Feature

SONY ERICSSON W810i

As the name suggests, the W810i is a souped up version of the original Walkman phone, the W800

This one gets quad band support and a bigger, better screen (49mm diagonal rather than 45, and though the resolution is the same 176x220 pixels as the K750i, the extra size does give a noticeable improvement). There’s a new D-pad, too, which feels a lot more solid and answers most of the past criticisms of SE’s joystick. Other tweaks probably include the onboard speakers, which still aren’t stereo but do seem to produce a cleaner sound than on the W800. And the stain black finish is a real success – it simply doesn’t show scuffs and fingerprints like glossy surfaces. Otherwise it’s the mixture as before – 512MB Memory Stick storage card, Sony Ericsson’s excellent 2mp camera from the K750i, FM radio, equalizer with a few presets. Overall the build quality is good. Why change a winning team? On the other hand, if you don’t need EDGE or the ability to use the phone in the States, the W810i isn’t a compelling reason to switch from an existing K750i/W800i.• Forget the W800i, this is the better option.

SPECIFICATION

Size
Length 100mm
Width 46mm
Depth 19.5mm
Weight 99g
Main display
TFT, 256K colours
176x220 pixels
28x35mm
Camera
2mp, 1632x1224
pixels, autofocus,
video, flash
Connectivity
Bluetooth, USB, IR,
EDGE
Battery
Standby 350h
Talk time 8h
Features FM radio
music player