While we’ve seen plenty of images and specs for the upcoming Sony Ericsson Vivaz, full reviews have been thin on the ground. However, thanks to an exclusive hands-on we now know just how much potential this 8.1-Megapixel smartphone has. To find out how a pre-production version of the Sony Ericsson Vivaz gets on, read on after the jump…
The Sony Ericsson Vivaz has been eagerly anticipated, thanks in part to the disappointing reception of the larger Sony Ericsson Satio. Can this Symbian-based touchscreen device do any better, or is it heading for a similar fate as its larger sibling?
Tech website ElectricPig managed to get hold of a pre-production sample of the Sony Ericsson Vivaz. For a start, it’s a lot smaller than the bulky Sony Ericsson Satio, due to the use of an 8.1-Megapixel camera rather than a 12.1-Megapixel chip. According to Electric Pig, this has an impact on picture quality, however, with photographs appearing washed out, and HD video proving a little blurry round the edges.
The 3.2-inch screen impressed, with a sharp 640 x 360-pixel resolution providing crisp images and video playback. It’s via the touchscreen that most functions are carried out, with the Symbian operating system translating your prods and swipes into actions. Responsive and easy to use, it’s one of the Sony Ericsson Vivaz’s better features.
As with many touchscreen phones, the onscreen keyboard apparently falls below expectations, although this could change on full production models. If it doesn’t, however, the lack of text correction could prove a deal-breaker for many consumers.
All-in-all, the Sony Ericsson Vivaz is off to a bit of a mixed start then. Thankfully, there’s still time for updates to be incorporated into the final design, which could lead to a completely different user experience.
