Sony Ericsson Z770i review

Sony Ericsson's mobile range has lacking a slim flip phone with the high-level 3G functionality. That is until now. The Z770i slips elegantly into the Sony Ericsson lineup, with a super model profile, a stylish design and high-speed 3G HSDPA connectivity.

The Z770i isn't going to compete with high-end smartphone duties, but can still hold its own in the multimedia and web-based feature stakes, comparing nicely with the K660i. Its speedy mobile broadband provides fast web browsing, plus streaming and downloading of video, music and other content.

Also included is Google Maps for mobile, which lets you plan your routes and find where you are in real time thanks to some clever software, even though the handset lacks a built-in GPS receiver.

One regular 3G feature that you won't catch on the Z770i, though, is video calling. Sony Ericsson has omitted a secondary camera for face-to-face chatting, something that may put off some buyers - but we suspect not many. The only camera on this handset is a 2-megapixel main shooter on the front of the shell, a disappointingly limited snapper with no flash or advanced autofocus capabilities.

Although the Z770i isn't in Sony Ericsson's Walkman music mobile range, it nonetheless is decently equipped for listening on the go, with a multi-format music player and an FM radio. Memory Stick Micro (M2) card expansion is included too, with a 512MB card lined up for in-box inclusion.

Design and handling
Sony Ericsson's created an attractive handset. It has a neat, tidy and relatively slim clamshell shape, decked out in either mainly black or silver - with just a hint of colour on the trim to give it a bit of zip. The external monochrome display used on the Z770i is disguised beneath a thin mirrored strip; mostly it's hidden, but shines subtly through the mirror whenever a call or message comes in, a music track's played or the phone's been activated in some way. A neat touch that looks best on the silver version of the phone.

Underneath the shell, the Z770i shows a bit more flair. Its numberpad design has swishy curves around the control buttons and rounded numberpad keys, backlit with striking colours. The flat brushed metal-look pad layout is very reminiscent of the Motorola RAZR series, although more eye-pleasing.

Sony Ericsson has chosen an alternative navigation pad set up to the usual circular D-pad control. Four tiny rice-thin directional buttons radiate out from a small central select button. All are almost flush with the surface, but still manage to be easily clickable. Similar buttonry is employed for softkeys. The directional buttons are pre-programmed for shortcuts from standby, although they can be easily reassigned for other functions.

Some may think the titchy control buttons are too fiddly, but we found the handling nice and responsive. Keys are thoughtfully arranged so you can feel your way around the pad even if you have largish fingers. Confusing the Up key for the Menu button (it sits directly below 'Menu' on the display in standby) could be an issue at first, but the layout quickly becomes second nature.

The Z770i is the latest Sony Ericsson model to revert to a conventional Call and End key configuration, which makes handling easier for converts to the brand. A further Activity Menu shortcut key provides fast access to a crop of useful functions under one umbrella - with shortcuts for Bluetooth connectivity, Google Maps, TrackID, calendar and notes, plus a folder of links for fast internet access.

The display inside the shell is a reasonably-sized 2.2-inch QVGA (240x320 pixels) 262,000-colour screen, which is a large enough for an acceptable look at images, videos or websites.

With measurements of 93(h) x 48(w) x 15.5(h)mm and 91g, it's a pleasing size for your pocket as well as comfortable for enjoying multimedia content.

Camera snapping
Sony Ericsson doesn't bless all its cameraphones with the sort of shooting capabilities employed in its Cyber-shot range. Evidently, phone buyers keen on high quality snapping should look at this clamshell-less line-up instead. The Z770i's 2-megapixel camera is the minimum expected of a mid-range handset in 2008. Picture quality can be reasonable in favourable lighting conditions, but it isn't one of Sony Ericsson's better cameras; there's no flash for shooting in low-light environments or at night, and no autofocus system or macro mode for accurate focusing or close-ups.

Consequently, the camera's fixed focus lens is essentially a quick pic snapper that works well in good light but struggles with more demanding light situations.

Video shooting quality is better than average, owing to its 30 frames per second capture rate. It shoots in maximum QVGA (240x320 pixels) resolution though, so while images flow smoothly on the phone's display, detail is limited and pixellates if blown up on a PC screen.

With both video and images, you can carry out some basic picture tweaking and editing in the phone, and a blog option enables you to upload photos or clips straight to a Blogger account from the handset.

Music player
Although not supplied with the same higher quality earphones as the Walkman phone range, the music player is a very capable performer. The media player has a typically classy user interface and tracks you've loaded up from a PC or downloaded over the air are arranged into familiar categories and playlists. It's easy to use and logically arranged. You can adjust sound shapes with an onboard equaliser too; Sony's Mega Bass option can crank up the low end too.

<< Previous 1 2 Next>>