The Sony Ericsson Vivaz, the successor to the somewhat hobbled Satio, has landed. Is this slice of Symbian S60 smartness worth signing away your life for? Or should you plump for something a tad more trendy? Read our definitive Sony Ericsson Vivaz review and we’ll tell all.
Read more of our Sony Ericsson Vivaz review
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Camera and HD video
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Apps and Symbian OS
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Design and build quality
There’s no denying that the Sony Ericsson Vivaz is a looker. This is unarguably the hottest handset we’ve ever fondled from Sony Ericsson. Its tapered edges and slimline frame mean it sits comfortably in the hand and doesn’t suffer from the bulge which some smartphones suffer. Admittedly the plastic body does feel a tad cheap in comparison with the latest HTC Legend, but then pretty much everything does, so we’re willing to cut the Vivaz some slack.
Although this is a smartie in the Symbian S60 mould, the Vivaz also stakes its reputation on its media skills. Namely, its camera and video recording. The 12 megapixel sensor from the Satio has been eased back to a mere 8.1MP. That hardly makes a difference here though, with shots emerging crisp and clean and the snapper working surprisingly well for us in low light, despite the phone only packing an LED light for the wee hours.
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Apps and Symbian OS
The dedicated stills button on the Vivaz’s side is separate from the video knob, which avoids any confusion when you’re trying to bust out the Vivaz’s imaging skills in a hurry. The camera itself follows the trusted system of older Sony Ericsson phones, with one touch access to different modes, direct uploading to the web and of course, face detection. The latter we found to be occasionally wonky, failng to pick up the mugs of our mates when we pointed the cam in their direction. It’s neat, but not wholly reliable.
The aforementioned video button lets you duck straight into the HD video recording function too, and when working as a video camera, the Vivaz is a peach. With continuous focus and direct YouTube uploading, the Vivaz really does steal the limelight from other HD cams, phones or otherwise. For an in-depth look, check out our Vivaz camera and HD video review.
Although the camera really does set the Sony Ericsson Vivaz apart, the phone itself suffers nasty hangovers from the Satio days. The resistive touchscreen is, quite frankly, awful. It’s often necessary to stab at it at least twice in order to register your prods and dive into menus. And then there’s the onscreen keyboard.
Try as we might, it was nigh on impossible to get up to any kind of speed with it. You need to press down so hard to register a keystroke you fear the screen itself is about to snap.
We don’t have such harsh words for Symbian S60. While it remains at the back of the pack when it comes to smartphone OSes, scooting round menus is nice and straightforward and anyone who’s used Symbian before will easily find their way around the Vivaz. Read our Sony Ericsson Vivaz S60 and apps review for more details.
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Camera and HD video
The Vivaz uses the same skin as the Satio, which can lead to plenty of confusion. The five different homescreens, with access to Twitter, favourite contacts, widgets, favourite apps and your photo reel is neat, but it’s let down by the poor touchscreen which makes it tough to flick through each one. Frequently you’ll find yourself heading into menus and apps you just didn’t want to select.
There are also some minor quibbles with the build quality of the Vivaz. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack is welcome, but the tapered ends mean it’s on the side, making it uncomfortable to plug in a pair of cans and stick the Vivaz in your pocket. The lack of a lens cover means we’re also fearful that scratches and scrapes will mar that lovely peeper.
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz is undoubtedly a decent camera phone, with superb HD video skills. But as the Sony Ericsson X10 approaches and a raft of brilliant new smartphones, with decent touchscreens and better interfaces hit the shelves, it feels more than a little dated.
Read more of our Sony Ericsson Vivaz review
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Camera and HD video
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Apps and Symbian OS
Sony Ericsson Vivaz review: Design and build quality
