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(More customer reviews)I have had this phone for about 2 weeks now (picked it up at a local store), while my Nokia N95-3 has been in for repair. As it turns out, the repair is not covered by warranty, nor "repairable"; so I am left with the choice of keeping the k850i, or returning it for a new N95 (probably the new N95 8GB NAM, aka. N95-4, not yet on Amazon; but aside from the support of North American 3G bands, identical to the N95-2).
I am leaning towards the latter. Much as I despise the Nokia warranty/repair service, and much as the N95 build quality is really sub-par for a phone in this price range, and much as Nokia seems pretty arrogant w.r.t. releasing up-to-date models for the US market, there is really no match when it comes to the phone itself.
Keep in mind, despite all the annoucements at the MWC in February, the N95 and the k850i are STILL the ONLY TWO phone models with 5MP cameras available for the US market - they both have quad-band GSM radios as well as North American W-CDMA/3G (UMTS-850 and UMTS-1900) support.
Here are some of the things I liked about the k850 over the N95:
* Better industrial design (look & feel). (Small details such as a rubber edge on the back side that allows the device to sit more firmly on e.g. slanted surfaces..)
* More solid construction - better build quality
* Tri-band UMTS (supports 3G speeds worldwide; can be used in Japan, where there is no GSM/2G coverage, only UMTS-2100; with the N95, you have to choose between UMTS-850/UMTS-1900 for North America or UMTS-2100 for international use.).
* Keys are spaced out a bit more than on the N95 - easer to type.
* Details of the UI are better thought through - e.g. text typing key functions/feedback.
* Some nice bundled applications: Stopwatch/Timer (which are curiously missing from the N95), a built-in flashlight application (uses the autofocus LED), and a built-in "remote control" application that allows cursor/keyboard control of bluetooth-enabled computer (e.g. for presentations)
* Real XENON flash! (+++) While indoor pictures are not as good as with a real standalone pocket camera, they are definitely better than the N95.
* Quicker camera action (e.g. shutter lag).
* I quite liked the navigation pad w/center button on top - but see below.
* Slightly slimmer, while not adding too much to the length (like the Nokia N82, for instance).
* [When compared to the non-8GB models N95-1 and N95-3] The screen is flush with the frame, leaving no creacks where smudge builds up.And here are some cons:
* Smaller screen (2.2" vs. 2.6" or 2.8").
* Not a smartphone - can only run J2ME/Java apps. (Since Java is a "secure" language, this leaves some of the phones capabilities out of reach for such applications; for instance, something like the "RotateMe" application for the N95 would not be possible, since it needs to access the phone's accelerometer).
* No built-in GPS (but navigation applications such as the free AmazeGPS will work fine with an external Bluetooth GPS adapter).
* No video out, no infrared, no WiFi.
* No standard 2.5mm or 3.5mm headset jack
* Uneven tactile feedback: The soft keys are touch sensitive, while the the numeric keys and the navigation pad are quite firm (strong tactile feedback).
* Various limits (e.g. 5-alarm limit, 1000-entry phonebook limit, limited fields per contact, etc).
* The surface attracts more smudge/fingerprints (in part due to the touch-sensitive buttons; but also on the back/camera-side)
* Battery life sucks!! (People diss the N95 - but I have never come across something as bad as the k850i...)
* Video streaming [...] does not work on AT&T's network! This seems to be a bug/interoperability issue with all Sony Ericsson phones. Setting a streaming proxy in the connection profile does not help. On the other hand, it IS still possible to stream from another computer or device that is connected to the internet through the phone (via Bluetooth or USB). Thus, this may be related to UDP port number assignments.
* No easy way to quickly turn the device "offline" (ie. airplane mode) without restarting. (As to why, search google for "884 MHz GSM"). OTOH, alarms still ring if the device is turned off.
* Menu layout and idle screen soft keys are NOT customizable! (Why!?! Even the otherwise crappy MOTO RAZR/KRZR phones allow this!!)Other thoughts:
* It is a little bit expensive for the feature set, when compared to the N95. I picked this up at Frys Electronics, a local store, for $499; it can be had online for about $420. In contrast, the N95-3 can be bought for about $550 now, and the N95-4 (NAM 8GB model) for about $650.
* People complain about the touch-buttons not registering all the time. The trick is to aim for the actual label on the screen, not the buttons themselves. Doing this, I have no issues.
* With either phone, get a custom dash mount/charging cradle (e.g. from proclipusa.com). Depending on your car, you might want to get the second part, the vehicle mount, from PanaVise instead (such as the Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Toyota Sienna '04-'06)
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Ericsson K850i Cyber-shot Unlocked Cell Phone with 5 MP Camera, U.S./International 3G, Media Player, M2 Memory Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Velvet Blue)
Sony Ericsson's K850 Cyber-shot phone makes it a breeze to stay in close communication with your contacts as well as snap brilliant photos on the go. It has a 5-megapixel autofocus lens and a Xenon flash for low-light conditions, and it's also loaded with a bevy of photographic features including multi-shot and video capture. The quad-band K850 GSM/EDGE phone is also ready to run on 3G networks here in the US (tri-band 850/1900/2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes a stellar digital audio player, FM radio, Bluetooth stereo music streaming, Memory Stick Micro (M2) expansion, and up to 9 hours of talk time.
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.
Phone Features The K850 has a 2.2-inch TFT screen with a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and support for 256K colors. It features a blue backlit five-way navigation pad built into the numeric keypad, and the gunmetal gray body is accented by a blue stripe running down the side. The phone has a 40 MB memory (which can be expanded using optional Memory Stick Micro media), and it can store up to 1000 contact entries. The phone will also display the 30 most recent dialed/received/missed calls.
An automatic lens cover keeps the 5-megapixel lens on the back of the phone protected, and it includes a xenon flash for a burst of high-intensity light at just the right moment. An image stabilizer compensates for those small movements, reducing the chance that your photo comes out blurred. The BestPic function gives you nine chances to capture the precise moment you want. As well as your shot, the phones take four images as you press the button, and another four afterwards. Pick the one you want, trash the rest. Select the Photo Fix function to improve pictures that you think can be better. In a one-click operation, brightness, light and contrast are adjusted to give you the best possible picture. Other photographic features include a 16x digital zoom, red-eye reduction, picture blogging capabilities, and video capture (up to QVGA at 30 fps).
The digital audio player is compatible with a wide variety of formats, including MP3, AAC/AAC+, and WMA. Additionally, you can play MPEG4 and 3GPP videos. With the TrackID service, you can identify any song that you can hear by just recording a snippet of sound using the microphone. After sending the file for recognition, you'll have the name, artist and album sent to your phone. It also includes a built-in FM radio with RDS, which displays the name of the currently playing song (when tuned to compatible radio stations).
This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity with EDR (enhanced data rate), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and audio/video remote control. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.
If you're looking for a mobile productivity partner, the K850 has you covered. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, and sound via MMS messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging possibilities. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.
The phone also ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3 and IMAP4 protocols, while the included Access NetFront Web Browser allows you to surf full HTML web sites. The K850 also supports RSS feeds, allowing you to use your phone to view up-to-the-minute news and other content from selected Web sites and blogs. Just subscribe to the feed and let it come to you.
Other features include:
Speakerphone
Polyphonic ringtones (72-chord), vibrating alert
Multi-language support: English, Spanish, French
Motion sensor for automatic rotation of UI
PictBridge direct printing from phone over USB
Airplane mode allows you to safely use the non-wireless functions of a phone (music, games, or organizer functions) on an airplane during flight or in other situations where you need to turn off your cellular connection.
PIM tools: Calendar, tasks, notes, timer, alarm clock, calculator
Bluetooth profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PAN (personal area networking), PBA (transfer contacts)
Vital Statistics The Sony Ericsson K850 weighs 4.2 ounces and measures 4 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches. Its 930 mAh lithium-polymer battery is rated at up to 9 hours of GSM talk time (3.5 hours using the 3G network), and up to 400 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies, as well as 850/1900/2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA frequencies.
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