Sony Ericsson K530 Review

Design:

Sony Ericsson K530 is offered in two color variations – Warm Silver (our unit was that color type) and Thunder Black. The difference between both is the coloration of the keypad and the side part of the phone, as well as the area around the camera.



While keeping almost the same weight as K510 (92 gr. / 3.2 oz), the device has “slimmed” even though it gained a number of additional options. Its average dimensions (102 x 46 14 mm / 4 x 1.8 x 0.5 in) allow for putting it into the jacket or jeans pocket without any bulging.



The display is 2 inch, with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels and 262 144 colors and a very wide visibility angle. It has the same colors like the K510, but with better screen resolution. The images displayed are well saturated and contrasting, which makes them decently visible even at bright daylight.



The control buttons and the numeric keypad are situated below the display, evenly backlit in white, so one can see them well in a dark environment. One cannot escape noticing that, as in most new models of the company, there is a five-position navigation button here, instead of a joystick. Despite of the fact that the numeric keys are tightly set next to each other, it will be hard to press several of them simultaneously because of their step-like positioning and the distance between the columns.

The camera buttons and those for volume control are on the right side, and the slot for the memory card is on the left. The ON/OFF button is placed on the top – this has come to be a standard location not only for Nokia, but for Sony Ericsson as well.




The camera is on the back of the phone. Apart from it and the socket for an external aerial, you will not find anything else here. The lack of a mirror will be an unpleasant surprise when attempting to take pictures of yourself. The lens is laid flat on the back panel without any sort of lid for dust, fingerprint, or even shock protection.




The second, video conversation camera, is reasonably located on the front of the phone, right below the initial part of the “Sony Ericsson” inscription above the screen.


When held in your hand, the phone feels comfortably. The plastic on the back has a coating meant to prevent the unit from slipping or possibly dropping it.


During our tests of K530’s prototype we noticed that the battery-covering back lid was not steadily fixed, which caused an excessively irritating play. We are now glad to acknowledge that the company designers have obviously worked on solving this problem; changes in the construction, however small at first sight, have been sufficient to do so. Closing the lid is now tight and it is well secured in place: we congratulate the constructors of Sony Ericsson on this development and consider the problem to be overcome.