Sony Ericsson W995 Available Now For $1,099
We saw Jesus lose his shit over this phone a couple of weeks ago. Now you can do the same, as it’s now available in Australia.
A lot of Jesus’ comments are totally valid when you look at the price of this handset – $1,099 for a Walkman phone that doesn’t offer the same level of versatility and functionality as a smartphone. While I haven’t played with the W995 myself, I do know that previous versions (W900, W950) did have a really solid build quality and a pleasant design, but to be brutally honest, that just isn’t enough in a world where HTC, Palm, RIM, Apple and even Microsoft WinMo are bringing far superior function to a similarly-priced (or cheaper on contract) device. When it comes down to it, Sony Ericsson really just needs to take their hardware to the next level by upgrading the software that runs their phones. Hopefully they’ll realise that before it’s too late.
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Comments
Why the hell would you buy that over an iPhone? Or even a HTC Magic or something. You’d have to be a moron to overlook those two great devices to fork over *more* money for this hunk of crap.
Maybe someone would buy that over and iphone beceause not everyone in the world wants an iphone. Heard of choice?
Sure, there’s choice. But When the HTC Magic, The Palm Pre, the Blackberry 8900 and god knows how many other smartphones out there offer more features for less dollars, I can’t see Sony Ericsson doing themselves any favours here. It’s not just the iPhone – there’s a vibrant market out there of awesome smartphones…
Believe it or not, not everyone wants a smartphone either. I doubt the Sony will hit the street at that price. People looking at that phone will be looking at a smaller phone with a strong music player and camera. Funny how in most aspects of life there is choice, it’s not like we all drive the same cars, etc. Comes to phones there seems to be this blind conformism, especially when the iphone is mentioned.
Holy crap. More than an iPhone?? You’d have to be bananas to buy this.
Even if the iphone wasn’t the piece of sh#t that it really is i wouldn’t buy one for the sole reason that so many people that do own them do so because of the name alone or as an image thing. If the same phone was release by SE or Nokia or anyone other than apple and was judged on performance instead of people just buying it to impress their tosser friends, sales would be considerably less. This is the best SE phone released in years and caters for a significant slice of the market who want a quality phone but aren’t tossers or dont want a smart phone. Comparing a BMW coupe with a similarly priced Mercedes van is more appropriate here. Both quality vehicles yet aimed at different markets. As for Anthony’s comments it’s obvious that picture of the w995 is as close as he’s ever been to touching one and he’s still trying to convince himself that his iphone isn’t the mediocre device it really is.
Guys, this is seriously not the real price. This fone isnt availble yet. its looking to be more like 650-700 than bloody over 1K. Anyway, with a camera like that im getting one, but no way at that rideculous make believe price
im interested in this bec. of the supposed clear, loud speakers which turn the phone into a radio in situations where headphones arent practical and i need to hear music. just to be able to hit the side play button and hear instant clear music is worth a lot to me. but if the iphone had louder clearer speakers then yeah the iphone would be unbelieveable, esp. in conjunction with my imac
do you seriously think it will be released at such a price?
i expect it to be released on cap/plan-only terms first (i’ve been hearing rumours of this getting released towards the end of july on 3’s $69 cap), and then gradually, as it drops its price, upfront. phones like that generally don’t go prepaid until at least a year since their release.
that said, it’s a stunning phone. SE finally got it right – a phone that has all the much-sought features of SE phones (inbuilt radio, wifi, 3.5MM PLUG!!!) into one. and that is a very nice camera for a walkman phone…
if i didn’t have my wonderful w980, i’d definitely be after this…
One of the best things about W995 is it has a torch, no smart phones have that. I don’t know many (any) smart phones that are as compact as the W995 either. I want the phone to fit in a small side pocket, not a handbag. I have tried an iphone and hated it, hard to hit tiny letters on screen. A real keypad is way better and you can type without looking at the keys. Using internet on iphone is also really slow, much faster with keypad & toggle buttons. I wouldn’t have an iphone if it was free.
Fair enough. But to use your car analogy, are you going to spend $100K on a mini with a weak little engine, or a BMW (or similar) luxury car? Sure, if your budget only lets you buy a $40,000 car without all the bells and whistles, it’s good to have that choice. But when that car costs more than a luxury model that does everything (and looks great too), the decision is an easy one…
Yeah but the iPhone is not the BMW you think it is.
So Nick are you implying that the iphone is the BMW and that the W995 is the mini?
The iphone has a 2mp camera vs the W995’s 8mp camera with a Carl Zeiz lens. speaking of German build quality… hmmm.
The sound quality from sony ericsson walkman phones are highly regarded by reviewers and superior in my opinion compared to listening to music on an iphone. Even my iphone owning friends can admit to that.
The reviews for the new media transfer software that sony ericsson has come up with (’Media Go’) is not only a vast improvement on previous ones but now as good as you can get on the market.
iphone has a bigger screen granted, but I don’t use phones for video viewing and besides I don’t like having 2 wallet sized items in my pockets. And I don’t need a touchscreen. If I want a gimmick, the shake technology is fun enough for me. The walkmate application which literally counts your steps as you walk is great.
Different strokes for different folks in the end but to say that the iphone is of far superior quality compared to the sony ericsson is just plain wrong and unfounded.
No, the car reference was saying that smartphones in general are BMWs. Sure, the iPhone has a 2MP (or 3.2 with the new 3GS, but the Nokia N97 has a 5MP model (not that MPs mean that much in a cameraphone anyway).
Different strokes for different folks is fine, but I don’t understand why someone would spend more money on a phone with fewer features rather than get a smartphone that does everything (and does most of those things well).
“I don’t understand why someone would spend more money on a phone with fewer features rather than get a smartphone that does everything (and does most of those things well).”
First of all I choose quality over quantity. And in fact the vast majority of people who buy all those feature packed smart phones you speak of very rarely make full use of them on a regular basis. Commonly they’ll be oh wow it can do this, this and that and after a few weeks they use it as just a phone anyway. After that it comes down to it’s functionality which according to the reviews the W995 is very easy to use as a phone. The practicality of its new media transfer software is also a highlight. With that in mind I’d like to know which features aside from a Touchscreen that these smart phones have that the W995 doesn’t which ‘you’ would actually use?
Going back to quality:
Every reviewer will talk about the W995’s solid build quality.
The battery life is longer than pretty much all of the smart phones. That’s a fact you can look up yourself if you don’t believe me. Again talking about functionality of a phone this is an outstanding difference.
If I didn’t make it obvious enough before the W995 uses a Carl Zeis lens, which in case you don’t already know IS the equivalent of BMW. Carl Zeis lenses of Germany have been around since the advent of photography and have a world wide reputation for excellence. Again if you don’t believe me go to any camera shop and ask which lenses are better: Canon or Carl Zeis?
I’m repeating myself again but every reviewer also goes on about the excellent quality of sound from the stockstandard earphones provided. Again, arguably better quality than the vast majority of smart phones on the market.
Ultimately though your opinion would be credible had you actually used it. I don’t understand how you can comment on something you haven’t tried for yourself?
I found out you can buy it for about $650 as opposed to the outrageous $1099.
No more whingeing about the price!
And for $650, I’d say it’s a great valued phone.