***NOTE***
This review may have appeared in a similar form on Ciao recently. The account used to make the review was mine under a similar pseudonym and through personal choice I have decided to revoke my Ciao membership, focus only on this site, and move any reviews here. Thank you for your kind attention in this matter. Now for the review...

I was and I still am very impressed by the Sony Ericsson K800i. As mobile phone technology moves forward at such an astonishing rate, it is unsurprising that this particular mobile phone is now showing its age somewhat. Nevertheless this phone still ranks as one of the better mobile phones I have owned.

The form factor of the phone could generally be considered average, however, the phone is on the 'chunky' side. The sliding cover for the camera lens, which has saved many a fall from causing irrevocable damage to the camera does cause the phone to be a good few millimetres thicker than it should be. Other than the thickness, the screen is of a very reasonable size and whilst the keypad seems slightly small, this is made up for by the innovative central 'joystick' which allows for smooth and easy navigation. It will get clogged up with crumbs though, if you're not careful.

The software for the phone is a relatively standard offering of Sony Ericsson which again is now beginning to seem a little outdated in the face of current competition. The phone has adequate processing capability and I have never experienced the phone stuttering or stalling when completing any task. Applications and games can be downloaded using the GPRS internet capabilities built into the phone, or alternatively applications can be transferred to the phone via a USB connection. Said USB connection, a wired handsfree headset and the power charger all use a two pronged connection port at the base of the phone, and I'm afraid to say this has been one of the biggest problems with the phone for me.

The connection port itself is uncovered on the phone, and is therefore open 'to the elements', and is notoriously hard to keep clean regardless of how well you look after the phone. The repeated use of the charger, headset and USB connector obviously took their toll, and after only a few months the headset could no longer be used without the sound breaking up. No end of headset replacements failed to solve the problem; the connection port itself had sustained damage and there was nothing that could be done. Some may argue that better care of the phone would have avoided such a problem: my only reply is that I am one of the most conscientious of mobile phone owners and would never subject it to anything other than the best and most reasonable of care.

Call quality was second to none, and there were no problems in this department. Where the phone really surpassed itself was with the 3.2 megapixel camera and excellent flash, which unlike so many mobile phones, is not an LED. I have taken some of the most beautiful snaps with this camera and, whilst in another country and unable to use the phone as it was network locked, I would use the phone solely as a camera. I truly bemoan the loss of such a wonderful camera for what seems like a very minor problem relating to the connection port. I have yet to see another phone on the market at this price point able to match the craftsmanship of the camera, whether taking stills, or making video recordings. These functions did little to wear out the battery, which was a true power horse and would go days without a charge.

Positives aside, as I have repeatedly alluded to, the phone is showing its age. The web browser is basic by today's standards and will struggle displaying anything other than specifically mobile-oriented content. The phone plays music very well through headphones or built in speakers, but playing video on the phone is a time consuming process which requires specific file encoding and even then playback is jerky and far from smooth. The display resolution is low and does not take advantage of the reasonable size of the screen, and the phone does not have a wide range of applications or games available for download.

On balance however, the K800i is an excellent phone with an outstanding camera. If you are not interested in the 'bells and whistles' provided with most new phones today, then in my opinion this mobile phone is a solid and dependable choice.