Multimedia phones group test
January 30, 2009 by Insider Staff
“Convergence” is a word that’s up there in terms of sexiness with “accountant” and “resurfacing”, but it’s the raison d’etre for most modern phones. Manufacturers in this hideously competitive market are flinging features into their handsets like cats at a wall, hoping that at least some will stick.
The iPhone’s widely seen as a key moment in this convergence frenzy, but it had been going on for long before Apple waded into the fray, with Sony Ericsson’s Cyber-shot and Walkman ranges, Nokia’s N series and Motorola’s er… umm… we’ll get back to you on that one.
The phones we’re looking at here aren’t smartphones, although they do share characteristics with them. They’re what you might call “multimedia” phones – all singing, all video-playing, all satnavving slabs of hi-tech joy. All they need to add to a feature list as long as Mr Tickle’s arms is a decent interface, battery life that doesn’t leave you gasping for a charger like an alcoholic in Saudi Arabia and sexy looks. Not too much to ask, is it? Except where noted, all handsets are 3G.
Sony Ericsson C905
This has by far the best camera of any cam-phone, with an excellent xenon flash. It’s still not comparable to a proper camera in the £100-£200 range, but it is better than the competition. You get the best performance out of it, ironically, by turning off all the bells and whistles and shooting to infinite focus. Nothing else about the phone is particularly outstanding, but then nothing makes you feel murderous either. The flat keys are annoying, but still preferable to texting on a touchscreen, and the sliding action… oh, the sliding action.
Click to read the full review >>
Sony Ericsson C905″>Go to the Philips HTS8140 product page >>
Nokia 5310 XpressMusic
Comes With Music is the deal of the century, but you might be better off waiting for it to become available on the 5800 (please, Nokia) or forthcoming N97. It’s also available now on the N95, although poor battery life is a bit of a killer there. The 5310 is very much a specialist device. For music fans, it’s a superb little gadget, despite its clonkiness in certain areas and lack of extra features. If you’re not into music, you’d be loopy to consider it.
Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic product page >>
LG Renoir
If you want something that matches the overall joyous experience of iPhone ownership, but you are ideologically opposed to buying Apple products, this should be your second choice after Samsung’s Pixon. If it’s a really good cam-phone you’re after, Sony Ericsson’s C905 is probably a better bet. Oh, and if you’re not an even-tempered chap/ess, the touchscreen menus may sandpaper your patience to a fine grain. Umm… that all sounds really negative, doesn’t it? This is actually a decent phone, but it could and should have been an even better one.
Click to read the full review >>
Go to the LG Renoir product page >>
Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
Nokia’s first stab at a touchscreen phone is better than any of us dared to hope. Does it beat the iPhone? Well… no. The lack of menu customizability and features such as multi-touch leave it trailing Apple’s behemoth. In terms off this group test, the touchscreen can’t quite match that of the Samsung Pixon either. However, bolt on Comes With Music, and then you’d have a really mouth-watering proposition. So how about it, Nokia…?
Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic product page >>
PriceRunner recommended
Samsung Pixon
The best multi-media phone to be made outside of Cupertino, California is a delight to use, has a good, if not outstanding media player and a touchscreen that’s like the missing link betwixt your fingers and your brain. The eight-meg camera is another very solid addition, and you should be able to get this free on contract without having to shell out for a horrific monthly tariff. A real winner form Samsung and by far its best touchscreen phone.
Click to read the full review >>
Go to the Samsung M8800 Pixon product page >>
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Related Articles:
- Nokia 5800 Comes With Music coming to OrangeThe Nokia 5800 XpressMusic has just launched with Comes With Music, Nokia’s all you can eat music download service, on Orange, so you’ll be able to stock up on all the tracks you could ever need with a tap of your finger. The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic touchscreen phone launched earlier this year to much fanfare, but [...]...
- Ask the expert: Which touchscreen phone to buy?Q. I was thinking of buying an iPhone 3G, then just read about the T-Mobile G1 Google phone, and now I’ve just heard about Nokia 5800 XpressMusic (or The Tube). Which is the best mobile phone to go for? A. They’re all good phones, but for very different reasons. In terms of specs, they’re on par [...]...
- Group test: On-ear headphonesFor listening to music on the move, there’s little better than headphones. You could, perhaps walk around with a barbershop quartet or an orchestra on rollerblades, but neither has quite the versatility or discreetness of a decent pair of cans. At the slightly higher end of the market, which we’re looking at here, headphones are [...]...
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