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Sony Ericsson Vivaz review

Reviews

Posted 17th March 2010 at 4:14pm by Joe Minihane

23

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vivaz silver

The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is the Japanese-Swedish tech team’s latest Symbian S60 smartphone, replete with snazzy 8.1 megapixel camera and HD video recording. Essentially a successor to the 12MP-packing Sony Ericsson Satio, it’s been billed as the latest in a long line of cool camera-phones from the mobile manufacturer.

But the question is, can this touchscreen titan keep Sony Ericsson in the spotlight? Or is it just another own goal from an increasingly bewildered gadget making giant?

First impressions

Slide the Sony Ericsson Vivaz from its box and you’ll find yourself handling a truly slick, slimline mobile phone. Sure the plastic design can’t match the ace HTC Legend, but few phones can. It slips into even the tightest of pockets with ease. Crank it up and you’ll find the familiar Symbian S60 UI with the skin last seen on the Satio grafted on. The former is obvious to mobile fanatics, but the shortcuts screen and plethora of menu systems breeds confusion when there needn’t be any.

That said, having dedicated video and camera buttons slapped on the side means you can easily tap into the Vivaz’s visual powers, with no faff switching between shooting clips and snapping stills. For the first five minutes you handle the Vivaz, you’ll truly believe this could be Sony Ericsson’s get out of jail free card.

8/10

Design

As mentioned previously, the Vivaz is a great to look at. Measuring just 12.5mm deep and rocking a substantial enough 3.2-inch touchscreen, it’s undoubtedly Sony Ericsson’s best looking phone ever. While the Satio’s 12MP sensor gave it the look of a compact camera, as well as the heft of one, the Vivaz is far sharper and slicker. Its design is minimal, but that does cause a couple of niggles.

Firstly, the tapered ends mean the 3.5mm jack, something Sony Ericsson has only recently turned to, sits on the side of the phone. It means your headphones stick out uncomfortably and that pocketing the phone while you’ve got your buds in is an uncomfortable experience. Likewise, keeping things slim means there’s no room for a lens cover. So you have to be super careful to avoid scratches and scrapes that’ll mar your snaps when you shovel them on Flickr or vids when they land on YouTube.

7/10

Features

The camera on the Sony Ericsson Vivaz is its hottest feature. It shoots HD Ready 720p video which really does look the part, with continuous focus meaning clips take on a clarity never before seen on a phone. It shoots at 24fps, and means you can ditch any standalone camera like the FlipMinoHD in favour of this. The fact it uploads direct to YouTube makes it even more of a winner and Sony Ericsson has done a great job of making this work like a dream.

The stills camera is also brilliant. Instead of beefing up the megapixel count, it’s decided to stick with a decent lens and optimised optics. The results are superbly detailed, with the camera even doing its thing in low light conditions. It will happily replace any basic compact camera.

8/10

Software

sony ericsson vivaz

Symbian S60 is the OS of choice here and it remains difficult to use on a touchscreen. That’s down in large part to the average resistive number that’s shoved on top of the Vivaz. That said, it’s easy enough to navigate once you’ve got beneath the five homescreen skin that Sony Ericsson favours. The latter is a real love/hate affair, dividing punters when it arrived on the Satio last year.

The shortcuts for contacts, Twitter, customisable apps and media are all well and good, but the screens seem to have no order to them. Instead of flicking them out of the way, a la HTC Sense, you become bogged down in moving back and forward between tasks using the impossible to hit icons. That said, music access from the homescreen is a winner, with Sony Ericsson’s Walkman skills brought to the fore.

6/10

Specifications

  • 3.2-inch, 360x640 resistive touchscreen
  • Symbian S60 OS with custom skin
  • 8MP camera, 720p HD video
  • HSDPA, Wi-FI,
  • FM Radio
  • 5 hours 20 minutes talk time (3G)
  • 440 hours standby (3G)

Overall Mark 8/10

Compare Sony Ericsson Vivaz deals at Top10: Sony Ericsson Vivaz

More news on: New mobile phones, Sony Ericsson, Reviews, Camera mobile phones, Touchscreen phones, Smart mobile phones, Vivaz mobile phones

23 Comments

  • Holyroller

    Holyroller, 22nd March 2010.

    Looks like a pretty convincing comeback. Not sure I'd pay that much for it, though.

    Reply
  • Bina Tailor

    Bina Tailor, 23rd March 2010.

    Got this phone a week ago. Looks good, but it's actually the worst phone ever. I can't access the internet & the sound quality is so bad that I can't use it to have a conversation. Not user friendly! I do not recommend it!

    Reply
  • Stacey Czerwinskyj

    Stacey Czerwinskyj, 24th March 2010.

    Well, what can i say? I got the phone on the 22nd of March and it was back in the box & sent back today, the 23rd March!!!

    Design = 10 out of 10. Features = 10 out of ten. But sound = oh dear. Sony Ericsson has let this phone down badly!!! Do not go buy this fone. You have been warned. Don't say I didn't tell you.

    Reply
  • Debs

    Debs, 25th March 2010.

    Received this phone a week ago. Was great to start with but as previous person commented, the sound is not good! When trying to have a conversation the sound is muffled and they seem like they are talking to you from Australia!

    The touchscreen was easy to work out but sending messages seems a bit long winded. The main problem I have had is now the screen has started freezing. This happened two nights ago and again last night - it simply won't do anything! Had the LG choc when they first came out and was exactly the same. I thoughttouch screens would have improved by now! Lovely looking smartphone, but will be returning as soon as poss for something different.

    Reply
  • Stacey Czerwinskyj

    Stacey Czerwinskyj, 25th March 2010.

    Well hello there Debs, its Stacey. I'm with Orange and they let u try phones for 7 days, so here's what I've had and hopefully it'll help you. The Sony Ericsson Vivaz, as you know is no good!!! The Satio is too slow and the Blackberry Bold is a man's fone.

    The HTC Hero is way too big 'n' ugly. Today, the Nokia X6 arrived. It's not a bad fone but texting is too slow. I started with the w995, but my housemate has now got that. That was also a big mistake. It was the best fone I've ever had and I can't find anything to match that. That's me being totally honest.

    The only, and I mean the only, downfall on that fone is that the screen isn't very big. Hence when you're on any networking sites, it's hard to see. But don't let that put u off. It's a fantastic phone.

    Well guys, as i said, this phone is going back. My specs, or should i say wish list, are as follows: a decent fone with good sound, touchscreen and decent size screen. Good looks would also be an advantage. Please get back to me. Maybe the editor of this site could give me some advice...

    Reply
  • Ulrike

    Ulrike, 28th March 2010.

    Got this phone yesterday and I'm quite disappointed with it. Have problems figuring out how to do anything really. Having had Samsung and Nokias before, I find this extremely user-unfriendly! Will try for another 3 or 4 days, but it's likely that it's going back :-(

    Reply
  • Alex

    Alex, 18th April 2010.

    I "had" this phone already! The phone is beautiful, but that is it. The sound is minimum quality and there are problems with the software. The touchscreen blocks in the applications! They need to take it of the market and sort it out! I changed three of them and they all had the same problems.

    Reply
  • JGD

    JGD, 3rd May 2010.

    I've had this phone for a week now, and I'm using it on my home wi-fi network while sitting on the toilet wondering whether to throw the phone down before I flush. I think I'll keep it for the camera, though it's hard to hold without touching the screen somewhere and so switching it off. Or changing the settings.

    I haven't noticed anything too terrible about the sound; I can hear the people I call, and they hear me. But you have to go through 3 menus to get to the Quick Dial feature, then select whether you want to make a normal call or a video call!!!

    And the stylus fell apart so I had to bind some thread round the shaft and jam it together again.

    Ah, but the camera! If not for that, I'd have stuck with my K850i.

    Reply
  • CLL

    CLL, 13th May 2010.

    I've had this phone for a month or so now and I HATE it. I got offered it as an upgrade for my Samsung on my Orange contract. I thought it was just me being slow to learn how to use it so persisted and really wish I hadn't. It drives me insane. Texting is so slow and it keeps flipping to the side view when I am trying to type with it held vertically. The answer button on the phone gets stuck so I can't answer an incoming call. The internet usage is soooo slow. Horrible! And when I finally can answer I can't really hear people and have to guess at what they have said. Doh.

    The only redeeming factor is the camera which has taken some great shots of my baby. And the fact that it looks great. I can't wait for my contract to be up so I can change the stupid thing. On the plus side I now send 2000 less texts a month because I really can't be bothered with it. Shame as I was really excited about my new phone and my last Sony was great. Really disappointed.

    Reply
  • Cs

    Cs, 21st May 2010.

    I've had this phone for about 1 month and i wish i kept my old one. Battery life is very poor, screen freezes now and again, internet slow. I had an iphone before but i got fed up with that freezing and poor battery life. Looks like I have another disappointing phone. Will be going back to Nokia, i think!

    Reply
  • Laura

    Laura, 13th June 2010.

    My boyfriend got me the Vivaz on contract. I am on my third one already. Carphone Warehouse said if this one breaks come back and we will give you a totally new phone.

    We got home and it started freezing, so we took it back and they tried telling us it was the memory card. They tried flashing the memory card and it didn't work so we are going to take it back tomorrow.

    If you're thinking of buying the Vivaz - don't. It is a pile of rubbish.

    Reply
  • Roisin

    Roisin, 18th June 2010.

    This phone is completely rubbish - AVOID IT!!! I thought I was the only one with problems and that my phone must be faulty but it seems everyone is the same.

    The store won't replace it or give me a refund because the Micro USB cover came off in the first week. I'm so disapointed with Sony Ericsson and I'll never buy a SE phone again.

    Reply
  • Eric

    Eric, 1st July 2010.

    Oh no. Sony Ericsson Vivaz sound is so damn BAD. I dunno if it's my phone'S problem or if every Vivaz is like that. The MP3 is muffled and when trying to have a conversation the sound sucks and is muffled too!

    1 more thing is the camera. Sometimes when I'm trying to take a photo it says: Error Code...Pls stop running applications...Memory Full.

    But I didn't run any applications and memory still left Is 4GB. What kind of phone is This?

    Reply
  • EgraL

    EgraL, 7th July 2010.

    I am now on my 3rd phone!!! The bluetooth connection kicks me out while it is connected to the car, so you have to go into the menu and activate the 'sound in phone' option. It's not the car as I tried the 1st phone in 8 cars! and the 2nd phone in 4. The screen freezes. Texting is a nightmare. It doesn't feel solid in fact the 1st one creaked! If this 3rd one jumps out of bluetooth, a new phone is in order.

    Reply
  • Jamil

    Jamil, 11th July 2010.

    I was thinking of getting this phone for my birthday. After all these negative comments I think I'll go for an IPhone 3GS.

    Reply
  • Marie

    Marie, 16th July 2010.

    Don't buy the Vivaz!!! First fault was the sound. When the phone rang it sounded really bad. Then, after just one day trying it out, it went black and I had trouble getting it started again. This happened three times before I contacted the phone company that sold me the probably-not-ever-gonna-work-as-it-should thing.

    It didn't help that I said that I was expecting a NEW device to work properly without any problems, small or big, they wanted me to send it for repair. Should we as consumers accept this? Not me!!! I'm really angry that they won't take it back! As the "PROUD" owner (NOT!!!) of the SE Vivaz I'd like to say to SE and the different distributors: Fix these problems immediately or give us our money back!!!! The worst phone ever!!

    Reply
  • 47

    47, 24th July 2010.

    I want a touch phone. Can i proceed with Vivaz?

    Reply
  • Jha

    Jha, 4th August 2010.

    i also want a touch phone, and im planning to buy this one...

    Reply
  • Saleh

    Saleh, 8th August 2010.

    This is the best phone ever. My friend had it and he forgot at my home while he went to America without even realising. I played with it for a while and it really has the best mobile internet browser.

    As for the people that said its voice capability is bad, it's because it you must change the default settings. I really wish I had this phone.

    Reply
  • Un

    Un, 11th August 2010.

    The worst phone ever! After years of using Sony Ericsson phones, I will never again buy Sony Ericsson again. Ever!

    Reply
  • Kalim Mawnah

    Kalim Mawnah, 17th August 2010.

    I am a fan of Sony Ericsson. I used to own a w810i before, which was a a nice mobile to use. Then I bought the Vivaz after seeing all the publicity on the net. Naturally I thought it will be a great handset. But after buying it, I regret my decision. The sound not good, it freezes too often, the touchscreen is too slow to respond and the software is outdated. I hate the Vivaz. I hate it.

    Reply
  • Drex

    Drex, 19th August 2010.

    Bought this phone for the camera and video capabilities. If you want good camera and video and dont mind a painful phone experience then its ok. But its so damned arkward to use with that rubbish touchscreen, difficulties locking and sat nav that keeps going off and sending you the wrong way you may wonder why you bothered..

    Most phones make it easy to see what your own number is too. I cant work out where this option is on the menu system, which is anything but intuitive..

    Too complex by far..

    Reply
  • Noor

    Noor, 31st August 2010.

    The worst phone ever i have seen. The sound quality is damn bad. I bought it last week and now i deeply regret it. Now I am running around the service centres to have it repaired.. Camera is rubbish too.

    Reply

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