Sony Ericsson W995 review

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8th April 2009 Author: admin - Unknown - Views:

On a different note, the keys are well sized with sufficient spacing between each, making it easy to type without looking at the keypad.

Sony Ericsson W995
Keypad is easy to use even if it suffers from low press feedback

The Walkman key on the Sony Ericsson W995 is on the left side and grants access to the Walkman player and is used for Shake control. Like the keypad, it does suffer a little in terms of press feedback.

On the left-hand side is also the Fast Port connector and the "M2" symbol, which indicates the location of the card slot. Even if it's under the battery cover, it is hot-swappable. The phone ships with an 8GB M2 card.

Sony Ericsson W995
Walkman key, Fast Port connector and memory card slot are on the left-hand side

The right side of the device is overcrowded. You've got the camera button, which activates the camera and serves as a shutter key as well, the volume rocker and the dedicated music controls.

The volume keys are too small and uncomfortable but the player controls are just fine. The latter allow quick control of the Walkman player without even having to open the application itself.

Pressing and holding the Play/Stop button will launch the music player in mini mode and music will resume where you last left off.

Sony Ericsson W995
The right side is overcrowded • Camera key, volume rocker and music controls

The dedicated Walkman player controls glow in the dark when the Walkman player is on. The backlighting has a very pleasant red color, as opposed to the solid white illumination of the keypad and controls. The shutter key also has its own white backlighting.

Sony Ericsson W995
Music controls glow in the dark when the Walkman player is on

The Sony Ericsson W995 is equipped with a set of stereo speakers, placed at the top and bottom of the handset. This layout seems the right approach in a phone that's pitched for video and sports that kickstand on the back. But it's not the stereo speakers and not even the kickstand that make the W995 the first among its kind. On the top there is something you won't see on any other Walkman phone - a built-in 3.5 mm audio jack. Hallelujah!!

Though we never minded using an easy-to-find 3.5mm adapter with Sony Ericsson phones, the majority of Walkman users believed they deserve that dedicated port on board.

Sony Ericsson W995
Stereo speakers on top and bottom • 3.5 mm audio jack

The 8.1-megapixel autofocus camera lens is placed at the back. The W995 sports a LED flash for night-time shooting, but there's no camera lens protection.

What steals the spotlight at the rear though is the controversial kickstand. The idea itself is warmly welcomed, especially considering the great screen. However, the kickstand is far from perfect. It doesn't lock into position firmly enough to bear the weight of the phone and any vibrations on the surface it's placed on could topple the device over.

We really hope its design will be further polished before the handset gets to the mass market.

Sony Ericsson W995