Hands-on preview: Sony Ericsson G705

First uncovered in July and announced back in September, the Sony Ericsson G705 is a phone intended for the mid-end market.

It certainly looks good, and has some pretty nice features, but I’ll be the first to say that I find its familiar slider form factor quite boring. I find it hard to believe that this is the best a joint venture such as Sony’s and Ericsson’s can do for a new model.

Not to be mistaken with the Sony Ericsson W705, the Sony Ericsson G705 is not a Walkman phone. Although, both of the phones just mentioned are actually one and the same, only with a few features swapped or completely taken away.

Before anything else, here are the Sony Ericsson G705’s key features:

– GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSDPA 2100 support
– GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS/HSUPA 850/1900/2100 support for US edition
– 3.2 megapixel camera
– GPS receiver with A-GPS support
– Wi-Fi connectivity with DLNA certification
– Built in accelerometer with web support
– Stereo bluetooth
– FM radio with RDS
– Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync support
– 1GB M2 memory card

Here is the handset pictured with the slider closed. The 2.4 inch QVGA display is bright as usual for a Sony Ericsson, and it shows a once again familiar user interface. The exact same one found in many other recently released Sony Ericsson handsets, actually. The menu can be accessed by pressing the round button dead center, and every key press triggers a quick vibration that sort of feels like haptic feedback.

Beneath the display, there’s an array of hotkeys, including left and right softkeys, a 5-way d-pad, customizable shortcut key and on/off switch. Pressing any of these keys, too, triggers a mild vibration.

Turning the handset on its back, we are greeted with a standard 3.2-megapixel camera. There’s nothing special about it, just an aperture through which a user can see and capture photos, and it’s accompanied by a round LED-flash.

Picture quality was so bad that I couldn’t get anything worth posting, but maybe the fact that the camera lens had a plastic sheet covering it had something to do with it. And no, I couldn’t remove that plastic sheet, even if I wanted to. If that’s the case, then expect picture quality from the G705’s camera to be on par with other 3.2-megapixel camera-equipped Sony Ericsson phones.

Though it’s not a dedicated Walkman phone, the Sony Ericsson G705 features a dedicated music key on top, where the on/off switch of a gadget is usually found. This comes in handy when you need or want to listen to music without pressing too many keys. And as for the sound quality, well, I wasn’t disappointed. But then again, I didn’t expect much, since it wasn’t a Walkman that can be expected to blast out sounds of the best quality.

I wasn’t able to try out the Web browser, but with HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity, doing so should be pretty speedy. I doubt if it will be any good for the user-experience, though, since Sony Ericsson phone web browsers hardly have any commendable features.

Overall, this handset will serve right for the mid-end market, though it will probably leave some users wanting more. It’s got a camera, but it’s not a Cyber-Shot. It’s got a music player, but it’s not a Walkman. It’s got Wi-Fi and GPS, but it’s not a smartphone. Only those users which are fairly easy to please will find satisfaction in the Sony Ericsson G705’s apparent appearance as a jack-of-all-trades.

Peek at more hands on photos of the Sony Ericsson G705 in the gallery below.

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Posted on 19 Nov 08 - Filed in Sony Ericsson, Wireless, reviews - Comments - Written by David Gonzales

  • MartinS
    I own the pretty G705 almost three months now and I want to share my experiences to others:

    Pros:
    - Solidly manufatured, precious finish
    - pretty design
    - Pretty good display
    - Slide-Mechanism reliable and stable
    - Extended Bluetooth (multiple simultaneous connections possible)
    - Beautiful view of newsfeeds

    Cons:
    - Incomplete and incorrect instructions
    - Support useless and incompetent
    - Uncontrolled Internet-DialUpl/Data connection
    - Sync Function / ActiveSycn does not work
    - Faulty telephone conference function
    - Poor voice quality
    - Integrated Speaker is bad (hands-free talking impossible)
    - Silver / lacquer buttons to scroll from
    - Keyboards notchy, poor ergonomics
    - No full support for handsfree (SE HCB 150)
    - Slow processor, navigation notchy
    - System crashes and slow reboot
    - cumbersomely switch to Flight Mode
    - Docking station / charger connection (CDS-75) notchy/ refractory

    - Power settings can not adapted
    - Wayfinder navigation software is only 30 days trial
    - Useless camera (no flash, miserable quality recording)
    - Moderate browser
    - Slow and unreliable automatic screen-tilting
    - Integrated media support insufficient


    To make it short, I can recommend this phone anyone. Neither private users, yet professional. By looking pitted controls (paint peeling from), the G705 does not aesthetic requirements. Due to faulty communication functions (no telephone conference, no ActiveSync), it is unsuitable for business use.

    In detail:
    Given the positive attributes are self explanatory, I will not dwell on it received. Some of the listed negative qualities but need further explanation.

    The flight mode is inaccessible because it can only be achieved when the phone restarts. Anyone who flies a lot, the phone alone, do not like.

    The guide beggars all description. Although it is in all languages, but who needs it anyway? More important is the fact that neither the icons displayed in the phone explained, yet this self-explanatory. One can only guess, and often is confused, not just whether something is running that you do not want. Basic features are only superficially described, if you encounter serious problems, can be found in the manual does not help. The Sony Ericsson support is there but not much better. You get bland-lump answers in a "look at the website for" or "download the latest system software" (neither is the support site with detailed / helpful, yet there has been new system software). Whoever having problems with the Sony Ericsson G705, is on its own.

    Who the phone with RSS feeds / subscribe to news, will be experiencing the wonders of blue, because a restriction to "local connections" as its own wireless LAN, will be offered, it works but not so continuously for Internet-Einwahl/Datenverbindung costs incurred. At 5 subscribed feeds were with me within two months, at least about 300 euros!
    Also on the topic news feeds fits is not customizable power saving setting. The screen darkens after 20 seconds and then it is to read over, unless you press a button to set the phone to resuscitate.

    Active Sync was on my G705 not get the service record. I previously used the Sony Ericsson P1i, which is after initial software update with the same settings as in the G705 now easily worked. Again, no help from Sony Ericsson support. And after three months still no software update that some of the "teething problems" would eliminate.

    The function of telephone conferences to lead will be offered, but it does not. It can simultaneously select different Gespärchspartner, but unfortunately, the Verbingungspartner then not to attend a conference together.

    The kit I angeschaft since integrated speakers G705 flawed. He is quiet and scheppert. One understands the caller just bad. Unfortunately, the Sony Ericsson G705 but not easily with the handsfree HCB 150 together. Although the pairs work / connect easily, but calls can not be free from the start or be adopted, otherwise the sound is automatically transferred to your phone is. This brings the need for and the actual function of the free, ad absurdum.

    Overall, the Sony Ericsson is responding too slowly G705, which is probably on the weak processor, or a poorly programmed software system is due. Who is a small Add-On A charging (eg, CDS-75), will not be too much joy to her, because the phone is sideways in the contacts made and the charging can not be easy to solve. Is the G705 in the charging station, the receiving of calls to be patient sample, because the phone is because of the idiotic mounted connector is simply not fast enough from the charging station can be removed.

    Abstract:
    After only three months of use, a list of significant deficiencies resulting length. If there would be only minor unattractive, you could still turn a blind eye, but there are significant costs ('s years of accumulated / anticipated 1200th - Euro) and important features such as ActiveSync, conferences, Handsfree are unusable.
    This phone is the empty promise materialized! I strongly advise: Don't purchase!
  • suxel
    I had the phone for 3 weeks, and during these 3 weeks, it was in the service centre for 1 and 1/2 weeks! The phone's built is sub par and it is very defective! The phone wobbles a lot when you are typing! Unlike the dummy one on display which is built solid. And it actually emits creaking and cracking sounds when typing as the plastic cover behind is not fitted neatly with the phone's body! Navigation keys dont respond, or slow to respond when I depress it, making it a real FRUSTRATION. I send the phone in for repair after 7 days of use. Then 2 days after I got it back from the service centre, the screen went blank on me with lines running on the top. I asked for a full refund or exchange to another model. The service centre then went quiet without responding to my email. One week later, after I keep pounding them with emails the support service flattly rejected my request. They say that they can only give me another new G705. Oh my god! I dont want another problematic new phone! Since it IS THE SAME DEFECTIVE MODEL! But they gave me no other choice. I received the new replacement another week later as they say they dont have stock! Can you believe it??? I bought it for S$559 and I had to sell it at $370!!! After just over 1 month, I had lost so much! It goes to show the G705 has no market value, full of flaws and their service support is way below standard! I will never buy another Sony Ericsson product again. I have a much much better experience with Nokia Service Centre. From now on, all my phones will be Nokias or Samsungs. NEVER another SE phone again!
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