A comparison of middle class phones with color displays

A color screen in mobile phones became a conventional feature today. In the beginning of the year only top models were equipped with a color screen. Now we can find it in the middle class phones, which are available for price dependant users. We’ll try to compare these models in our article, as availabilty of color screen doesn’t reflect a functionality of the phone today.

So, we’ll compare those models of the middle class, which are available on the market today: Sony Ericsson T300, Nokia 3510i, Panasonic GD67, Motorola C350. We can also add a new Sony Ericsson T310 in this list, because it is differed only in design features from T300. Other capabilities and price are the same. This phone would go on sale in March and the predecessor (T300) would be taken out of production at that time. Of course, during some period you would be able to find both phones on the shelves of shops.

Form-factor, design. Tastes are differ, so, we can’t estimate an attractiveness of one or another model. We can only notice that Nokia 3510i has a similar design to Nokia 3310. Applying of different materials doesn’t greatly varies the phone construction.

Mentioned phones can be divided in two groups according to the weight. First group consists of Nokia 3510i and Sony Ericsson T300 (106 and 101 grams respectively). The second group includes Panasonic GD67 and Motorola C350 (81 and 80 grams respectively). We’ll receive the same groups if decide to divide the phones according to their dimensions. First two phones have larger size than the second two ones.

All phones except GD67 have interchangeable covers, what allows to vary their exterior. One can personalize GD67 by changing pictures under the transparent rear cover of the phone. You can make it yourself or set one of those, which are included in the standard delivery kit.

In response of form-factor the main attractive are such handsets as Motorola C350 and Panasonic GD67; two remained ones are not so nice.

Screen. We decided that it should be the main comparison feature in our analyses. As for me, GD67 and T300 have the same picture quality. Both they display up to 256 colors; the information is not visible in the sun. They have the same resolution of 101х80 pixels, but the display of T300 contains 8 text lines, not 6 ones as the screen of GD 67.

Motorola C350 has STN-4096 color screen with the resolution of 96х65 pixels. It is also difficult to see the information on the display without a backlighting in the sunny day. Nokia 3510i has a TFT-screen, which is similar by other features to the display of Motorola C350. We think that it is the best screen to use in the sunny weather outside compared to other three models.

Operating time. It is also a very important parameter. In response of autonomy, Motorola C350 is surely an outsider. It provides only 2 days of work (in case of 10 minutes talking a day and 10 minutes of playing games). If not use different applications, the phone will work about 3 days, it’s not much. This handset has a lithium-ion battery of 650 mAh capacity.

Panasonic GD67 has a longer operating time. It is equipped with a lithium-ion battery of 690 mAh capacity. The phone provides about 2 days of work in case of 20 minutes of talking and 40 minutes of using other applications.

Nokia 3510i has a lithium-ion battery of 950 mAh capacity. It is sufficient to use a phone during 3-4 days in case of 40 minutes of talking and 30-40 minutes of using other applications.

Sony Ericsson T300 is equipeed with a lithium-polymer battery of 700 mAh capacity. It is not typical to the phones of this class. Autonomy of the phone reaches 5 days in case of 50 minutes of talking and 1 hour of using other applications. It is the best result for the phone of the middle class.

Phonebook. Up to 100 entries can be stored in the phonebooks of Panasonic GD67 and Motorola C350. Only one phone number can be associated to one name their. Nokia 3510i and Sony Ericsson T300 enable to add several fields to one entry. Also they have a large memory pool. An extra advantage of T300 is a possibility to assign pictures, which are displayed while incoming call, to several entries.

Messages. One more time we should unite Panasonic GD67 and Motorola C350. These phones support EMS standard, but they can’t receive or send MMS-messages. Remained two phones allows to do it. Besides, T300 has a built-in mail client, which enables to receive and send e-mails.

Profiles. A possibility to create user’s profiles to personalize a phone (change ringing tones and many other settings) is available in such phones as Nokia 3510i, Sony Ericsson T300. In other two models they are scanty.

Polyphony. We can’t define a leader here. All the phones are quite similar. In our opinion, T300 has nicer ringers than GD67. Then come C350 and Nokia 3510i, which has only 4-tones polyphony. T300 supports 24-tones polyphony. GD67 and C350 have 16-tones polyphonic ringing tones.

Vibrating alert. С350 has the weakest vibracall. Other phones resemble each other by this feature.

Java. Motorola C350 supports this function. All three pre-installed games are Java-games. The problem is that the phone doesn’t enable to download new games and delete existed ones. So, C350 is not a “flexible” phone.

Panasonic GD67 doesn’t support Java. That is why it can’t be compared.

You can delete pre-installed games and download new ones in Nokia 3510i. It is the only phone among mentioned four, which has full Java support.

Sony Ericsson T300 doesn’t support Java applications, but enables to delete pre-installed games and download new ones (Mophun platforam). So, to some extent these capabilities can compensate absence of Java.

Organizer. This function is not very necessary in the phone of the middle class. Nevertheless, we decide to take into account this feature in our comparative analyses. T300 doesn’t have a calendar, you can make only records of certain events. C350 has only a weekly calendar view, what is not always convenient. This application is realized well in such phones as Panasonic GD67, Nokia 3510i.

Other features. It is necessary to say that Motorola C350 doesn’t have any alarm-clocks. A main menu is too long there and a navigation is difficult. T300 has voice memo function, which allows to make rather long records even during the talk. GD67 supports an integrated handsfree speakerphone, which works without problems. Nokia 3510i also has a long main menu, but a better navigation. Shortcut number navigation is very helpful. There is a special menu item, called Gallery, where you can view images and listen to the ringing tones. So, Т300 and Nokia 3510i are the most advanced phones among described ones.

Conclusions

Of course, we can continue our comparison, but we think that the picture is obvious. You can look at the final table, which unites all described features. We chose the best phone among the 4 ones and marked it with a “+”, other were marked with “-” respectively. Totally, we chose 11 parameters.

We could repeat that these results concern only 4 models. Probably, if compare these phones with other models, the results will be much better.

So, Motorola C350 has the less functions. Two main virtues of this phone are compact dimensions and display, which can show up to 4096 colors. Panasonic GD67 also stands our by dimensions and many additional features. This phone is comparable to Motorola C350. It wins only one point.

Sony Ericsson T300 and Nokia 3510i are the leaders. Don’t forget that we put "+" in the line with Java to Т300 only because it support games downloading and usually, Java is necessary to do namely this operation. Lack of organizer in T300 is a not so important feature, but we paid attention to it. We hope, that using this table and your necessities and wishes, you can easily choose a phone with a color screen.

The last paragraph will be devoted to price, of course, which sometimes is the main factor which influences our choice. Generally, we can present retail prices in the following way: Motorola C350<Nokia 3510i<Panasonic GD67<Sony Ericsson T300. We think that in the future this row will be the same. Today retail prices in Moscow are:

• Motorola C350 – 170-180 USD
• Nokia 3510i – 190-200 USD
• Panasonic GD67 – 200-210 USD
• Sony Ericsson T310 – 240-250 USD

When you compare prices and the final table, you will understand that Nokia 3510i is the optimal choice (price/quality), Panasonic GD67 is not very reasonable purchase. Price of Т300 is too overestimated by Russian distributors. In Europe they are lower. Motorola C350 is attractive as the cheapest phone with a color screen. In summer it would cost less than 100-120USD. Purchasing the phone, pay attention not only to the features and price, but design as well. If you buy the phone, which design you don’t like, you won’t be satisfied with its work either. Don’t forget it before buying.

Links:

• Review Nokia 3510i
• Review Panasonic GD67
• Review Motorola C350
• Review Sony Ericsson T300
• Review Sony Ericsson T310

Eldar Murtazin (eldar@mobile-review.com)
Translated by Maria Sennikova (maria@mobile-review.com)

Published — 25 February 2003

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