sony ericsson w995

• Phone typeSlider
• Height97 mm
• Width49 mm
• Depth15 mm
• Weight113 grams

With a model number like 995, you get the impression Sony Ericsson want you to know this is a high-end, top quality product. So surely with a tag like this, the W995 makes the tea, takes out the dustbin and prepares a lovely four course meal for you. OK, so it doesn't do any of those things, but this is one phone which brings the best of both the Walkman and CyberShot range of phones together in one fantastic package, whilst even finding space to squeeze in one of the most requested Sony Ericsson features ever – so we're prepared to forgive it!

Why You Should Buy the W995

• Walkman 4.0 music player.
• An 8.1 megapixel camera.
• Assisted GPS.
• The W995 is a 3G handset with HSDPA and Wi-Fi connectivity.
• M2 Memory Stick slot for increasing storage, an 8GB is included.
• A 3.5mm jack plug built-in!

Those in the market for an all-round mobile phone which satisfies both their camera and music player desires, usually have no choice but to purchase a top-end smartphone. But for those who don't want the fiddle of learning a more complex new OS, the W995 offers an almost ideal alternative. The Sony Ericsson feature-phone operating system is easy to use and attractive to look at, especially with the addition of the Flash Lite themes found inside this model.

This ease of use continues when you open the Walkman software. A direct access button can be found on the edge of the handset along with play, track forward and track back keys, each nicely illuminated for use in the dark. This is version 4.0 of the Walkman software so it includes all the equaliser and playback options one would need, plus the Sony Ericsson SensMe, Shake Control and TrackID features. Audio quality is also superb, with the W995 beating the majority of its competition. It's also great to see Sony Ericsson finally fitting a standard headphone jack on the body, rather than relying on an adaptor.

The camera is equally well specified. The 8 megapixel lens takes pictures at a maximum resolution of 3264x2448 and features autofocus, a PowerLED flash, face detection, geo-tagging, macro mode, exposure metering and an image stabiliser, so you should be able to get the very best from your pictures. An accelerometer handles screen rotation and the user interface is very similar to that found on most other Sony Ericsson camera phones, meaning it's simple to use and almost entirely managed by the D-pad and the side-mounted shutter key.

Assisted GPS is built-in, as is an FM RDS radio, the excellent Netfront browser, a YouTube client and a wide selection of motion controlled games. The W995 is similarly sized to the C905, but at only 118 grams, it's considerably lighter, however the slider form factor is not as smooth and rounded as the top range CyberShot phone. Three different colours are available, Progressive Black, Energetic Red and Cosmic Silver.

Summary of the Sony Ericsson W995.

If you want a feature phone with both a brilliant camera and a great sounding music player, the W995 is a perfect purchase. Alternatives include the Nokia N86, however this is a Symbian smartphone, and the excellent Samsung INNOV8, but for all out usability and a set of great features, it's hard to beat the new Sony Ericsson best-of-both-worlds offering.