that the radio can only be listened with the headset, as it works as an antenna.

Songs are easy to upload with the Sony software. Once it's installed just plug in your USB, drag and drop the songs.
When you purchase this cell, it comes with the full earphones, so you can actually use this as your main mp3 player. Other phones may have built-in music players as well, but you rarely see people listening to them!

A MAIN thing worth mentioning for anyone who likes a phone's appeal/design is that the w300i have EXCHANGEABLE faceplates. You can slide/lift the front and battery cover without tools, and replace them with any colors of the rainbow, particularly found on EBay. I have bought some pink and white faceplates for under 7$. I am glad to send pics or suggest links to find such additions.

The battery time is an impressive quality. I can leave the phone on for 3 days, turned off at night and I don't need to recharge it. For constant talk or music time, it provides a long 9 hours which is enough for a full day.

The camera quality is the main drawback, at less than a megapixel, the quality is rather poor, simulating webcams or other low end camphones. The w300i does a basic job and you can again upload photos via USB in seconds.

Some other slight inconveniences are the small button located in the bottom right to turn on/off the device. The key is a little deep and needs to be pushed with the tip of your fingernail. The program is very easy to navigate and it's well organized. However, if you download many 3D, Java games, you may encounter some screen freeze - it happened to me only once.

By visiting the Sony website it's possible to download free themes, games and wallpapers, so if you're bored of the original orange Walkman theme, you may choose from a dozen others.

The greatest thing is the expandable M2 memory slot which can be increased up to 1GB, large enough for music, games and other files.

Some people have doubts about the round keypad design, resembling interlinking fish scales, but I love them and have had no problem. They have a smooth feel and are easy to press. If your fingers are fat, or you have extremely short nails, it may be an issue (like with any cell phone).

The orange buttons located on the top left edge used for volume control come in handy, primarily useful to check the time, or missed calls/ msgs. The outer display screen can be lit up by pressing the side button, avoiding having to flip open the phone.

Aesthetically, this cell phone looks much better than conventional flip phones since it does not have the obvious antenna.

This is an ideal phone for anyone looking for more than a simple communication tool, without paying a hefty price. It provides all the latest gadgets you need with simple to use and affordable package. It is considered to be ranked an intermediate level in terms of prestige/overall quality. Its full price is roughly 300$ compared to certain models that go all the way up to 500-600$.
But you will not be disappointed, music quality is superior to standard mp3 phones.

The Walkman edition follows its title.