Review of GSM-handset Sony Ericsson W302i

Mobile-review have posted their review of the Sony Ericsson W302. Here is their final impression.

Impressions
Our major concern was whether the W302i’s call quality was any different from other Sony Ericsson branded phones; and to our delight it didn’t fall flat on this front. Or, it’d be better to put it this way, it fared just as well as other offerings from Sony Ericsson with no significant highs or downs. On the other hand, its earpiece quality somewhat disappointed us – sound came through with a good deal of background hissing and static (it’s not that loud, but it’s there) and voices were not as rich. All in all, it’s a typical budget solution that can’t stand comparison with high-end phones, such as the W880i/W890i. On the loudest volume settings it lets a lot of noise and static slip into sound. Some might think we are just ranting about these minor things, but on the other hand, Nokia’s entry-level phones utilize the same components as all other handsets in the range. But then again, how many people will actually know about these shortcomings before buying the phone? Very few, that’s for sure.

The W302i’s ring tone volume is also average, with a lot of creaking noises at top volume settings in sophisticated tracks. The vibro alert isn’t particularly strong, but it can get the job done. Those who have owned a Sony Ericsson branded phone, the W302i will feel like something quite different, if not a step back. No disappointments will befall people who are new to the world of Sony Ericsson; on the contrary, they will think that the W302i has everything exactly the way it’s supposed to be. For instance, you won’t be able to mark several files in a list, but once you decide to Send some content, you will be offered to send one file, several or all at once. This setup is abound on Samsung’s phones, but Sony Ericsson can be better than that. The A050’s attempt to cross the three-button layout with the latest user interface (yet without multitasking functionality) only adds more confusion to Sony Ericsson’s platform portfolio.

While most of the time the W302i will be blazing fast, sometimes you will notice sudden slow-downs; unfortunately we failed to figure out where they came from. At times like this, it’s difficult to turn the phone’s screen back on – it may seem that the handset is shut down, but after a couple of seconds it gets back to normal. But if you can put up with these niggles and don’t expect flawless performance from this entry-level phone, then you should do just fine.

By and large, those who have never owned a Sony Ericsson phone before, the W302i isn’t a bad choice at all. If only it weren’t for its overly hefty price tag in the neighborhood of 169 Euros (RSP for Europe). When it will arrive in October, the W880i will retail for only a tiny bit more, which will be a complete disaster for its lower-end sibling, since it’s got all the features the W302i has on offer(except for the FM-radio) and surpasses the latter on many fronts, especially in terms of materials and wow-effect.

Having wrapped an ODM model into a recognizable design, Sony Ericsson prefer to charge a lot for it – in fact, this may be deemed a premium for its sophisticated curves and brand name. But the truth is, the W302i won’t experience lack of competition – there are lots of phones out there that are just as functional (take the Sagem my721X for example, which is almost an exact copy of the W302i). Later this year, in October, some markets will see a pared-down edition of the Motorola ROKR E8 – it’ll sport same materials, audio jack and sound quality, but will come with a worse sales package, and without the touch-sensitive wheel-shaped pad (although the keypad will remain intact). Retailing for around 170-200 Euro it will leave the Sony Ericsson W302i way far behind.

Sony Ericsson designed the W302 as an answer to such phones as the Nokia 6300, but the truth is, this “answer” is nothing to write home about. Its music department won’t blow you away, the sales package isn’t particularly rich; and basically, the only things going for it are design and relatively high price, which means the W302i will have a hard time on the market. All in all, it’s very likely to follow in the footsteps of the Sony Ericsson W200i; it’s price will remain on the same level until the end of 2008, and in spring of 2009 they will knock it down to 130-140 Euros to keep its sales afloat. But this is definitely not enough, for the W302i’s price should make no more than 120-140 Euro at start – in fact, only this price tag can give it a chance to accumulate some significant sales. As far as loyal consumers go, the W302i brings nothing new to the table – it’s aimed more at first-timers.

On balance, the W302i sports a likable design, average feature pack and an abnormally high price, which is 20-30 percent higher than the competition. It’s up to you to decide whether this W880i-esque design and Sony Ericsson branding are worth this premium. But this very phone will thrive more on impulsive purchases and see-it-and-buy-it attitude, when consumers don’t really know or care what they buy.