Sony Ericsson G502
3 DirectThe casing surpasses expectations by avoiding the trap of the cheap plastic look but rather presenting a general solid, balanced design.
Our Sony Ericsson G502 Review
Design
The Sony Ericsson G502’s design has a unique web 2.0 feel to it. From first look, we were able to tell that this handset is internet-oriented hardwired with 3G features. Available in black, the G502’s curvy sides yet again remind us of the web 2.0 web design patterns and styles. The casing surpasses expectations by avoiding the trap of the cheap plastic look but rather presenting a general solid, balanced design.
Screen
At 2.0”, the G502’s LCD screen is pleasant surprise. The 240x320 QVGA resolution is live with over 260,000 colours with presentable saturation and contrast. Such display is breath of fresh air in a market segment where screen performance isn’t up to standard.
User Interface
The Sony Ericsson G502’s user interface is reminiscent of the interface used on the K850 – a definite plus on its margin. The main menu is easy to navigate through as the icons are animated. Sub-menus appear in a vertical list making a clear division for the user. Those brand new flash animated main menu themes put a big smile on our face as Sony Ericsson is always looking for ways to make the users’ lives easier.
Keypad
The Sony Ericsson G502’s D-pad is its weakest link. While it does address ergonomics in its six semi-circular buttons, the G502’s D-pad’s buttons are small, hard to control, and a bit clumsy with directions. The music controls are placed on the side along with the volume and camera shutter buttons – a common standard for music handsets.
Camera & Multimedia
As this handset is designed to serve Internet-related services, we’ve noticed that it’s soft on the camera features side. The 2.0 MP camera doesn’t shine in the pixel density, clarity, and colours department. Moreover, it has no protective lens, thus making it susceptible to all kinds of damage.
We were pleased to know there’s a Walkman 3.0 music player embedded with the G502. As we tried out different file formats, we noticed a reassuring consistency in quality. The Sony Ericsson G502 supports diverse formats such as: WAV, WMA, M4A, MIDI, AAC+, AAC, E-AAC+, and MP3.
The sound quality is average - suitable for casual listeners. Of course, you cannot possibly compare its sound quality with its cousins in the Walkman series, as they are dedicated music players. One perk is that you can use both the radio and music player in the background, making it easier to browse and listen to your favourite tracks. Add to that, the G502 has a reliable movie player capable of running in different modes such as: landscape, portrait, and full screen.
Connectivity & Battery Life
The Sony Ericsson G502’s connectivity is among the best in the low-mid range handsets. It takes advantage of 3G HSDPA, GPRS, and aGPS for fast data transfer and page browsing. As a cherry on top, it also utilizes Bluetooth and USB for speedy file transfers.
The battery performance is stellar. At 340 hours standby and 10 hours of talk-time, the Sony Ericsson G502 competes with high-end handsets. We found its battery life to be quite impressive regardless of what applications you’re running. You can expect to recharge your handset every 4-6 days.
What We liked
We liked the Sony Ericsson G502 for its great connectivity, superb web browser, compact size, and high battery life.
What we disliked
We disliked the Sony Ericsson’s G502’s lack of video-call camera, hard to handle D-pad, and performance under sunlight.
Our Final Verdict
The more we’ve explored the Sony Ericsson G502, the more we loved it. You can think of this handset as the Netbook of the mobile world: affordable, simple, and optimized for maximum performance. Overlooking the camera and D-pad problems, this handset is definitely the Internet mobile phone of the year!
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| Read Review | |||
| Sony Ericsson G502 | |||
General | |||
| Form Factor | Candybar | ||
| Dimensions | 103 x 46 x 13 (mm) | ||
| Talk Time | 210 mins | ||
| Standby Time | 350 hours | ||
| Weight | 83 g | ||
| Tri Band | Yes | ||
Photo and Video | |||
| Integrated Camera | Yes | ||
| Camera | 2.00 megapixels | ||
| Video Player | Yes | ||
Phone | |||
| Vibrating Alert | Yes | ||
| Polyphonic Ringtones | Yes | ||
Messaging | |||
| MMS | Yes | ||
| Photo Messaging | Yes | ||
| Predictive Text | Yes | ||
Screen | |||
| Colour Screen | Yes | ||
Connectivity | |||
| 3G | Yes | ||
| Bluetooth | Yes | ||
| Yes | |||
| WAP | Yes | ||
Music and Radio | |||
| FM Radio | Yes | ||
| MP3 Player | Yes | ||
| MP3 Ringtones | Yes | ||
Additional Content | |||
| Downloadable Content | Yes | ||
| Downloadable Games | Yes | ||
| Downloadable Ringtones | Yes | ||
Sony Ericsson G502 Full Specification
General
| Form Factor | Candybar |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 103 x 46 x 13 (mm) |
| Talk Time | 210 mins |
| Standby Time | 350 hours |
| Weight | 83 g |
| Tri Band | Yes |
Photo and Video
| Integrated Camera | Yes |
|---|---|
| Camera | 2.00 megapixels |
| Video Player | Yes |
Phone
| Vibrating Alert | Yes |
|---|---|
| Polyphonic Ringtones | Yes |
Messaging
| MMS | Yes |
|---|---|
| Photo Messaging | Yes |
| Predictive Text | Yes |
Screen
| Colour Screen | Yes |
|---|
Connectivity
| 3G | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Yes | |
| WAP | Yes |
Music and Radio
| FM Radio | Yes |
|---|---|
| MP3 Player | Yes |
| MP3 Ringtones | Yes |
Additional Content
| Downloadable Content | Yes |
|---|---|
| Downloadable Games | Yes |
| Downloadable Ringtones | Yes |
User Comments
Ryan Brandon submitted on 4 July 2009Boy is this mobile easy to carry around. It fits great in my pocket that sometimes I forget it's there… kudos to Sony Ericsson
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Images of the Sony Ericsson G502
