Camera Phones Plaza

Constantly changing and updating the portfolio is a necessary step for each and every manufacturer once every two years. We can easily see this process in the Nokia 2009 - 2010 plans, in Samsung's rebranding process, or even in the LG family. It is not necessary to change specs. The most important is to change the design making it more new and including the new brand's design. It is very likely to find average tech phones with new design, which are at its core older high tech phones.

By doing so, the manufacturers not only save important money (which in normal marketing strategy a completely redesigned core tech would cost extremely much in development), but they are also capable of releasing phones in a smaller time frame. The same goes for the Sony Ericsson, which is always releasing new phones in smaller lines with the seam specs found on higher model lines. A true example of this process is the Sony Ericsson C901. Believe it or not this C9xx phone delivers only a 5 megapixel digital camera.


Even so, the C901 still has some key features, beside the new upgraded Sony Ericsson design, to offer. Some of the key features included in the C901 are the LED and Xenon flash; cover lenses, extremely high connectivity, and Quad band GSM support. On the other extreme, in the main disadvantages department you will discover that C901 lacks document viewer, that its retail box content is somewhat disappointing, memory card slot under the back cover, and a small video recording resolution. If you don't mind this few disadvantages, and you are looking for a 5 megapixel camera phone then you should take a closer look at the Sony Ericsson C901. Because this phone is branded "C" you have to expect excellent image quality.

In rest, you might find the old looking Sony Ericsson mobile phones. With a height of 105 mm, wide of 45 mm, deep of 13 mm, the C901 weights about 107 grams. These values prove once again that Sony Ericsson always tries to deliver small factor phones, easy to carry around. As a Sony Ericsson phone, the C901 obviously sports a black matte plastic. As you can imagine this doesn't exactly improves the C901 design. Even more, you will probably be disappointed since the C901 is a fingerprint magnet, and is also very easy to scratch. In rest the design could have been better build. Sure, you get no flex, but you do get weird noises when you press the phone to much (the all plastic body cause such of disadvantage).


You can choose from three different available colors, Silver, Black, and Precious Peach. On the front side, above the screen you get the earpiece with the ambient light sensor right next to it. Below the display you can find the navigations keys. Sony Ericsson added about six control keys (with two soft keys, clear button, call key, end call key, and activity menu). Even more, you can find the four way directional keys (up, down, left, and right) with the Ok centered button. Unfortunately, all these keys have small sizes, making the usability not too great at all. If you get a sense of how to use them, then you will find good feedback buttons. Under the navigational keys, you get the alphanumerical buttons. Some off this buttons have at least two functions (used for special features in camera mode). The keypad is made out of plastic.


Even so, it is easy to use and the typing will not be a problem at all. On the left side of the C901, you can find the Sony Ericsson port (uncovered), while on the right side you get the dedicated camera keys, the volume controls, and the shutter key. On the top of the C901, Sony Ericsson included the battery cover lock. The back cover of the C901, sports the cover for the 5 megapixel camera with Cyber Shot logo. This cover is located on the upper top of the C901. Once slide it open you get the 5 megapixel camera lenses and the LED flash, and even more, the Xenon flash.

However there are too many logos on the back cover of C901, the Sony Ericsson logo, the Cyber Shot logo, and the 5.0 megapixel camera logo. The design lacks nice features because of the logo "traffic". Overall, Sony Ericsson delivers an average looking phone, for some a jewelry, and for others something rather boring. The design is, however, a matter of taste, while the build concerns anyone. The build quality is average, and you might need to accept some compromises if you are going to purchase this phone.


In terms of software, you are not going to find anything new, within the C901. Even so, the organizer, music player, calendar and web browsing are included and work just fine offering a good user experience. Sony Ericsson included in the C901 a 2.2 inches TFT display with a QVGA resolution (240 x 320 pixels). This TFT display will render about 256000 colors. Even more, the C901 includes an accelerometer sensor, for a better photo experience. The display offers sufficient brightness even under direct sunlight. You should have no problems with this display in any light conditions. The C901 runs in 2G network with GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and in 3G network with HSDPA 900 / 2100.


The onboard memory value is about 110 MB, expandable with Micro Stick Micro memory card up to 8 GB value. The connectivity is well ensured in the C901. However, it lacks Wi-Fi. Even so, you get GPRS Class 10 (4+1 / 3+2 slots) with a vary speed form 32 Kb per second to 45 Kb per second, HSCSD, EDGE Class 10 with a maximum speed of 236.8 Kb per second, 2.0 USB connectivity, 2.0 Bluetooth with A2DP, and HSDPA with 3.6 MB per second. Also featured in the C901 is the 5 megapixel digital camera with 2592 x 1944 pixels, with auto focus, xenon flash and LED flash.

Because this is a Cyber Shot camera, you can easily find features like face and smile detection and geo tagging. The quality photos taken are remarkable. Even with only 5 megapixels the C901 can easily compete with other 8 megapixel phone thanks to the excellent lenses. This camera can also record videos.


However the quality of these videos is not high, with only QVGA resolution at 30 frames per second. Sony Ericsson included in the C901 a BST 33 Lithium Polymer battery with 950 mAh. This value battery will only provide about 430 hours of standby time, and about 9.5 hours of talk time in 2G network. For an average user all these values mean about three days of autonomy (however, depending on the usage you can even get five days of autonomy). In the shipping retail box, Sony Ericsson included beside the C901 unit and battery pack, a mandatory charger, one pair of headphones, user guide, and that is about all you will get. No CD software, no memory card included, no cable, no nothing (sad but true).


Overall, the C901 is not better than C902, not in design or specs. If you are looking for a Cyber Shot phone, then chose C902 (now even more because you can certainly find it with a smaller price tag). However, if you are interested in comparing the C901 with other manufacturer phones, then you should keep on moving. The C901 is the best 5 megapixel digital camera without touch screen, with an asking price of $350 - $400, on the market with no direct competitor, because Nokia 6700 classic and Nokia 6720 classic are not camera orientated phones.