The Next Generation of Phones (Sony Ericsson K700i)

Member Name: jsrennie

Product:	Sony Ericsson K700i
Date:	13/01/05 (1030 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: best phone ever!, mp3 player, very easy to use

Disadvantages: bad battery life

As i sit here and write this review i am listening to Bombs over Baghdad an mp3 file i have downloaded onto my phone via bluetooth and a little nifty device i still havn't fully understand how to use.

I dont know about you but i find it amazing that I can listen to good quality songs on my phone and I know you could get real music tones o other phones this is just so much better. My new phone is on a higher level than all that have come before it, it has taken mobile phones into the future!

Features
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The phone is absolutely packed full of different features that are on the whole easy to use.

There is a camera like most phones these days but with 0.3 megapixel quality better than many others, it also has a video recorder which records to a high quality but cant keep this quality if you move it with even the smallest amount of speed.

With 41Mb of memory you are able to download some music but only around 10 songs unless you compress them which can sometimes detract from the quality but allows you to have around 20 songs. Bluetooth and infrared allow you to download direct from your computer, although extra hardware is needed to use bluetooth.

The large TFT screen is of very high quality meaning pictures or videos downloaded look really great, and the speaker is also of high quality meaning you always know when you have a call!

Games are another great feature with this phone with high quality games such as bomberman shown to thier full potential its just like having a nintendo in your phone!

Other great features incude a radio, Wap, fast internet connection, GPRS and many many more.

Aesthetics
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The phone looks and feels great, very sleek and very stylish with a chrome like finish, it doesnt feel plasticy like other phones and the curves and seperate parts come together and fit perfectly.

The back of the phone where the camera is situated looks amazing and the slogan on the advert 'phone meets camera' couldnt be more true as if you just looked at the back it looks like a sony digital camera.

The large screen on earlier Sony Ericsson models detracted from its overall stylishness but here it fits perfectly and suits the buttons on the front with an almost perfect inginuity. The joystick is a work of genius and only needs the lightest of touches to take you to where you want to go, the number pad is soft so constant use will not cause you any discomfort in the finger region.

One of my favourite features of the phone is found at the bottom where the connectivity section is covered to protect it from dust and to prevent damage, and also again just adds to the phones amazing look.

The one problem however i feel is that the number buttons are too small and close together making gaming and texting a little difficult at times.

Performance
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Here is where the phone has its major downfall and that is its battery life, which seems very short and the constant rechaging is something I have never had to do with my phones in the past.

Also the phone sometimes takes a long time to react to some commands that i ask it to perform just like you find on a computer which can get a little frustrating.

The phone seems robust but i still dont ant to test it out by dropping it! and after heavy usage for two weeks it still looks brand new without a scratch on it.

The reception is excellent and very very clear which is a nice change from the terrible reception i always got with my old nokia phones.

Overall the phone performs very well with but its tendency to use its battery like there is no tomorrow and its slow response to some commands do detract from this excellent phone.

Value for Money
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The phone costs arond £250 for pay as you go which is very expensive but what you tend to pay for top of the line phones that are not on monthly contracts.

However if you do get it on contract there are any places where you can get it for free, even on the low priced monthly contracts. I got it for free from O2 online on contract that costs just £25 a month.


Overall
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Overall I would sum up that this is one of the greatest phones on the market with a great wide range of features that can keep even the most hardened techie occupied for days on end, but it also is simple enough to use for the average joe with its simple menu and easy to use buttons and naivgation.

I would definatley recommend this phone to anybody out there who wants to pick up a great phone that enables you to do all you want in the palm of your hand.

Summary: