vB Easy Archive - My K810i Review

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My K810i Review
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Posted by: Menelaus

Hi Guys, I upgraded from my loyal and trustworthy w810i to the new K810i today.

I have spent the best part of the day playing around with it, and as it is a relatively new model on the market I thought I would share my first impressions.

Out of the box, the phone (T Mobile UK) was shipped in slick packaging with a standard SE charger, a USB link, 128 mb Memory stick micro and a hands free/ Radio antenna.

Size wise it is similar to the K800i, although it is slightly slimmer (and visibly so), and the camera cover at the back is integrated into the casing (which for some reason was not on the K8001) which is the reason for the smaller dimensions.

Style wise, I really love the look, it is far, far superior (imo) to the K800i, it looks more sophisticated and professional, and feels great to hold. The front panel has a glass feel and the buttons feel like metal (I'm not sure that they are). It is certainly one of the better looking candy bar phones I have seen in a long time. There are slimmer phones out there, and maybe they could have gone slightly slimmer, but I actually prefer the fact that I can hold the phone firmly in my hand, some of the slimmer Samsungs just feel uncomfortable when you are holding them. I also hate Razr style touch sensitive buttons, so I am glad that when you press the buttons on the K810i there is a nice responsive feel. You will soon get accustomed to the round shape, and if you are a man (or have big hands) you will quickly appreciate that they are actually more ergonomic to use. There is a clear space between the buttons and I love the way that the back lighting work.

The screen is as sharp as the K800i, I do not think there is much difference, it seems brighter to me when compared to the k800i and slightly crisper, but that may be down to the fact that the phone I was comparing it to was 8 months old.

Of course there is a joystick, some people love them others hate them. I got very accustomed to the w810i D-pad and was slightly sceptical, but after 5 minutes I was left wondering how I had managed so long without a joystick, it is a matter of personal preference, but it does make things so much easier...

The speaker is great, no more crackling ringtones that blight most SE phones. Oh, on the subject of ringtones, I can confirm 110% that despite the rumours MP3 ringtones are available as standard. The loud speaker works well (not the loudest in the world, but more than reasonable).

The same easy customisation is available as other SE models in the same bracket, so themes, games, screensavers etc.. can be changed at will.

I have unlimited web use, so I browsed the Internet quite a bit today, and found no problems at all. Some people hate the SE browser, i don't really mind it, and you can always use Opera if you are not happy. I have been using Yahoo mail with no problems, with the server being checked every 5 minutes for new emails.

The menus are super fast, in fact faster than previous phones. When you turn the phone on, there is literally a few seconds before you can dive straight into your phone book, photos etc..

The volume is nice and loud, although I would have liked it a tad louder, the vibrate works well.

The camera is still the best camera on the market (including the 5mpx N95), and I am speaking from experience. My friend had an N95 (replaced 2 times by O2 due to faults) and I have been comparing it to the N95 photos, and I must say I prefer the K810i. As an aside my friend changed his handset to a K810i too!

Battery life is what you would expect from an SE. When the phone arrived it had a half full battery, I wanted to kill it so I can give it a nice fresh charge so I used the phone non stop for about 6 hours before it finally died, including 1 hour of calls, and non stop Bluetooth and Internet use.

I have tried the music player, it seems OK, I did not buy it for a Walkman though, I use an iPod for music, and preferred a solid camera that could be with me at all times. However, if someone is to use it as a music player it will suffice, but I think if you want an iPod replacement you should look at the walkman range.

There is very little that I have not liked, if anything my one minor complaint will be that the screen does not stay on as long as I would like. I know it is a power save feature, but I would like the option of keeping the screen on for slightly longer than the default 30 seconds.

Overall this is a great phone, maybe a bit too similar to the K800 (although far better looking, and dare I say it faster), however for those looking for a new phone who do not have the K800, then this is a no brainer.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask away. I have not added any photos as we all know what it looks like, unless someone has a specific pic that they want.

Cheers

Posted by: raj2k

Nice review, cheers mate. Could you please post some pictures taken with the phone indoor and outdoor. Thanks

Posted by: junkiejoe

Pix of the phone in comparison to others too. Thanks

Posted by: BlueCalx

OP - I, too, got a K810 a few days ago as well! I had been using a W810 for about the last 6 months...

A question for you - How's your earpiece volume and sound quality? Is it muffled or missing 'highs' or any treble? Mine's not as good as the W810...

Posted by: methodz

i just got the k810 too from plemix. they gave me a 512 chip though.

i like the phone, but i prefer the styling of the k800 minus the camera door. i think the k800 has a cooler style to it. i like the curved silver bevel of the k800 as opposed to the straight bevel in the k810. plus i like the brushed aluminum look.

i also found the menu buttons around the joystick a bit tough to press. not hard to hit or locate, but i needed to give it a firm press to activate. i found myself thinking i pressed it when i really didn't.

BUT, functionality-wise i love the phone. does everything i need it to do. and the slimmer profile is definitely a plus. i wonder if that joystick mod will work for this phone, i may pay the $10 to find out, it sure would help. menus are fast. god, i had to return a moto rizr because it was sooooo slow, this is a good change of pace. i also came from a w810i and find this phone as a great upgrade.

Posted by: Menelaus

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueCalx

OP - I, too, got a K810 a few days ago as well! I had been using a W810 for about the last 6 months...

A question for you - How's your earpiece volume and sound quality? Is it muffled or missing 'highs' or any treble? Mine's not as good as the W810...

My earpiece volume is not bad, I think I would say it is the same as the W810i. Sound quality, there is a different sound to the W810, I think you are right, there is less treble, and the sound is slightly more bassey. This gives it a richer sound, but I agree it can take getting used to if you are accustomed to the treble higher pitched W810. On the plus side, I have experienced no crackling at all.

Posted by: Menelaus

Quote:

Originally Posted by methodz

i just got the k810 too from plemix. they gave me a 512 chip though.

i like the phone, but i prefer the styling of the k800 minus the camera door. i think the k800 has a cooler style to it. i like the curved silver bevel of the k800 as opposed to the straight bevel in the k810. plus i like the brushed aluminum look.

i also found the menu buttons around the joystick a bit tough to press. not hard to hit or locate, but i needed to give it a firm press to activate. i found myself thinking i pressed it when i really didn't.

BUT, functionality-wise i love the phone. does everything i need it to do. and the slimmer profile is definitely a plus. i wonder if that joystick mod will work for this phone, i may pay the $10 to find out, it sure would help. menus are fast. god, i had to return a moto rizr because it was sooooo slow, this is a good change of pace. i also came from a w810i and find this phone as a great upgrade.

Styling is indeed a personal choice, some designs are more popular than others but ultimately it is down to personal taste, and there is nothing wrong with that!

As for the buttons, I tried a k810i fresh out of a box in an 02 shop, and the buttons and joystick were as stiff as hell. They were so stiff I actually thought that it would be uncomfortable to use the phone. Thankfully when mine arrived (T-Mobile) the stiffness was not there, and after a little use (playing worms lol), everything feels quite natural, and less stiff than my W810 D-pad.

Posted by: Menelaus

Here are various pics taken inside, with different settings. I'll have some outdoor photos tomorrow, as I am a bit busy today. I'll also get some comparison photos up.

The first three are taken at maximum resolution, and I have shot the same scene with different settings.

The photos below were taken on the VGA setting:

Posted by: Tehy

Interesting review! thanks!

Posted by: beca

thanks for the review! =)

Posted by: GiantRobo

Um, do you honestly think those pictures are good quality? Is that the best the K810 can do? Please, take no offense. I'm thinking about getting the K810 because I like the style and form factor. But those pictures are considerably worse than what my N73 can do indoors.

Posted by: Angelguy_3

I had the SE K810i for just over a week now, and I must say I am really happy with it. I had the Sharp 903 before the K810i the camera on that is really good but on places where it's well lit.

Before choosing the K810i I had ago with the N95, I must say I was really impressed with the quality of the picture. I opted for the K810i because I was attracted to the Xenon flash and the camera takes pictures faster than the N95.

The only thing I am disappointed with the K810i's video quality, even if you set it to the "high quality" setting it is still pretty poor. The phone looks really nice but the stylish small buttons makes it hard to text.

Posted by: clickk

Those can't be the quality of the pictures taken at 3MP... Even the VGA look better than that, and my K800i can take nicer looking pictures....

Posted by: onlySE

that aint 3mp pics man!!....oh and how about some pics of the phone??? really like that!!

Posted by: lets_be_friends

can you use hotmail on this phone?

Posted by: grmorrow04

Do you think SE figured out how to prevent problems with the joystick in the K810?

I know several people that have had issues w/ the joystick in the previous model (K790/K800).

Posted by: aaf evo

how could u say the k810 camera is better than the n95?

the quality of the n95's picture if far more superior than the k810, those pictures dont even look clear at all... and the LED flashes on the n95 are actually quite bright, i know they're no xenon, but still bright, and the 30 fps vga on n95 destroys the k810's qcif...

Posted by: SharpST77

can u take some better pics with the k810?

even my k750 takes better pics than that and im about to get a k810

Posted by: BlueCalx

Here are some live shots of my K810 (with my W810 beside it in some pics for comparison)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraw...57600233137680/

I put a martinfields screen protector on it today! Looks great!

Posted by: SharpST77

i got a K810 as a gift from my aunt

she got it for 3030 HK which is about 388 USD

btw, she bought it in Macau

Posted by: unlock26

I wonder if its possible to change to k810 housing(complete) on k800?
hmm

Posted by: frankencowx

im coming from an s710 and id say the k810i is a pretty friggin sweet upgrade, however its a smudgey fingerprint madhouse if youre one of those neat freaks.

Posted by: Paul in SoCal

No issues without having 850 band?

Posted by: BlueCalx

Wirelessly posted (W810i: SonyEricssonK810i/R1KG Browser/NetFront/3.3 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in SoCal

No issues without having 850 band?

Not with me - i live in upstate SC. This phone gets a great signal everywhere around here...

Posted by: BlueCalx

Wirelessly posted (W810i: SonyEricssonK810i/R1KG Browser/NetFront/3.3 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul in SoCal

No issues without having 850 band?

Not with me - i live in upstate SC. This phone gets a great signal everywhere around here...

Posted by: marktang

very nice phone

Posted by: frankencowx

im in GA and im getting better reception than when i had 850

Posted by: hybrid.09

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaf evo

how could u say the k810 camera is better than the n95?

the quality of the n95's picture if far more superior than the k810, those pictures dont even look clear at all... and the LED flashes on the n95 are actually quite bright, i know they're no xenon, but still bright, and the 30 fps vga on n95 destroys the k810's qcif...

He said faster, not better

Posted by: dairyboi

appreciate the review bud
this will be my phone in a couple of days =)

Posted by: fung_pi

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlock26

I wonder if its possible to change to k810 housing(complete) on k800?
hmm

no its not the two phones have different dimensions

Posted by: jaycee916

Quote:

Originally Posted by GiantRobo

Um, do you honestly think those pictures are good quality? Is that the best the K810 can do? Please, take no offense. I'm thinking about getting the K810 because I like the style and form factor. But those pictures are considerably worse than what my N73 can do indoors.

I agree my k790a didnt fair to well indoors and even my w810i and my old k550i take crummy pictures in doors?? awesome phone BTW the NO buldge camera cover looks more friendly to the pocket!!!!

Posted by: methodz

yeah, those are pretty crappy pics.

i have a k810 also. there must be something up with your camera. maybe you got a smudge on your lens or something because mine isn't nearly as crappy.

Posted by: fung_pi

these are pics taken with my k810...

Posted by: kakumi

Hi guys, i've just bought this k810 yesterday, and give it a full 8hrs charge. After that play around with the menu and transfer 34pic from my panasonic hp to this thru infra. sending ard total of 20msg and a call less than 10min. now yet to 24hrs from the start i use this hp, the batt life left 42%. Do those who have this hp occur the same problem?

Posted by: fung_pi

Quote:

Originally Posted by kakumi

Hi guys, i've just bought this k810 yesterday, and give it a full 8hrs charge. After that play around with the menu and transfer 34pic from my panasonic hp to this thru infra. sending ard total of 20msg and a call less than 10min. now yet to 24hrs from the start i use this hp, the batt life left 42%. Do those who have this hp occur the same problem?

that sounds pretty normal to me, turn down your screen brightness?

Posted by: kakumi

Quote:

Originally Posted by fung_pi

that sounds pretty normal to me, turn down your screen brightness?

Thank for the fast reply.
But i thought that during standby mode, it can last 400hrs looking at the spec? of course i'm not aiming for that, but at least able to last for around 3-4days or even 5days w/o heavy usage. is mine starting consider heavy usage? now it left 35% after 24hrs,so it won't be able to last till 48hrs? is it better to charge the hp after it drain off completely or ard 40%?

yupz, my screen brightness is at 100%, just change it, thanks.

Posted by: fung_pi

Quote:

Originally Posted by kakumi

transfering the 34 pics should have taken quite a large amount, i usually charge my phone around 15-20%, and its worked fine for me...the 400 hours of standby time is if you don't use your phone at all and just leave it there...maybe you should consider buying a 2nd battery

Posted by: jaycee916

Hi hows the earpeice volume on that *****?

My k790a had the plain jane music player white themed and i remember someone stating that the k800 has walkman2.0 is that true and does the k810 have WM2.0 also?

Posted by: kakumi

Quote:

Originally Posted by fung_pi

Maybe you're right, 34pics transfer in infra took large amount of energy. will wait after the 2nd charged and see if there's a different. Thanks lot.

There's a metallic strip around the whole phone. Just beside the M2 storage card,this metallic area has a little ‘pop out’, and you’re able to press it in with a tiny movement of maybe 1mm. Does this happen to user of k810 here?

Posted by: SheKKi

Quote:

Originally Posted by fung_pi

these are pics taken with my k810...

haha black man tooth paste!!

i was just in tapei for the past 3 weeks... so fun over there. but sooo hot. i took some pix with my k800, but it was really cloudy that day around 101.

Posted by: Kricket

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaf evo

really? does your n95 have that purplish tint problem? would you mind posting a few pictures?

i dont really care about video - but the still-shot capabilities are pretty important for me...

Posted by: fung_pi

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheKKi

haha black man tooth paste!!

i was just in tapei for the past 3 weeks... so fun over there. but sooo hot. i took some pix with my k800, but it was really cloudy that day around 101.

lol i love that toothpaste
its been raining pretty hard last few days so its been pretty cool...supposed to rain all week...

Posted by: sony83

the phone is a finger print magnet all around the screen and keypad..other than that it is a SEXY phone

Posted by: Dilbert83

Just updated my k810i to R6CA001 through wotan. Seems to be orange only at the moment.

Posted by: flexwong

it seems many of you have used this phone for a few months now and i just want to know if you guys have experienced any major problems, such as software issues and such. cuz i read on other threads how some people were experiencing problems such as a white screen etc.

Posted by: bigasif

Quote:

Originally Posted by flexwong

it seems many of you have used this phone for a few months now and i just want to know if you guys have experienced any major problems, such as software issues and such. cuz i read on other threads how some people were experiencing problems such as a white screen etc.

Nothing from me yet. I have 2 of them, one golden ivory, the other noble blue. I've had the ivory for about 3 months, but call timer is still super low. The noble blue, I just got less than a month back, but I still use them both, and I haven't experienced a single problem. Great battery life, great RF for no 850 band, no random shut-downs or White-Screen-Of-Death, just great! However, the white screen seems to be an issue with almost all SE's, but its just a rare case. It happened with my previous K800i, but was a quick fix by flashing through wotan.

K810 is great! Just attracts fingerprints like a ******.

Posted by: flexwong

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigasif

that's great. also answers my question regarding reception b/c i live in scarborough as well and use fido. fingerprints, i don't worry too much. my laptop cover is full of them but w/e. lol.

Posted by: Paul in SoCal

Just picked a K810i up and while I think it is aesthetically better looking than the K790a I'm less than pleased with the build quality. It's rather cheap IMO. The faceplate is plastic and after 3 days of light use I can push down on the corner by the # button a millimeter or so making a less than pleasant creaking noise. The round buttons are great, but overall I'm not so crazy about the build quality compared to the K790a. It's a shame the call/end/back buttons are plastic as well. Camera cover is an obvious improvement, as is the lighter weight, but I may be reverting back to the K790a at this point.

Posted by: dannie520

Got the phone last month & my mate got Nokia N95. The N95 has loads of problems with the software, not to mention a battery that needs to be connected to the mains everyday (yes, it's a semi mobile phone! ).

If you want a phone that is GREAT as a phone (fully mobile) & does more & is a proper camera get the Sony Ericsson K810i.

If you want a flash but rubbish phone that tries to do everything & loses the plot along the way, get the N95 (the screen & 5MP camera are amazing - but you couldn't careless when you're on a phone call & it gives low battery warning).

The K810i even has 'spot metering' & you can do 'depth of field' shots where the bit you didn't focus on is blurred, like pro cameras! I kid you not.

There is a K850 with 5 Megapixel camera on the way, so you may wish to hold on to your money till then.

K810i = GOOD PHONE (Since it's still relatively new it could do with more language sets being available on the firmware).

Posted by: fts3v3r

Just got my k810i today and I noticed that even with my ringtone volume is turned up to the max, it's still unbelievably soft... Anyone experiencing this?

Posted by: grigev

Quote:

Originally Posted by fts3v3r

Just got my k810i today and I noticed that even with my ringtone volume is turned up to the max, it's still unbelievably soft... Anyone experiencing this?

Ya i had that same problem but i forget where i got all the files and got it to be almost as loud as my old w810i. Also another question why is it that almost everyone that got this phone in this thread had a w810i like me before?

Posted by: SBS_Transit

Erm may i know wats the latest firmware currently ?

I also have problems focusing my macro shots, sometimes it possible to focus, sometimes it doesnt. The distance is about 10cm. Is there anything that i have done wrong for macro shots ?
Thanks

Posted by: gatherer

great review