Sony Ericsson K700 review

By PhoneArena Team

Updated: Sep 16, 2008, 9:19 AM

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So what is this New K700 bringing to the table for the Gaget Addict? How about 32-34mb of on-board memory for playing video, Mp3's, applications, photos and videos taken directly from the handset.....in addition the K700 is a Tri-Band World Phone operating on the 1900/1800/900 frequencies and supports GPRS data transmission with an onboard email client and internet browser for WAP sites....and finally it contains as an added bonus..A FM RADIO!! All wrapped in a 4 tone package of brushed metal, chrome, titanium and glass....very Industrial in design....very stylish and elegant in appearance... Like a fine Brioni Suit....the K700 exudes style and class when you remove it from your pocket to use....But that's just my opinion....judge for yourselves.......the K700 Gallery.....with Video...

So,,I think anyone can now answer their own questions regarding how the K700 looks compared to the T630, V600 or P900.. I really love the design and use of metalized plastics and glass-like keys. I guess now you want to know how it performs and what it's features are like..particularly the new menu?????

Well, after using the K700 for about a week I think I can offer a few "INFORMED" observations about it's performance and quality. Not a brief examination at a cell phone show...or my cousin works for Sony/Ericsson and let me play with it....but a real-world, week-long, use of the handset. Based upon this use I can offer the following insights into it's basic quality as a phone. First, as most of you know it is a Tri-Band GSM handset with a 65000 color TFT screen, GPRS enabled with VGA camera and more importantly, 32-34mb of on-board memory. Mine has 39mb, but, again my unit is a proto-type and the actual performance of a production unit may be different. All menus and devices that connect to the K700 refer to it as such, but the internal sticker identifies it as K700i....

First, RF performance... At this point I can catagorically say that the K700 is a better performer than the T610/616..in fact it appears to be better than the T630 I had to compare it with in being able to grab a signal and hold it...notice the difference in the signal strenght meters....although this is not a absolute indicator it is better, I can confirm that the K700 at this shot was able to easily call, while the T630 needs a little "twist of the ear" and "finger to the nose" in order to get the signal. It also is a bulldog once it has a signal holding onto it for sometime with great quality compared to the T630. I would say it is as good or better than the P900 and V600 in this respect. Certainly the best RF performer of any Sony/Ericsson small handset I've used in recent memory. That includes the T68i, T610/616 and the improved T630.

Voice Quality on my Proto-type is very good. Very natural and non-colored..it has my vote as being well finished in this regard. Handset volume on the other hand could be better in my opinion. My unit is a little light in that regard, but I do have a slight hearing loss and Amy finds it to be plenty loud enough. However, it is definitely not as loud as my V600 and certainly not as loud as my iMate, P900 or Amy's T630.

Speaker phone function is a VERY WELCOME feature for this handset. I love using this feature in certan situations and it's nice to have on a handset of this type. Unlike the V600 which opens a key specifically for using the speaker phone function...I could not get this feature to operate without opening the menu during a call and selecting it from the drop down list. There may very well be a designated key for turning it on that I haven't discovered, but I don't have a manual...so for now I'll just say it works well and is available. Still, it could also be louder. Not as loud as the V600 or P900..and certainly not as loud as the iMate. At first I thought it was due to the "Tiny Size" of the K700, but after using the Radio Funtion (more on it later)...I know the K700's speaker is capable of producing very high volumes...See my video at the bottom for the operation of the K700 receiving a call and the speaker phone operation.

Speaker menu...

Battery Life is extremely good. The K700 uses a 670mAh battery and I find that the phone with EXTENSIVE USE gives me the whole day with plenty battery to spare. I would imagne that with normal use this phone would serve the average user 2-3 days without recharging...

For a proto-type, I have to say this phone in it's present state gets my nod as the very best Bluetooth phone I've use with regard to it's connectivity with different devices and the transfer of files between them. Range, line-of-sight and compatability with different devices is excellent. Headset performance is great with ease of pairing and operation of all features of my Digital BlueSpoon working with the K700. In addition the K700 has bluetooth features I have never seen on a phone before, the "Remote Screen" and "Remote Control"

Remote Screen is found in the Pictures and Video applications and uses bluetooth to send the image to your PC Display...(I think)...I don't have any software with the K700 and believe it is necessary in order to enable these features to work. My PC tells me it is receiving an bluetooth request...but nothing happens after that....well it's something to look forward too

In using the bluetooth of the K700 I bonded not only with my Digital BlueSpoon...

Bluetooth "Send" menus...

iMate identifies the K700....

Infrared on the K700 works as expected....transferring files easily to my iMate...but as long as the other device has bluetooth, not much use for this connectivity in my opinion...

Internet connectivity on the K700 is accomplished by using it's WAP browser or it's built-in email client. Connection to the internet is very fast and easy. I set my email client up and receive and send mail very easily with the T630. It's super fast and the display is of course beautiful!! Some shots of my favorite Cell Phone Forums.....wonder which one it is????

Email connection.....

The K700 has a new menu format from the T630 and T610/616...primarily it uses "TABS" at the top of some menus to seperate and organize the different settings, features, operations, etc... It also uses a little "Spotlight" that follows your movement through the menu to highlight the selected function..hard to photograph...I was finally able in this slightly out of focus photo to capture that little bugger....right between the "Connections and File Manager" menus....

I have also had alot of people ask me about menu speed. Apparently some people are reporting in "OTHER FORUMS" that the menu speed is slow...All I can say is that it is very responsive and fast in my opinion...don't know what kinda unit they were using or if they used one at all....but judge for yourself.....that's right it's another

Screen Shots of the Settings menu..notice the use of "Tabs"...

The larger "Joystick" also makes movement through the menu much easier than on the previous models of T68i, T610/616 and T630...

The Phone Book offers added features with the addition of menus for full addresses and notes...going immediately into the phone book gives you an option to select different numbers or email address by toggling the joystick..getting more detail requires selecting "View & edit" for the details.....

Notice the use of "Tabs" again in this menu...

The Media Player can play music, Mp3s and your Video.....it also has a built-in-equalizer which really "Pisses me OFF" that the P900 does not have one in it's media player...and it has "Bass Boost"....what the FXXX!!...come on...get this for the UIQ people Sony/Ericsson

Photos of other Menus....

One of most anticipated features of this phone is it's VGA camera and Video Capture capabilities. The phone was designed by Sony/Ericsson to look like a Digital Camera when viewed from the back and they intend to carry this 2 device philosophy throughout the upcoming phone line....judge for yourself next to the Casio QV-R4.....

Video Size is 176 X 144 or 128 X 96 and can be limited or unlimited in size...of course, available memory in the phone will limit the amount of video you can take..

Both the camera and video applications offer special features and effects to use on the fly with your K700...more about that later..

The K700's Camera/Video also has a built in LED light for night photos mounted on the back of the phone. The operation is VERY BRIGHT and works well as a little flashlight in those instances where you drop your keys, etc...

Menus of the Camera/Video application....

Viewing a photo on the K700 screen....

Photos can be sent via email, MMS, infrared or bluetooth transfer...

Photos can be displayed on a slideshow via your K700...

Another cool feature is the special effects on the fly that you can perform with the K700. You can take photos or video with the following effects.....

Normal....

Panorama....

Black & White.........

Negative....

Sepia....

Solarize....

More photos taken with the K700....

A couple new features in this handset is the menu item called "Pre Play" and the FM Radio feature. First alittle about the Pre Play feature. Basically it is a pre-installed menu item that connects you to a Sony/Ericsson server for the immediate download of popular artists photos and Mp3 ringtones on a pay/per basis...an example of Beyonce's Baby Boy being downloaded.....

Finally, the K700's FM Radio... Connection is made by inserting a standard Sony/Ericsson handsfree into the base of the K700. I assume that it will ship with at stereo headset of some sort sporting the "Butt Plug" of the more common handsfree units. Unlike the P900 which uses a stereo plug for the headset. The headset is only needed to act as an antenna, but the application will not launch until it is attached. Once attached the listener can use the headset for unobtrusive listening or transfer the sound to the K700 itself. I was completely shocked at the volume the radio produces through the K700's speaker and everyone I showed this feature to just loved it..much better than the old FM radio add on's that were available for the Motorola V60 and V70 phones of yester year.... And I just love the interface. You can save your favorite stations and move quickly through them or just search for the next station. Reception was outstanding and the quality was great..

Menu Shots of the FM Radio...

And as a last little treat...and a big thanks to SpawnDK, AdonisDemon, and all the other themers who have volunteered their talents to creating themes of Amy for the K700 and T630.. A big THANK YOU!!

SPAWN'DK's Themes for the K700....

EVE...

Amy...

and for the T630 as well...

and finally....

ADONISDEMON'S THEME.....

AMY..... Gotta say that this is most impressive with the differnt photos appearing during calls or other phone actions...as well as Amy's silhouette in the background of menus.....WHAT A JOB!!

These talented Themers have their themes available for download at their respective sites.. www.spawndk.com and www.mobile9.com I believe are their respective sites. Please acknowledge these fellows hardwork and talents as I know alot of you will be getting their products in the future for your own K700..

Well,,,,,that's it...almost...gotta little suprise for tomorrow to post...but this is my review...

The little preview I did last Thursday has gotten over 34,000 hits in a week...that's gotta be one of the fastest growing threads since I got the first P800 about a year and a half ago. So, obviously alot of you want this phone,,,and based upon my review the K700 will make alot of you very happy... Speaking of making someone happy....I hear someone calling....