Sony Ericsson S500 Review: Emotion vs Reason

Sony Ericsson S500i Quadband GSM Cell Phone - Mysterious Green

The slider form factor debuts in the company's S line and in fact, this is the first Sony Ericsson slider that's not a Walkman. Speaking of which, Sony Ericsson S500 is a W580 in disguise. And some disguise it is: with this slim slider almost everything is staked on design. Nature-inspired patterns, audacious paintjobs and light effects all make sure the S500 won't go unnoticed.

Some official photos of Sony Ericsson S500

Key features

• Size: 99 x 47 x 14 mm, 94 g
• Slim slider body
• Appealing design and color options
• Dynamic themes and wallpaper animation
• Light effects
• Good keypad
• Good 256K-color QVGA display
• M2 memory card support, up to 2GB
• 2-megapixel camera
• Email client and RSS-feed reader
• A2DP enabled Bluetooth
• Quad band support, GPRS and EDGE Class 10

Main disadvantages

• Only 12MB of integrated memory
• No indicator of missed events
• Not operable without SIM
• No autofocus and flash
• No FM radio
• Awkward handling of SIM card and rear cover

Conclusion

Sony Ericsson S500 is a mid-range slider of slim design and daring exterior, which offers very standard, not to say unoriginal, functionality. Available for around 225 Euro, the S500 is easily challenged by a number of Sony Ericsson models offering respectable functions in this price range. Which way you will go is just up to you.

Comparison with Sony Ericsson W580 is inevitable; paying a little extra to get this exciting Walkman is an option worth considering

The S500 will easily appeal to the senses, but the Walkman W580 could well be the more reasonable option. FM radio, fitness application, superior headset, and a 512-MB memory card are enough features to make the Walkman phone worth the additional investment.

(Read full review on GSMArena.com...)
Sony Ericsson S500 specification