Sony Ericsson G705

The basics

The Sony Ericsson G705 smartphone features a wide range of Internet friendly features for web browsing on the move. It's got a 2.4-inch screen for viewing emails and websites and an able HTML browser and Wi-Fi for replicating that desktop experience. ActiveSync technology sends emails from a computer straight to the phone too. Also featured is a range of shortcut keys with easy access to Google search and RSS feeds. It's also got a 3.2 megapixel camera and YouTube compatibility along with GPS for navigation.

The good

Sony mixologists have blended Flash Lite and Java to create a heady cocktail: super-smooth menus, tasty backgrounds and surprisingly powerful applications. Add to the brew more radios (3G, HSDPA, GSM, Wi-Fi, GPS and good old FM) than your local branch of John Lewis, and you’ll be drunk on technology before you can say “Just a double Kahlua, please”. A zoomable browser and Google Maps look sober enough to keep you getting served, while a dedicated YouTube client brightens up those Night Bus moments (although, weirdly, you can’t use it with Wi-Fi). Want to know the exact location of that alleyway where you lost your dinner? No worries – the 3.2MP camera supports geo-tagging.

The bad

After every great booze-up, the hangover kicks in. How could you ever think the G705’s glossy black plastic case was metal, and the 2.4-inch screen that looked lovely in the pub seems washed out in the painfully bright light of day.

The bottom line

Who needs a smartphone? This smart little slider is packed with tech, feels smoother than an oiled otter to use and is a bargain to boot.