SonyEricsson W810i Review

[xiutian]

ON THE OUTSIDE

The dimensions of the phone are the same as the K750i and the W800i except that it is 1mm thicker.  Although the W810i does look a little fatter, the feel of it is the same as its predecessors.

The Quickshare sticker has now disappeared.  In its place, there is now a Walkman logo which has been incorporated into the body of the phone underneath a plastic cover.


I think most potential buyers’ concerns are regarding the uncovered camera lens and the new joystick plus navipad design.

Camera lens

There is a slight indentation where the camera lens is located.  As such, placing your phone down on a table will not scratch the lens.  However, you might face problems on rough uneven surfaces, so go get those screen/ lens protectors just in case.  Although I think it might be easier to get scratches on the orange self-portrait mirror than anything else.

Another thing to note, the camera lens is gonna be a dust collector.   

Joystick plus Navipad

Compared to the joystick on the K750i and W800i, this new layout wins hands-down.  The joystick in the middle can only be used to select items i.e. you’ll only be able to press down on it.  Browsing is done through the navipad.

The navipad is responsive and comfortable to use.  Chances of dirt or dust accumulating is minimal.

The other softkeys and the keypad are also comfortable to use. 

[xiutian]

ON THE INSIDE

When you turn on the phone, you'll see the startup menu where you can choose to startup the phone function or use the phone in flight mode.

The main menu options and icons are the same as the W800i

Camera Function

Access to the camera function is more troublesome as compared to the K750i/W800i as you have to go through the main menu before getting to the camera. The only way to circumvent this is to change the shortcut on one of your navipad direction keys.
Suggestion to SE : Maybe the shutter button can be used as a shortcut to the camera for future models without the camera cover?

Edit : Access to the camera can be done through the shutter button.  Have to press and hold.

The camera quality of the W810i is as good as its predecessors. The only difference in the user interface is that users can now choose between four different shutter sounds. Otherwise, all functions remain the same. For picture quality, you can see the photo of my W800 below.

Functions include being able to use the phone as a video cam, auto focus function, 4 shoot modes (Normal, Panorama, Frames and Burst) are available, macro mode, night mode, self timer, etc.


Walkman Function

User interface and design of the Walkman function remains the same as the W800i. Sound quality of the speakers are also the same, i.e. just ok on the onboard speakers but wonderful over the earphones.

Themes

Themes included are pleasing to the eye. Names are Emerge, Equaliser, Orbit and the normal Walkman theme. In this review set, the themes are not locked on the phone and I was able to copy them over to my MSPD.

Emerge standby

Equaliser standby

Orbit standby

Themes for K750i, W800i and W810i are interusable, although according to the Themecreator, they are using different formats.

W810i theme on my W800i

W800i/K750i theme on the W810i


Games

Games in the W810i are JC (Johnny Crash) Does Texas and Quadropop

Applications

Two new applications are found on the W810i, Music Mate and News Reader. Both applications are locked on the phone (anybody can tell me how to copy these out of the phone, I really like the Music Mate )

Screenshots as follows:

Music Mate

News Reader

Other applications like the PhotoDJ and VideoDJ are the same as the W800i

Changes made to the user interface and settings

A new feature has been added to the phonebook where users are now allowed to backup the phone contacts on memory cards. An option to restore from the memory card is also available. These are accessable under Advanced options in the Phonebook.

Multi alpha search in phonebook is now standard. Judging from the W810 set and posts by members who upgraded the firmware on the W900, it seems that multi alphabet search will also become the standard in the File Manager.

Layout of the File Manager has also been revised. Users can now browse through files either in the “All files”, “On memory stick” or “In phone” tabs.

The interface for copying/moving items under “Manage files” has also been changed slightly. Users will be shown the available memory on the onboard memory and the memory stick when choosing where they want to move/copy items.

Another feature which seems to have become standard is the “Update service” assessable under the Settings menu. Under this, other than being able to search for updates, users will now also be able to check their firmware version from this menu (although a check showed that the >*<<*<* key press can still be used). Another function available under this menu is that a reminder can be set to remind users to check for updates. The reminder looks like this:-

Something else new, users can now choose the way in which to receive notifications e.g when a new sms is received. You now choose to see the activity menu or a popup (the same notification in K750i/W800i) when new events occur. This is what the activity menu looks like:-

CONCLUSION

The W810i is as nice (or even better) to use as a K750i or W800i. It probably isn't for current owners of the K750i/W800i unless you HAVE to have the new look or the !@#$#@ joystick makes you want to dump your K750i/W800i. I have to say this though, after using the W810i for just three days, I think I'm going to be complaining more about my W800i joystick from now on .

Although that will not make me go buy the W810i, I'm hoping that when SE upgrades the K800i to a 4MP camera with optical zoom (I can always wish right? ), that they include the navipad into the design. No joystick please!


Great image quality. Great walkman functions. Flight mode. Navipad. I think that the W810i really is the best of the combi candybar phones that SE is offering now.

This will make a great upgrade for the T-series, J-series, K700, etc users. Non-SE users, what are you waiting for?

[firstknight]

can share your orbit theme??

good review xt... hope we can upgrade our w800 joystick to this dpad by mod... someone care to enlighten on this??? rabvtec??

[mds8080]

Nice review btw you said camera can only be activated through the main menu? Have you tried pressing and holding the camera button from the standby? That should work just like on W550, K700....

[hush66]

Nice review XT!

For the k750/w800, one way to access the camera function is to press and hold the camera button. Perhaps this will work for the w810 as well?

@firstknight: You can get the w810 themes from here

[Who]

Agreed the camera function works just by pressing and holding the camera key, just tested it

[Mr.ASAP]

@XT

could you give us more info about the MUSIC MATE? it looks very interesting .....is it something like MusicDJ? 

[Who]

Yes ASAP it is smthing like Music DJ but for guitar

[xiutian]

The phone not with me anymore, guess WHO it's with

The Music Mate, for me, is more like a companion when you are playing the guitar or whatever instrument.  It shows you the different guitar chords under the guitar chords section.  Under Metronome, you can choose the tempo and the phone will "beat" out the tempo for you.  The pitch part of it is like if you want to hear what a D note sounds like, etc.

For the shutter button, I did try it but I guess I didn't hold it down long enough

[cindy]

great review, XT 

agree the new joystick has better navigation and layout and easier to use than the darn K750's.

[kenzoden]

Nice review. Simple and clear.

You're right though, existing K750i & W800i users like myself won't find it enough to upgrade.

[Generix]

Am using the Orbit theme on my k750i now, but the animation (of the standby screen) on my phone is slower than the animation shown here, is it supposed to be like that? How's the animation speed on the w810i?

[Who]

Am using the Orbit theme on my k750i now, but the animation (of the standby screen) on my phone is slower than the animation shown here, is it supposed to be like that? How's the animation speed on the w810i?

yes W810 lags also on this theme.

[firstknight]

usually themes like this type of animation will lag in phone... esp with loads of frame.....

@kenzo wat you mean not enough to upgrade?? you mean not worth to upgrade to w810??

anyone know how to mod the joystck to the joypads??

[Generix]

Am using the Orbit theme on my k750i now, but the animation (of the standby screen) on my phone is slower than the animation shown here, is it supposed to be like that? How's the animation speed on the w810i?

yes W810 lags also on this theme.

Ok cool, thx for the headsup...