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While the headline grabbing mobiles of the moment are busy breaking new ground, the Sony Ericsson T715 provides a less eye-catching but steady alternative for those looking for a moderately priced and reasonably featured 3G handset.
It's a good looking device that'll fit snugly into any pocket or handbag, and offers a degree of understated style without being particularly attention seeking.
Its feature rundown is solid rather than exciting, but although it may be short of high-end feature fireworks, it offers a reliable, if low-key, package of features that are generally straightforward to use.
Compromises such as lack of autofocus on the camera may put some off, and the online experience is unexceptional for a mid-tier device like this, but as an affordable handset, it does offer a reasonable package.
We liked
The design of the T715 is classy and compact for a lower-priced mid-range handset, and its numberpad and control keys provide a good, responsive user experience.
Its menus are straightforward to navigate and it has a decent spread of features inside, including high-speed HSPA data connectivity for browsing and using online service apps embedded in the phone.
The music player puts in a decent performance (the average in-box earphones notwithstanding), and video playback is reasonable for the screen size.
We disliked
Although it has a solid if low-key feature package, there's little about the T715 to really wow users – although that may not be a drawback for users looking for a 'steadier' device.
We'd have liked to have seen a bit more punch in the camera's performance; the lack of autofocus is a shame when some similar grade cameraphones have it.
The absence of a 3.5mm headphone socket or adaptor in-box is also a let down, and the standard bulky earphone multi-connector on the side feels awkward and snag-prone in-pocket – particularly as the phone is relatively compact.
Additional features such as Wi-Fi and A-GPS would have been welcome, too, though some compromises are understandable for the price.
Verdict
If you're after an understated but classy handset that may not be geared up with the very latest high-end gadgetry but which does the job, the Sony Ericsson T715 could be worth looking at.
It's a reasonably priced low-key handset that puts in a decent performance and is straightforward to operate. It may not turn heads, but it delivers a solid user experience in an attractive, compact package.
