Orange Rio 2 Review
| |
Review: May 2011 |
|
| |
Last updated September 2011.
Phone rating: 
In a nutshell: The Orange Rio II is a treasure. It's got
BlackBerry style at a budget price, and it even packs in 3G HSDPA
and a touchscreen user interface - features that BlackBerries costing
twice as much don't offer. With a QWERTY keyboard, video messaging,
push email, easy access to facebook and plenty of other tasty features,
the Rio 2 is a bargain. Available in Black and White.
Best buy:
*Free* from Orange
(Black or White); or on Pay as you Go for £49.99 from
Orange
(Black or White).
|
|
The Orange Rio II is a surprising little number. It
looks like a BlackBerry, but costs a fraction of the price. Yet it gives
a lot more than you'd expect from the price tag. In some ways it's even
better than the BlackBerry 8520 costing
twice as much. Orange are expecting this to be their top selling pay-as-you-go
phone of 2011, and you can see why.
With the BlackBerry looks and the purse-friendly price
tag, you can see at a glance that this is a phone for the facebook generation.
It has a great QWERTY keyboard, plus the benefit of a touchscreen -
something that the BlackBerry 8520 doesn't have. This isn't the highest
spec phone by any means, but for messaging it's great. As well as text
and video messaging, the Rio II comes pre-configured for push email,
and there are widgets for quick access to facebook and other social
networking sites. The Rio II also has the benefit of 3G with HSDPA giving
fast access to the internet, so there's no hanging around waiting for
facebook to load.
There's also a basic 3 megapixel camera with video,
plus a media player and FM radio. A 3.5mm audio jack lets you plug in
your own headphones. In fact you'll need to, as headphones aren't included
in the box.
The built-in memory is 80MB - very generous for this
price range - and you can add a microSD card to give plenty of storage
for music, etc. Connectivity is by Bluetooth or mini-USB, and a USB
cable is supplied in the sales package. Battery life isn't great, however.
We think this is a fabulous little phone. It's smart,
it's easy to use and it's not expensive. We've just got to say it -
BlackBerries are not the only fruit.
Features of the Orange Rio II include:
- 3.2 megapixel camera
- Video recording
- Display: TFT resistive touchscreen, 262,000 colours,
240 x 320 pixels (2.4 inches)
- MP3 & media player
- Stereo FM radio
- Ringtones: MP3 ringtones, vibration alert
- Voice recorder
- Integrated handsfree speaker
- Messaging: SMS, MMS, email, Orange Messenger
- Internet: Web browser, HSDPA
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, mini-USB, 3.5 mm audio
jack
- Memory: 80MB plus microSD memory card
- Triband plus 3G
- Size: 110 x 61 x 12.5 mm
- Weight: 106g
- Talktime: 4 hours
- Battery standby: 288 hours
Compare Orange
Rio II deals and Orange
Rio II White deals at MobilePhoneChecker.co.uk.
Orange Rio II Consumer Reviews
Love your mobile? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other
people choose the phone that's best for them. Please do not review this
phone if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a forum, so
please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear words or offensive
language, and please, no advertising!
Average rating from 53 reviews: 
Reviewed by mark knight from england on 19th Feb
2012
Just got the Rio 2. In a nutshell it is an amazing phone for such a
low price. It can do most of the stuff that the Blackberry can without
the need to self destruct like the Blackberry. I brought this phone
to replace an Orange Miami which cost around £30, so for an extra £35
I got the big brother which does everything I want it to do.
I would reccomend this phone to anyone - unless they are phone chav's
who like the name rather tahn look for good value for money!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by sue from uk on 16th Feb 2012
this mobile is so neat and easy to use and for someone who is 50+ its
essential
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Ross from Scotland on 4th Feb 2012
I bought this phone a short while ago as a temporary stand in for my
HTC Desire HD which has developed a fault and needs to be sent off for
repair. I have to say that for the money I'm really impressed. The overall
build quality belies its cheap price. It really feels chunky and solid
in your hands. On par with any of my family's blackberries that they
own. The camera is acceptable for the odd snap, but the lack of flash
lets it down a bit as is the lack of wifi which is really not on in
this day and age. It's easy to type on and reasonably quick to respond
although the touch screen can be a bit fiddly at times due to being
so small. I really think they should have left that feature out because
it only makes the phone more difficult to use. That said, it's a reasonably
clear and bright screen.
Battery life for my taste is more than acceptable, (Takes a day and
a half to start dropping from full charge... but after using a Desire
HD which barely lasts 12 hours if you've got wifi or bluetooth on or
are playing any games...using the music player etc, then my opinion
might be a bit skewed compared to other phones.
Call quality is very good and the phone is really LOUD, which is great
after the tinny, quiet speakers or the Desire and a major addition which
differs from the official review above...Buying this phone from Argos
as an orange payg, this phone now comes with a 2Gb micro SD card, which
adds value to the phone and raises its basic phone memory to a useful
amount.
All in all a cheap, robust phone that you won't have to worry too much
about that does the basics. No, it's not a smart phone and it doesn't
have anything but the awful orange app store and the orange bloatware
which doesn't seem removable. But what it does do, it does pretty well!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Amelia from UK on 4th Feb 2012
Got a rio 2 for Xmas as I have just had a rubbish cheap samsung phone.
Really wanted a blackberry but my mum said they were too much. Rio 2
is a brilliant phone, you can check emails, get the weather forecast,
Facebook, twitter and lots more. Really good phone for messaging. You
get more than it is worth!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Tina from uk on 27th Jan 2012
My Hubby got me the Rio II as an upgrade from Rio I. Fantastic phone.
I had mine 2 days after it first came out & not looked back. Texting,
touch screen, downloading, all so very easy. BUT NOW AFTER ALL OF THAT......
my phone has just gone wrong on me as in i can speek to you but cannot
hear you. Does this come to mined to anyone eals ???? Hubby brought
me a cheep look-a-like untill my Rio II has been repaired. can't wait,
i wont my Rio II back. Never mine what others say this is a fantastic
phone & you have got to try it out for your self. Yes battery is not
as good as the Rio I, but recharging it over night is fine for me as
i use is for my alarm in the morning. xx
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Dami from England on 23rd Jan 2012
I am amazed at this phone, it is the one and also is packed with loads
of features. Iam also impressed with the touchscreen and the qwerty
keyboard as they just make it look so more attracting. I think BlackBerry
will need better devices and also I think that this will do well as
the phone would appeal to alot of people and also at £49.99 it is so
cheap and just because its small doesnt mean its not good.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Louise from UK on 18th Jan 2012
Rubbish, broke 1st day I had it. As someone else has commented get blackberry
or nokia c300 , nokia e5 or nokia e6. Yes slightly more money but its
that or getting a rip of of a phone? Would NOT recomend x . However
its ok for texting hope thats helped x :) Louise, chester
Rating:  Reply
Reviewed by luke roycroft from england on 17th
Jan 2012
dont get the orange rio it is rubbish and basic i have got it and black
berrys and iphone r well better
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by Jemima from stafford on 12th Jan 2012
Well i got rio 2 for xmas perfectly fine but just got 1 comment the
battery life isn't so goo but other than that amazing phone i am only
10 and i wanted a blckberry but then i heard about the rio 2 and i will
stick with this phone xx
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by joe from england on 5th Jan 2012
very good so far, the touchscreen is a little lagging but the keyboard
is perfect, the battery is fine this is a good phone for the price,
what were you expecting for 49 quid, a blackberry? so is good phone
so for that reason:
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by cheap phone pro from uk on 5th Jan
2012
if you have downgraded to the rio 2 then the chances are that you will
struggle for a bit, but if you have upgraded from a vairy touch then
the rio 2 is amazing, i jumpped strait onto the rio 2 and automaticly
know how to work it. one problem is that i cant get it unlocked to t
mobile were i have unlimited texts and unlimited internet. that would
make this phone even better i think.
Rating: 
Reply
Reviewed by mandy from southampton on 4th Jan
2012
i got this phone for xmas the battery life is not good seem to be charging
it up most days,and keep loosing the signal.it also is hard to use texing
takes for ever.and the touch screen dosnt work that well,you get what
you pay for thats why its cheap. i want to change it if i can.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by shayll from wales on 3rd Jan 2012
i got this phone for christmas and its amazing but i need it unlocked
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by sandy from uk on 3rd Jan 2012
Recently purchased a Rio II as I already had the Rio I, just wanted
to upgrade for a better camera on this one, but very disappointed the
battery life is aweful lasts about 2 days if that. Already had another
battery sent to me, but the same has happened with that so another handset
is now coming to me. lets see if this works - DO NOT buy a Rio II, the
Rio I was much better and battery life lasted 2 weeks...very disappointed
indeed.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Alex bear from England on 1st Jan
2012
This is a good phone it works perfectly and the keyboard is amazing
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Bob Singleton from UK on 30th Dec
2011
Owning both a Blackberry and a Rio (as a spare phone), I am amazed at
your review... a QWERTY keyboard "plus the benefit of a touchscreen"
I absolutely HATE the touchscreen on the Rio. I don't see it as a benefit
at all... indeed it is it's most hateful feature! I also dislike the
keyboard of the Rio compared to the BB. On the BB the keyboard lights
up so you can type easily even in the dark. With the Rio, the keyboard
can barely be read in good light. As for the actual feel of the keyboard...
well, you get what you pay for in life. The Rio is cheap for a reason,
and that's because it's cheap and nasty. Add to this dreadful menus,
the inability to store much information for each contact and an incompatibility
with Macs (I can't back up data on my Rio to my iMac or MacBooks) and
you have a phone barely worthy of a single star.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by consumer from uk on 27th Dec 2011
I love my phone and its so easy to text on, its better than earlier
blackberry models beacause it has qwerty keyboard and is touch screen.
Only problem is i can't find a case for it ;)
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Lyds from UK on 26th Dec 2011
As i mostly use a mobile for texting I liked the idea of this as it
had a qwerty keyboard for a lot less than a blackberry. Have to say
its been fine screen and battery wise in the first day since receiving
it. Yes the buttons are a bit small and having a bit of nail is helpful
for the touchscreen. But I can't believe it doesn't come with a variety
of ring and message tones like my past nokias, samsung and sony ericsson's
have done. Also, does anyone know how to show the name rather than the
number of past callers/messagers. Thought I'd read it on here earlier,
but can't find it now.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Dami from Uk on 25th Dec 2011
This phone is a cool one with a range of features. from mp3 players
r cameras which can suit anyone and i adore the phone. It has many features
which i am impresses with including 3G connection which is very fast
and facebook, twitter apps so i advise u get this phone you won't be
disapointted
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Abby from england on 25th Dec 2011
this phone is amazing but the battery lasts about an hour!! and i cant
find out how to download music onto it. the best fearture i thought
was the camera because the quality was outstanding better than some
cameras!! PS this review was also written by a twelve year old
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Patrick Owusu Antwi from Ghana on
24th Dec 2011
Very nice, durable and good for browsing. But my problem however got
to do with the battery?
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Alysha from England on 22nd Dec 2011
I got this phone yesterday and already im really pleased with it, i
had been saving up for a blackberry for a little while and when my sister
showed me this phone i thought it was one. I decieded i would by it
because my old phone, a miami by orange, was playing up even though
i had only had it a year. When the rio came it was in good condition
and everything seemed to work,there were a lot of features and i still
need to try some. They battery isnt great but i can live with it. Overall
I think this phone is brilliant! PS this review is from a tweleve year
old!!! But whole family aproves of the phone even grandpa!!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Caitlin from England on 24th Nov 2011
I don't care what people say..."this phone is bad, don't buy it" and
"this phone doesn't live up". well, it's a £50 phone, what do you expect?
It has excellent memory for the price, it is stylish and good-looking,
it's simple to work....the only thing is, how do you turn off the camera
shutter noise?? :@ But otherwise, EXCELLENT PHONE!! :D
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Laurence from england on 21st Nov
2011
i got this phone and was bitterly disappointed!!! dont buy this phone!!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Jake from England on 20th Nov 2011
Really bad phone, i had read this review and went straight out to get
one.... I don't have a clue how much Orange paid this company but; the
internets slow, the texting layout is really bad, the touch screen is
just a joke and that annoying mail button on the right always manages
to accidentally get pressed, charging me for every minute i'm on there.
Really poor phone to be honest, you'll be better of carrying a tin can
and some string around -.-
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by zoe h from scotland on 18th Nov 2011
this is a gr8 phone! i am 11 and i really wanted a blackberry but then
i got this phone and im satisfied! i agree that the battery life isn't
too good but everything else is 10/10. it is very good for txting, nice
size key board. its good having the touch screen as well, just occasionally
it isn't 100% sensitive. very good, i've got it in white which is nice
especially if you want a change from black and i dont think it looks
tacky like someone said on these comments. the only thing is that is
that if you want a game, then it costs £5... :/ i bought the sims three
and its AWESOME!!! the phone is very good and i would recommend it if
you wanted a not to expensive, good quality phone. someone in my class
said 'lets see your phone' ,so i showed them it and they said 'oh, cool!
you've got a blackberry!'. so it looks like a blackberry too! one of
my friends have a normal rio and when she saw that i had facebook on
my phone she was well jealous! now one of my other friend wants a rio
2 too cos shes not allowed a blackberry and wants a good phone.the bluetooth
on the phone is gr8 to. altogether, a gr8 fone; why waste money on a
blackberry when you can get this for a fraction of the price?! go on,
buy it - its AWESOME!!! :) (btw everyone says htc phones are rubbish)
x lol x :)
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by me from england on 12th Nov 2011
This phone is brill!!!like a blackberry but not!!!!!i got a free pair
of headphones worth £60!!!!!=> im only 12 and i love.purfect 4 me i
have all ways wanted a blackberry so this is purfect!!!!!!!!!im well
happy!!!!:-)
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by oggy from uk on 10th Nov 2011
Nasty phone the keys are very small i am not impressed with this phone
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by shardy from England on 2nd Nov 2011
I LOVE my new phone, easy to use and looks soooo smart also got to use
my orange phone fund and because of this phone only cost me £18.99.
sending text and emails are simple. sound quality for music is fantastic
Highly Recommend this phone. Partner has a Blackberry curve and he actually
prefers my NEW PHONE...lol
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Jessica P from England on 26th Oct
2011
I lov ethis phone, but how many texts and minutes do you get in a £10
contract?? x
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Keith from England on 23rd Oct 2011
A great phone, no problems with keyboard, or battery life. Has any one
managed to download their music in MP3 format without a mini usb card.
In theory it should be possible to copy your music files as data, butthey
do not appear in the music list.
Rating:
Reply
Reply by Amelia from Uk on 4th Feb
2012
I haven't been able to download but I have got 4 songs by Bluetooth
without a mini USB card
Reviewed by Freya from Wales on 18th Oct 2011
Facebook keeps crashing, not very good at all! Other than that, its
an amazing phone!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Drew gena from uk on 15th Oct 2011
its a good phone and great if u wanted a black berry and u cant get
one! but the only think i want 2 know if its got bluetooth??????? :)
x
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Alanna from Scotland on 13th Oct 2011
The rio 2 is outstanding because it has a quilty keypad and it's great
because it also has touch screen
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by bradlad from kazhakstan on 7th Oct
2011
i leik dis phnoe ver much i boght it frm usa on holday and it very good
i liek it and it makes my english bettr
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Anonymous from Anonymous on 6th Oct
2011
I just got the rio phone 2 and I don't see why there are some bad reports!
It's perfectly fine as long as you don't jack it up! Thats when everything
goes wrong! I'm only 12 and I hnk it's a great phone if you can't get
a blackberry! xx
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Ryan from UK on 20th Sep 2011
You've got to be kidding me. Why are there so many good reviews here?
Its touch screen doesn't work properly, the menus are nonintuitive,
and email drafts don't get saved if you're out of the network range
and it fails to send. Typing is awkward, as the keyboard is very cheap.
Rating: Reply
Reviewed by Antonio from Lisbon, Portugal on 9th
Sep 2011
I got the RioII from Optimus, the phone itself is great, has Blackberry
like functions and for only €15 per month I get 500mb of internet
service as well as free calls within the optimus network. The touchscreen
sometimes takes a few attempts to select something on he scren and the
battery life is whatever. I charge mine every two days and i do use
it to go online so for what I paid which was €55 on sale, it´s
the best phone out there if you want a discount Blackberry
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by hdhdhe from birmingham on 5th Sep
2011
very good
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Anonymous from England on 30th Aug
2011
This phone isnt as good looking as the 1st 1 that i have so..
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Hannah from UK on 20th Aug 2011
I'd just like to point out that headphones DO come in the box. It's
a great little phone, way better and much more fun then my old one.
The camera is sufficient enough, but hey nobody expects anything too
fancy for that price ;) The general layout of the phone is lovely,and
I enjoy using it. I am however worried about how quickly the touch screen
will get scratched but I'm sure screen protectors will do the job. I'm
on the Dolphin program with Orange and I have to say for £10 a month
I was quite chuffed with what I got in return. I get unlimited texts
for £5 and 100mb internet free if I apply for it. As its pay as you
go, i don't need to wrry about not being able to afford it. I havent
experienced any problem with the battery, the keyboard is lovely and
the features are useful and easy to use. I prefered the black to the
white and the white one looks a bit tacky. For a teenager this is a
great phone, I would recommend it to a friend but I don't want to because
I want to be the one with the 'cool' phone :P
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Julia from West Sussex on 11th Aug
2011
I am pleased with it but the battery is complete rubbish. My old phone
used to last about a week with 12 hours notice to the battery running
out completly. The Rio goes from 2 bars to nothing in a couple of hours
then just dies and switches itself off. Most annoying if you don't want
to carry the charger around with you all the time. I only use it for
texts and a couple of calls a week - no internet. But other than that
very pleased with it.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Tom from UK on 5th Aug 2011
Great phone, rubbish network
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by shaune from england on 5th Aug 2011
outstanding top of the range phone can get better some one said he spent
all hi money that he was saving up on his phone then saw my rio 2 and
was so said that he didnt buy it if you want my opinion buy its amazing
and trust me you wont regret it
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by ramona from uk on 3rd Aug 2011
i think this is a really great phone to buy and it works just like a
blackberry someways even better. But i have to charge mine like every
2 dayz so the battery is tht great but its a cool phone and my friends
all think tht ive got a blackberry nw. Its a great phone!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Zoeehh Snm from England on 31st Jul
2011
The best phone ever !!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Satana from England on 20th Jul 2011
love it so much buy it
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Julie B from UK on 15th Jul 2011
Had Rio II a week now,really pleased with it! Being touchscreen and
querty keyboard you get the best of both worlds. Camera is good. Price
is fantastic...Mine was £59.99. Only fault I have found is battery doesn't
last very long.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Beth M from UK on 10th Jul 2011
i love my rio, i was worried because a lot of people said the keys were
too small but i find it easy to use and simple. it is stylish and a
great alternative to spending loads of money on a blackberry, when you
can spend less money on a phone just as good, just as stylish and easier
to use... :)
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Andy M from UK on 8th Jul 2011
I've just got one of these from the Orange Shop. I bought the white
one - last one ava in 2 shops - and think it's superb. At the mo (JULY
2011) it's on special buy at £59.95 and comes with headphones AND a
2GB micro SD card so the deal is even better.
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by James from uk on 28th Jun 2011
BUY THIS PHONE, it's features are exactly the same as a blackberry if
not better! with qwerty keypads and touchscreen on this phone it is
just one of those 'must have' products. With the low budget this phone
is great for anyone, never let me down had it for months and i'm loving
it, can assure you if you buy this phone you will NOT be dissapointed.
so get looking!!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by sakira from england on 17th Jun 2011
rio is the most best phone it is like a treasure of your life!
Rating:
Reply
Reviewed by Tina Blundred from UK on 18th May
2011
I have got the orange rio and it's a really good phone,I have been waiting
for the release of t orange rio ll since Feb 2011.Now it's been released
I can't wait to go out and buy it.
Rating:
Reply
Orange Rio II Links
Orange
Rio II deals
Orange
Rio II White deals
|
