Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I switched to this phone from the Sony Ericsson W600i due to very inconvenient circumstances [don't get me wrong, I love the W600i, but I couldn't get a new one because it's been discontinued by Cingular]. In any case, this is an all around good phone for anyone on a budget, especially since amazon is offering it for 1 cent right now (I paid $50).
As far as it's functionality as a phone goes, it works perfectly.It has all the functions you would expect from a cell phone. 9 speed-dials, upto 750 contacts (500 in the phone, 250 in the SmartChip SIM card), last calls made, missed calls, received calls, etc. There is a speakerphone function, which works great. It's just as clear as any other call you would make. I know it's not necessary for the average cellphone user, but there are times when it can be convenient.
The organizer includes standard alarm capabilities, a calendar, note pad, timer, stopwatch, and calculator. There shouldn't be too much to explain here.
The design is very attractive. If you don't like the face plate color, you can get one customized. The key pad is very well backlit and comfortably sized for those with larger or clumsier fingers. The phone is also very light weight, though not so light that it's easy to drop. Some people aren't that fond of the antennae style, but it's grown on me. It's really a personal preference. As a bonus, there are lights surrounding the keypad that you can set to light up when you receive calls or text messages. I'm a sucker for lights, so I love this little gimmick. In short, this phone is very pleasing to the eye. An excellent choice for anyone that wants to stay away from the "stylish" RAZR look. The display is clear and has adjustable brightness. There are a few included "themes" for the display, and if you're not happy with any of them, you can download new ones. The external display is also very nice. From the external display, you can see the time, date, service bars, and approximate battery life.
The sound is very clear. I've been using Cingular since it merged with AT&T and have never had a problem with the clarity of my calls. The Z525a has a speaker on the back of the phone, which is certainly loud enough to share tunes with your friends. The only problem with that is the limited memory. At 16MB of internal space, you'll be lucky to get 5 songs on this phone. If you use this space solely for ringtones you'll be fine, but don't buy this phone thinking you can load it up with MP3s. Also, this phone doesn't include the FM tuner software that the W600i had. I don't quite understand why this feature was left out seeing as how the handsfree stereo headphones (which came with the W600i, but you'll have to buy separately) functioned as the antennae for the FM tuner, rather than the phone. I have an iPod for my music needs, so this doesn't totally kill me, but it's sort of a letdown.
The camera is just what it should be for a camera phone. Resolution comes in 160x120, 320x240, 640x480, and "Extended" which I believe is 1280x960. I personally don't take pictures that often with my phone, but these resolution settings should meet your expectations for a camera phone. If you're looking for digital camera quality pictures, I'd recommend simply getting a digital camera. There's no flash on this camera either (the W600i had one which could double as a light). There's also a noticable discoloration in pictures, at least in indoor pictures. The camera also functions as a video recorder, but again, I don't use the camera feature too often.
The phone has standard text messaging and multimedia messaging features, as well as AIM, Yahoo Messenger, and ICQ, but just as you'd expect, there are charges for these features which will depend on your service plan. This phone is also capable of checking your e-mail via POP3 and internet access which has become pretty standard in the cellphone world. I don't use this feature either, as any internet usage is charged at 1 cent/KB (that's $10 for a megabyte!!).
The PTT (Push To Talk) button is positioned outside and is very easy to accidentally press. It hasn't caused any problems for me because I don't have a subscription to it, so when I push it, a message simply appears the next time I open the phone asking me If i want to set it up. However, if you were to subscribe to PTT, you can have the button locked so that you need to do a certain key sequence to prevent accidentally incurring charges.
I can't review the Bluetooth or Infrared capabilities of the phone because I don't have any other devices that support it, but this phone does have them.
I don't really know what else to say about this phone. It's great for anyone that's looking for style, wants to keep away from the Motorolas, and is on a short budget. If you're willing to spend more money, by all means, go and get an imported unlocked phone. I was considering getting a W300i or a W800i, but decided I wanted to save a little money and settled with the Z525a. The only real major complaint I have about this phone is the low, non-upgradable internal memory. It's probably what helps make the phone so affordable, but it'd be nice to at least have something like 128MB (the W600i had 256). Also, if you have a USB cable (not included), you might need to download the PC Suite software from the Sony Ericsson website. I used my cable from my W600i, so I wouldn't know if a USB cable bought separately would include the appropriate software.
I hope I answered any questions you might have about this phone, and if you get one, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Also, please forgive all my comparisons to the W600i, but I still miss that phone.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Ericsson Z525a - Cellular phone - GSM - folder (flip) - new blue - AT&T
This update to the venerable Sony-Ericsson Z500a adds Bluetooth, support for quad-band roaming, and lighted keypad animations. Plus, the Z525a is compatible with Cingular's exciting push-to-talk service, making instant communication just a button away at all times. Like its predecessor, the phone sports dual screens, a VGA camera with video capabilities and support for high-speed EDGE data networks.
Design Sony-Ericsson's reputation for cutting edge design is well represented with the Z525a. There's a 128 x 160 display housed under the cover while the outside sports a supplementary 101 x 80 color screen that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The VGA (640 x 480) camera is housed on the front cover as well. The z525a uses an internal antenna-- nothing to snag or break off-- and a five-way button just above the dial pad is used to control most of the phone's menus and features. Up/down buttons on the left side of the phone can be used for quick volume control and menu navigation. USB data and charging ports, as well as a headset port, are located on the phone's bottom edge. And because the z525a's front and rear faceplates are changeable with Sony-Ericsson Style-Up covers, you can dress it up to suit your style. Color light effects around the keypad complete the calling and messaging experience.
Calling Features The Z525a's phone book can hold up to 510 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The phone's voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. The phone also features a speakerphone for easy, hands-free talking. In addition to a vibrating alert, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. There's even a bundled application that lets you mix your own ringtones with up to 16 tracks. Meanwhile, more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia Net wireless web service. Picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. And don't forget that the Z525a's Bluetooth radio lets you use a wide range of wireless headsets for handsfree calling.
Cingular Push To Talk is a walkie-talkie type service that allows you to instantly reach others by eliminating the dialing and ringing steps in a regular cellular call. Push-to-talk calls can be made to one person or to a group of people. Choose Cingular Push-To-Talk as an add-on service to your voice plan to enable the service on the Z525a. Cingular's unique service allows you to see who is available before you initiate a call. Plus, you can place yourself in "do not disturb" mode if you do not want to receive push-to-talk calls.
Messaging, Internet, and Tools The Z525a has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Instant messaging clients for ICQ, AOL, and Yahoo! are also included and the phone ships with a built-in email client.
Getting on the Internet is easy with the z525a. It supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the high speed EDGE data protocol. When used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's USB and Bluetooth data capabilities, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia Net downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. 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.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the z525a, including a voice memo recorder, a to-do list, a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock with a timer and stopwatch. Sony Ericsson Sync Station software lets you synchronize your Microsoft Outlook calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your Z525a.
Imaging and Entertainment The Z525a was designed for serious fun. The built-in VGA camera captures stills and video (up to 60 seconds) to the phone's 16MB of internal memory. Picture effects and custom screensavers, backgrounds, and themes can be set up to fit your personality.
Java support is built into the Z525a, making it a powerful gaming companion for both online and offline games. Games are downloadable via the MEdia Net service or you can use the handset's USB or Bluetooth data connection to load more games and files onto the phone.
Vital Statistics The Sony-Ericsson Z525a weighs 3.46 ounces and measures 3.27 x 1.81 x 0.94 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 12.5 days of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
