Sony Ericsson W995
The basics
The Sony Ericsson W995 is a Walkman phone, but not as we know it. It does all your media, just like you'd expect, but there's an 8.1-megapixel camera around the back too. There's HSDPA and Wi-Fi for zingy net speeds, GPS, Bluetooth, and an M2 memory card slot that'll let you park up to 16GB of storage inside.
The good
If there's one thing Sony Ericsson knows how to do, it's make cameraphones, and the Sony Ericsson W995 is no exception. The 8.1MP sensor takes super-sharp snaps, made easier with auto-focus, image stabilisation, face recognition and geo-tagging. As you'd expect from a Walkman, audio quality is great, and there's a 3.5mm port for your own headphones, thankfully. And while the 2.6-inch screen is only QVGA (320x240), it's one of the best we've seen at that size and resolution. Watching videos on the W995 is a joy, made even more fun thanks to the kickstand stowed away on the back.
The bad
As slick looking as the Sony Ericsson W995 is, don't go getting it into your head it's a smartphone. It's not: you won't find the third party support of similarly specced offerings from Nokia and co. And even if dumbphone status doesn't leave you feeling short changed, the battery life will. Where's all the juice going?
The bottom line
You'll probably know by now if you're a Sony Ericsson fan or not. The Sony Ericsson W995 suffers from all the same drawbacks as previous Walkman mobiles: it's walled off, and lacking the power and customisation of your standard smartphone. If that doesn't bother you though, what you'll find is one of the best multimedia phones on the market, and this time that includes picture taking.
User comments (26)
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John02 August 2009
Fantastic show keep up the good work.
Report as inappropriatejames c04 August 2009
I bought this phone and had it for a week. Directly comparing photos from this and my old N95 8gb shows that the 2 year old 5 mp camera out performs the 8 mp sony camera in every scenario. The colour is washed and unatural and even the 8mp is not as sharp or detailed at distance as the n95. This is due to the poor quality lens on the w995, it doesnt matter how many MP you have if the lens is rubish. If you want the best camera phone (and all round phone) get the N86 8mp with carl zeiss optic lens. james
Report as inappropriaterhys12311 August 2009
thats cool cos my brother has just got that phone and i want the n95 8gb and i am gettin it soon so i can rub it in his smug face...lol
Report as inappropriateG07 September 2009
is the battery life any good on this phone?
Report as inappropriateGeenaXxXBabes24 September 2009
Rhys123, dont get the N95, I had it and it was slow, unresponsive and the back was horrible as it kept falling off.
Report as inappropriatetubbyone27 September 2009
Oh wow, this IS the phone that I have, it is TERRIFIC!!! The level of sound from the music bit is tremedndous!!!!!! I love the speakers that came with it, it sounds as good as a full size sterio, plus I have down loaded two movies and watched one of them, it was awsome. I am delighted with this phone. My previous phone, (which thank goodness my dog ate after only 9 weeks of ownership) was a samsung tocco. my sony ericsson w995 in red(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) is like a rave conpared to that. I would never go back. cheers x
Report as inappropriatetubbyone27 September 2009
p.s battery life is good, I don't use my phone hugely but it is always swithced on. I reckon I charge it onece, maybe twice a week, it says in the hand book (sheet) that it won't harm teh battery if you cahrge it a bit and themn allot etc, so the battry life isn't an issue. In ahve a car charger too which I ahve not needed to use yet. It has nver died on me. In conclusion, I think if you're like me and send lots of texts, make a few calls and watch movies and listen to music the battery life is good. :0)x
Report as inappropriateKev the Goalie18 November 2009
I upgraded from the K850i to the W995 & am really chuffed with it. I am a Sony Erricsson fan (I have the MBW150 Bluetooth Watch & MMR-70 FM Transmitter) & combined I can tune into my sounds saved on my phone while in the car & skip tracks with the push of a button on my watch, nifty! The sound from the W995 is excellent, good bass too. the usual feature of a Sony Erricsson, Maps are a handy new feature, photo's i've taken of my new baby daughter are faultless (apart from the person behind the camera, lol). All in all, it's a slick little number & would definately recommend it to anyone. Only niggle is that the "sony ericsson" lettering on the front is coming off letter by letter, I now have a "Son csson", booo!
Report as inappropriateKev the Goalie18 November 2009
I upgraded from the K850i to the W995 & am really chuffed with it. I am a Sony Erricsson fan (I have the MBW150 Bluetooth Watch & MMR-70 FM Transmitter) & combined I can tune into my sounds saved on my phone while in the car & skip tracks with the push of a button on my watch, nifty! The sound from the W995 is excellent, good bass too. the usual feature of a Sony Erricsson, Maps are a handy new feature, photo's i've taken of my new baby daughter are faultless (apart from the person behind the camera, lol). All in all, it's a slick little number & would definately recommend it to anyone. Only niggle is that the "sony ericsson" lettering on the front is coming off letter by letter, I now have a "Son csson", booo!
Report as inappropriatewongaa20 November 2009
good fone
Report as inappropriatebob22 November 2009
but this isn't a camera-phone? it's a music phone with an 8 mega-pixel which doesn't mean its good quality. what about sony ericssons C range intended as the camera being a major feature
Report as inappropriateChaza 322 November 2009
The Sony Ericsson W995 is absolutely AMAZING!!!! THE CAMERA TAKES SUPERB PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!! I Went to a concert at the O2 Arena and used the camra throughout the two hours! It lasted a long time (battery) and the shots and video were spectactular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PHONE!!!!!!!
Report as inappropriateheytimbo27 November 2009
I am in Los Angeles and this is what we call an "Amazing phone, Dude". Great camera, I use it for work. Music is outstanding, and I have more than thirty albums onboard. I use two SE wireless head sets including the stereo HBH DS980. These are a fantastic pair. Last for hours and no wires. Best part of the phone is the little flashlight. I charge every night and have no problem with the battery. Had the phone for about three months and would not trade it in.
Report as inappropriateAnonymous01 March 2010
Sony Ericsson is a such a good phone, the only problem is when you re on youtube sometimes it shuts off (don't why)
Report as inappropriateSilent15 March 2010
i have the phone and its great... music features are great subscribing to podcast great watching videos great also subscribing to "play now" films is easy watching youtube is great accessing the internet is great I think camera is not so good...when you hear 8.1-megapixel camera, your eyes widen but once you use the camera and see the pictures on the computer..its just not that great.. the colours are washed out.
Report as inappropriatenatalie08 May 2010
I own a sony ericsson W995 and think it is great and realy easy to use and the battery lasts longer than I expected it to. The only problem is that it sometimes freezes when I am on you tube. I would recomend this phone to people who want a good all rounder.
Report as inappropriatestephM9617 May 2010
dunt know what there on about because ive got it and the battery lasts at least 3 day's. :)
Report as inappropriateEmily09 June 2010
I have a Sony Ericsson W995 and the one thing i do disagree with in the review is that the battery life doesnt last long, my battery can last for three days without being charged.
Report as inappropriatejames30 July 2010
i've had the w995 it's a nice phone, nice too hold music player is good the only draw back of this phone is the BBC iplayer never works when i connect to a wi-fi connection i.e in a bar it always disconnects. a few of my friends have had the same problem i'm thinking of getting the samsung ultra the only sraw back with that phone is the battery life shocking you have to charge it up twice a day.
Report as inappropriateDarren Lawson03 August 2010
The connectiverty to wifi is terrible the keypad is faulty the youtube app when you click on it says operation failed Iv installed the software 3 times now it freazes for a bit when you turn it on.
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anne livock31 October 2010
LOVE THE GADGET SHOW,KEEP UP THE FUN AND GREAT WORK.YOUR ALL BRILL.
Report as inappropriateRich F03 January 2011
I have this phone and the battery managment is absolutely rubbish. I charged my phone yesterday evening and i am already needing to charge again the next day, and thats without using it!
Report as inappropriatePaul24 August 2011
I have had this phone for 18 months now and the contract is up. I have dropped it from a moving bicycle on to tarmac, had it scuff around in my pockets with keys, coins etc, left it accidentally on charge for a whole day and night...oops! I have used and abused it and its still working perfectly. The body is solid aluminium, not plastic, and all the buttons have a nice solid "click" to them when pressed. Any other phone would have been destroyed long ago with the abuse I've subjected this phone to. I have used it for photographing work problems, landscapes, family events, childrens concerts, video-ing parties, holidays etc etc. i use the music with the speakers when I'm on my bike, I use googlemaps to find my way around.. in short, I don't want to part with it. I had the W910i befor this one, and it was also a superb phone. This is the best phone I have ever used. Now it's looking a little second hand, i feel I must upgrade, but there's absolutely nothing on the market that looks like it will hold a candle to my beloved W995. So called smart phones are generally so big that you need a portable desk to use them, the touch screens look impossible to use one handed, and I don't want to spend my life staring at a screen playing pac man. PLEASE Sony, will you make another version of the W995 for me?
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