Sony Ericsson K800i

The K800i came out around summer '06. It was my choice as an upgrade from my "opal blue" (T-Mobile exclusive) D750i (different coloured/featured K750i equiv.) from summer '05.

*** FEATURES *** (over and above basic phone features)

* BATTERY LIFE *

Sony Ericsson phones, in my experience at least, have always had sufficient battery life & performance to go days without needing a recharge. I'm glad to say, I still keep mine handy as a backup phone, and can leave it mostly unused (i.e. few if any calls) for about a week.

* BLUETOOTH *

Personally, I've always insisted on Bluetooth -- and Ericsson were first out with it in a mobile phone ( I had the R520m: http://www.esato.com/phones/Ericsson-R520-4 ), and I've never since had a phone without it! ;D

Its usefulness, technologically, is wide-ranging and well suited to short-range needs; e.g. exchanging data between phones, or to a Bluetooth-equipped PC (such as sending camera-phone photos!), or -- most useful -- connecting with a Bluetooth headset/hands-free kit, to be able to take/make calls (legally!) whilst driving.

* CAMERA-PHONE *

As for the concept of bundling camera functions into phones, after my experience with the "camera light" of the D750i(/K750i), I decided I wanted better, and from the K800i on, insisted on a built-in Xenon flash element as a required feature.

For its time, 3.2Mp was fantastic on a camera phone, and even today (2011), it's still very fair, if considering a 2nd-hand / rebuilt mobile as a budget option.

* FM RADIO *

Another handy feature; most useful for fans of "pirate"/dance music/etc (non-commercial) radio stations, as an alternative to plugging into your MP3 player. Uses the earphones' wire as the radio antenna. (Can't/Won't work without it.) If you get a call, and answer it, the K800i will switch to the call audio, but keep your station available to resume when your call is over.

* BUILT-IN SPEAKER *

Handy for some, annoying for others, this model has a built-in speaker, making portable music audible without the need for earphones. (Except for Radio, of course.) On public transport, this feature is often found being used by unthinking individuals to annoy other passengers.

* INTERNET BROWSER *

The K800i also has a web browser, and was at the front of the new (at the time) trend of mobile phones to do so.

* M2 = SONY Memory Stick Micro *

Smaller still than the Memory Stick PRO Duo of the D750i(/K750i), and with greater capacity, the M2 slot allows for storage of more photos and video clips, plus backgrounds, ringtones, music, browser cache, etc

* IR (INFRA-RED) *

I *believe* the K800i is _one_ of the last of the Sony Ericsson models to incorporate IR which, before the widespread popularity & uptake of Bluetooth technology, was the defacto "wireless" mobile-to-mobile data transfer facility. IR is, of course, much slower than Bluetooth, and requires both phones to be _atationary_, usually/preferably with the IR ports pointing at each other -- having "line-of-sight" of each other.

(Similarly, unless your TV-remote signal reaches the TV, it won't work)

*** RECEPTION & STYLING ***

Reception with most major networks is good to excellent, in average serviced areas. T-Mobile & Orange customers now enjoy a service bonus: where one service is unavailable, you can opt to use the connections of the other service without extra charge. This has widened the coverage for customers of both services who've taken this option.

As a basic tool for everyday life, the contemporary/modern styling suited most - including Daniel Craig's James Bond in Casino Royale, apparently. A clean presentation, decent-sized buttons, and a clear display makes for an excellent phone, along with its multitude of features.

Have had my sony ericsson k800i for almost 2 years and have to say it is a good solid reliable phone. Never had a problem with it. Will keep it until it gives up on me.

I am not a technology specialist, but I am a (sometimes problematic) regular user of several electronic devices, so I need something that's solid and doesn't break at its first fall or contact with watery substances - which my phone has seen in its life... I can say that if a device is Sonia-proof, the it really must be very good!I've had my Sony Ericsson K800i (bought from an Orange shop in Tirgu-Mures, Romania) for more than 3 years now and I must say it's been through rough times, but it has survived gloriously. The display is very easy, the colours are far superior to other phones and it can do a lot of things: you've got a very good camera (very clear and fairly good quality pictures - 1=5.2mm 1:2:8), mp3 player, radio (which you can only play if you plug in the headphones), you can make video calls (it's got 2 cameras, one in the back, and one for the video calls), the sound is fairly good - a bit metalic, but it gets better if you listen to music with the headphones. It's also very good for mobile internet and has very stable signal.I love its brick-like shape and I don't think I'm going to give this phone up for any newcomer in the mobile community. I do recommend it to anybody who is looking for quality, not looks (the shape is rather masculine and simple) and a phone to keep!

Good points:

I have had this phone now inbetween other phones as a kind of backup phone, whilst most of the other phones break with the hard use and time used on them the sony ericsson k800i seems to stick at it.

The other thing about this phone is the durability of it, i have dropped it several times from quite high places.. each time it has been picked up relatively scratch less...

The features on the phone are great and really useful and its internet browsing capabilities are also really good if not a little over the top with some of the things.

Bad:

It is a really reliable phone and really very rarely has any breaks or faults.. but when something does go wrong they can be a pain to get fixed, and the charge slot also tends to be faulty on them so you have to fiddle about a bit to get it to charge.

The camera cover is also very free moving, as soon as it opens no matter if the phone is locked the phone goes into camera mode.. which is alright when you want it to, but if you have it in your pocket and the camera comes on then you can end up using a lot of your battery unnessesarily.

Had the phone for over 2 years without a single problem. No other phone I've had has been as reliable as the Sony Ericsson K800i.

Hi the K800i is one of the best phones I have had. Its got a 3.2 MP Cyber-Shot camera which the lens in the camera is the same as a modern digital camera! It has a external memory card slot(M2). It has bluetooth. And it has USB Internet! 3G, RSS FEEDS, And many more!

One of the main strengths of this phone is the Cyber-Shot camera! Also it has the same/better/similar functions as phones like W910i, W850i, W580i...... It has RSS Feeds and is very useful. It has USB Inernet which you can go on the internet via your computer! It plays MP3 and many more music formats. There is a variety of applications and games for this phone! It also has radio and bluetooth pc controller! What I like about this phone is the heaviness and toughness! Overall this phone is excellent as all the modern sony ericssons out today!

I wrote a fantastic review for this phone a while back, but unfortunately it broke soon after and would never switch on without a blinking white screen. Couldnt fix it using sony erricsons website so gave up. It lasted me just over 1 year. Now im never using sony again. They are good on looks and packed with state of Art functions but very unreliable.

This Sony Ericsson K800i phone is brilliant. With excellent camera quality and features, it beats all other competition. Excellent CameraNever breaks when droppedRubberised feel

The Sony Ericsson K800i lasts forever, dropped it hundreds of times and it all still works fine. Relatively modern for a 3 year old phone. Slow camera gets kind of annoying.

I've had this Sony Ericsson K800i phone for more than a year and hell it rocks. You can easliy alter its software to get the best of the camera and sound!!! awesome phone

LOVE IT!!