Sony Ericsson W580i


Editor's Review of the W580i

Reviewed by Michael Gabriel on 31st May 2008

The Sony Ericsson W580i mobile phone is another magnum opus. Physically, it is made popular by its slider design that mirrors the sophistication of Sony Ericsson's Walkman in its high-end features. Users may select the phone according to colour preferences of gray, white and black, and dark gray.

Although a certified looker, Sony Ericsson in general is yet to embrace the trend of slider phones. The W580i succeeds Sony Ericsson's W850i, which was apparently bulky and less user-friendly controls. These flaws were ultimately improved by the W580i, which features a lustrous shape and more compact dimensions of 99.06 x 45.72 x 1.8 12.70 millimeters, and weighing just a bit over 3 ounces.

With its lightweight and handy feature, the Sony Ericsson W580i can be conveniently taken by its owner wherever he or she goes. The Sony Ericsson W580i's slider mechanism, though imperfect, is undoubtedly well-constructed. Opening the phone's slide is seemingly difficult when using only one hand; however, it is not too loose, either.

Sony Ericson W580i boasts of a colour display featuring 262,144 shades, which screen is small at 50.80 millimeters and pixels of 240 x 320. Despite its tiny screen display, the colours are vivid and bright, while the photos and graphics show up clearly. The W580i's screen's level of brightness is easily adjustable.

Located just right below the screen is the pleasantly designed set of navigation buttons that are found by users to be better than those of the earlier W850i. The Sony Ericsson's central button with the OK key and the circular toggle are both tactile and large. The handset's toggle may be used to get more quickly to certain applications that are user-defined, and also for controlling the Walkman while listening to its music.

The exterior part of the mobile phone is completed with a port for the charger located on the left spine, along with a thin volume button on the right. The camera and its lens is also part of the Sony Ericsson W580i's exterior. The camera is located right on the siding face's rear part; hence taking pictures is possible with the slider lifted up. The camera has no flash and the phone offers no self-portrait mirror.

Standard of modernist phones, the Sony Ericsson W580i is able to store 1,000 of the user's contacts in its phone. The rest of the essentials include the vibrate mode, multimedia and text messaging, a voice recorder, alarm clock, a task list and calendar, a speakerphone, a notepad, a timer, a calculator and a stopwatch. The mobile phone's interface exudes a minimalist approach, but it allows skin colour and simple visualization selections. The Sony Ericsson W580i has a relatively low internal memory of 12 Megabytes; hence a micro card is the remedy.

The Sony Ericsson W580i also supports Bluetooth, an e-mail support, syncing capability with computers, USB and cable support. Additionally, the mobile phone allows coding for purposes of storing information that are deemed sensitive. The mobile phone also has a host of various fitness applications, capitalizing primarily on its being a famous Walkman handset.

Its other phone perks include an activities pedometer such as for jogging or walking, fitness trainer device that tracks workouts and sports trivia games. Interestingly, the Sony Ericsson W580i calculates the user's distance and time to be spent when walking to certain locations all over the world from his or her home city.

Being a Walkman phone, the Sony Ericsson W580i's built-in music player houses settings that are similar to standard music players', such as playlists, an equalizer and loop and shuffle modes, among others.

The Sony Ericsson W580i is even more popularized by the shake-control feature. While a song is playing, a user will simply flick his or her wrist while pushing the Walkman button to proceed to the following track.

The handset also allows its user to listen to FM radio. The MusicMate program shows the appropriate use of fingers when playing the piano or the guitar. The phone may also be used as metronome. The quadband W580i is also found to be satisfactory with respect to quality of voice calls.

While Sony Ericsson W580i's 2-Megapixel camera captures photos in great quality, the camera lacks a flash, while the phone itself does not offer a self-portrait mirror, which most flip-top and slider phones have. Also, users have observed that similar with other phones by Sony Ericsson, the absence of Talk and End buttons make it confusing, especially for new W580i owners. There have also been complaints regarding the cracking of the keys.

Though not entirely flawless, the Sony Ericsson W580i is relatively good in terms of performance and features. Users have appreciated the handset both for its usability and stunning appearance.

User Reviews

Based on an average user rating
Reviewed on 19th October 2009
by Sandeep , India

Sony Ericsson is one of the top, global, mobile phone manufacturers.
I use sony ericsson w580i its has got imaging features. now I would like to buy another for my best friend.

Reviewed on 12th November 2008
by praveen chand , india

I FELT THE SAME WHAT ALL OF U HAD. BUT IT'S DISPLAY DAMAGED TWO TIMES BETTER DON'T GO FOR THIS MOBILE THOUGH IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.NOW IT'S COST ABOUT 10,000 INDIAN RUPEES. IF U BUY THIS MOBILE THE PURCHASING COST MAY CLOSE TO 16,000 INDIAN RUPEES APPROXIMATELY.

Reviewed on 6th November 2008
by Amy , High Wycombe

I do like this phone loads, but The Sims 2 gets on my nerves, with the "wants" like "get married" then immeditately it says "get divorced"?? Anyone know any cheats?

Reviewed on 31st August 2008
by amy , UK

Don't let this phone fool you, its attractive and has great features but everyone I know, including myself that has it, it has broke.

Reviewed on 13th July 2008
by Keiron Hopkins , South Wales

An awesome phone by a great brand. It is one of the first Sony Ericsson Phones I have had and I have had it for about 5 months. Awesome for listening to music with a great clear sound on the speaker. Nice Sleak design and cathcy to the eye attarcts people as I have noticed that a lot of people have these phones have have all given it praise. I will be sure to get anotehr Sony Eircsson in the future as I feel this is a good phone and brand when you want a good design, Good for Music and a brand that has a good price tag as well. This phonoe has impressed me!

Reviewed on 9th June 2008
by amy , london

i love this phone when u have one u cant get overit i mean is the best phone ever i love it let me tell u something this phone is wwwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww i mean wow my friend told me not to get it beacuse it brakes and it is a lame phone then i said shut up it is the best phone evr i love it and it is going to be mine for ever and ever it is the best of phone evr i cant stop talking about i love it when it shakes and changing the song i my god anyway byexxxxxx
it is the best phone xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx kiss kisss kissssssss kissssssssss kissssssss kissssssss kisssssss kisssssssss

Reviewed on 2nd June 2008
by francesca , northamptonshire

the Sony Ericsson W580i i thought at first was a really pretty phone, with many features that drew me to it, such as the shake button where it changed the song when you pressed it, the coloured lights at the edge, and the funky design, however, after a few months of buying it, i regretted it. it wasnt durable, (with my old samsung, i cud drop it a million times and it wud still be perfect). the first time i dropped this Sony Ericsson W580i, the casing broke off, the screen fell out and detached.. i managed to fix it although the casing does not sit back properly.
the buttons have all cracked where i have used it and now about 4 of my buttons have fallen out, leaving it not unusable but very hard to use.
on the off occasion i have had it freeze or randomly turn off.
i spoke to a worker at 02 and they also said exactly the same, aswell as numerous friends. i wouldnt recommend it in the slightest, if you want a phone for a while that is pretty and stylish - this is the phone for you. if your lookin long term then it isnt.

Reviewed on 1st March 2008
by Abi , Wigan

well i fink this fone is a brilliant walkman fone the sound is great and it is really easy to download music onto in from ur p.c the camera is just ok not perfect but ok. if u really like music this is the fone for u it is available in grey & blue white&orange Pink and black&orange. p.s 1 slight problem is that the keys can crack easily from just general use.

Reviewed on 17th February 2008
by holly , nml.;

i think its grate but th batry life int

Reviewed on 2nd February 2008
by farzana , london

the w580i is good but 12mb memory is bad for a walkman phone it has 2 megapixel camera and a last longing battery time it counts your foot steps and running speed it comes in black grey pik or white

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