Sony Ericsson W350i review

Average user rating

5.5

average

Average user rating from 2 users

See all user reviews

Agree? Disagree? Write your own review of the Sony Ericsson W350i

Rate this product

Sony Ericsson W350i user reviews

January 14, 2009

Posted by: Batteryhq

"Fundamentally flawed"

What I like:

Works basically as a phone

What I don't like:

Flimsy design, poor camera, poor screen, poor web browsing.

Review:

I was initially pleased with the W350i as its small size was such that it slides neatly into one's pocket and remains there unnoticed until needed. However, the phone itself is flawed on so many levels that any original aesthetic values were soon overshadowed by the plethora of negative aspects.
Firstly, the screen is small and low resolution, meaning that pictures are not displayed well and web browsing is appalling. Opera mini would not install on this phone although i am told it does support java applications and so this could have been an issue with my own use, rather than the phone itself. The camera is a very low quality affair that produces poor images in even the best lighting conditions. As there is no flash, dont even attempt to take photos in anything but the brightest of rooms.
The main issue with this phone however, lies with the fold down flap that houses the Mp3 navigation buttons. This cheap, flimsy bit of nasty plastic is an offense to all who hold their phones dear to them and, in my own usage, did in fact snap off after a mere fortnight. This brings in the problem that the keypad cannot be locked, as the flap must firstly be shut, and then a slider lock on the top of the phone subsequently deactivates the external buttons, ergo; no flap - no lock. WHEN this flap breaks off, expect your phone to perform all kinds of unwanted operations while bumping around in your pocket.

The w350i is an entry level phone and as such, issues like the poor camera and lack of flash cannot be held against the handset. What can be though is its general lack of features and horrendously cheap build. In normal day to day use, the fold down flap can, and will, break off making the phone practically unusable. It is this reason why it sits in my desk along with the other relics of past phone technology. I will not miss this handset, but i will continue to enjoy using it as an example of how not to make a phone.