Review of GSM-handset Sony Ericsson W380i

Mobile-review have posted their review of the Sony Ericsson W380 Walkman clamshell. Here is the final impression.

Impressions
The W380i’s ring tones volume was never an issue – its speaker fared well in most environments. The reception quality was nothing to complain about either. Our only gripe is with the phone’s vibro alert, which occasionally proves to be on the weak side.

The question is, who is going to buy the W380i two-three months into its sales – basically, after dealing with the first surge of interest, Sony Ericsson will run into exactly the same problem as with the W200i. Its affordable music-savvy device will be a step behind such solutions as the Nokia 6131/6267 that retail at the same price point. What is superior: music or bigger screen and a bunch of extra feats? The jury is still out on that. Another thing of note is that the segment the Sony Ericsson W380i is stepping into is crowded with other folder-type phones, and in this case its off-the-wall looks can well play a mean joke on it. Like it usually happens, standout things get both zealous followers and haters, but they rarely become really popular. For 340 USD (while its fashion-conscious edition, the Z555i, retails for 275 USD), the W380i isn’t exactly an affordable offering. Actually, we wouldn’t tell you the whole truth if we called it well-balanced in terms of the price/quality ratio. All in all, this handset is nearly a perfect choice for students, but looking at today’s youth I have to admit that their tastes and preferences are vastly different from mine or those of phone makers.