Review: Sony Ericsson C702 / C702i

Sony Ericsson C702 Review

Phone rating:

In a nutshell: The Sony Ericsson C702 is a mid-range 3G phone that offers a lot for your money. Its star feature is GPS satellite positioning, combined with Google Maps. It's built for the outdoors, being splashproof and dust resistant. In addition it's equipped with an excellent 3.2 megapixel camera, a music player, an FM radio and high-speed 3G internet (HSDPA). Battery life is excellent too, but the keypad and joystick are slightly fiddly. But this phone is so feature-packed, we're willing to overlook this one flaw. Available in Cool Cyan or Speed Black.
Best buy: *Free* with half-price line rental from Dialaphone (Black) or free from Vodafone.

The C702 is the second release in Sony Ericsson's new "C" for Cyber-Shot™ range (the first was the flagship C902.) The C702 is not as expensive as the C902, but it isn't simply a budget version of the C902. Instead, the C702 is a new kind of phone from Sony Ericsson - it's a rugged outdoor kind of phone, designed to be splashproof and dust-resistant, and equipped with Assisted GPS satellite positioning.

The phone feels rugged enough. We didn't test it by dropping it in the bath or burying it in the sand, so we can't vouch for how rugged it really is, but Sony Ericsson say that it complies with the IP54 (Ingress Protection) standard, and it's clearly been designed to be tougher than normal phones. The phone is a good size and weight (not too big or too small), and has a good-sized screen. However, we don't like the joystick / navigation key, and the buttons are quite small too.

This is a Cyber-Shot phone, so we're expecting a good camera. At 3.2 megapixels, it isn't up there with the 5 megapixels of the C902, but it compares well with previous camera phones such as the K800i. The camera is equipped with face-detection autofocus, a digital zoom and an LED flash. It's as good as anything currently available in the mid-range of phones.

The star feature of the C702 is the Assisted GPS. This will find your location and show you where you are on Google Maps™. This isn't a system that will replace the satnav in your car, but is ideal for personal use. This is definitely a great feature for any outdoor activity, and will be useful for anyone wanting to find their way around the city too. Previously GPS has only been available in top-of-the-range phones such as the Nokia N95, so it's great to see this technology starting to filter down into mid-priced phones. The GPS includes a geo-tagging feature, so it records the location of where each photo was taken. Personally, I have no trouble remembering where I took a photo ("This is me at the beach", etc) , but this feature may be helpful for some.

The phone is fully equipped with all of life's essentials for the 21st century. Music-wise it may not be a Walkman phone, but it has a fully-featured music player and FM radio (with RDS). You can listen to music with conventional headphones or an optional Bluetooth wireless stereo headset. We're delighted to see a full 150 Mbytes of internal memory, which is very generous, and is enough to store around 40 songs. You can add a Memory Stick Micro or Memory Stick PRO to increase storage to 4 GB. Fast "always-on" internet access is available via 3G HSDPA. Battery life seems to be good too.

The C702 is an impressive phone. Of course it doesn't have all the features of the high-end phones, but when you consider the price of the phone, it compares very favourably with other mid-range phones. We considered deducting one star because of the keypad/joystick, but have decided on balance to award the full 5 stars, as it excels in every other respect.

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Features of the Sony Ericsson C702 include:

• 3.2 megapixel camera with face-detection autofocus, 2x digital zoom and photo light
• Video recording & video streaming
• Display: TFT, 262,144 colours, 240 x 320 pixels
• Music player & FM radio RDS
• PlayNow™ music download service
• TrackID™
• MegaBass™
• Polyphonic ringtones & MP3 / AAC ringtones
• Sound recorder
• Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email
• 3D Java games
• Picture wallpaper
• Personal organiser functions
• Internet: Modem, EDGE, HSDPA (3.6 Mbps downloads), web browser
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB
• Memory: 150 Mbytes plus Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) compatible / Memory Stick PRO compatible via adapter
• Quadband GSM plus 3G (UMTS 2100)
• Flight mode
• Vibration alert
• Size: 106 x 48 x 16 mm
• Weight: 105g
• Talktime: 5 hours (3G) - 7 hours (2G)
• Battery standby: 300 hours

Sony Ericsson C702 Consumer Reviews

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Average rating from 36 reviews:

Reviewed by Sarah from UK on 3rd Oct 2008
those who are having a problem with this phone switching off, freezing and displaying "invalid sim" need to go to the sony ericsson website and follow the instructions to update the software...I've had no problems since, it works a treat!
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Reviewed by Ehab Afana from Sweeden on 28th Sep 2008
It's wonderful and easy to use 'it's my best and i like it 'no one else comes close to me!!!!!
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Reviewed by delorayn from Croatia on 26th Sep 2008
This is great phone, I have bought it few days ago, immediately updated firmware and downloaded (well, compiled and everything) GpsMid and it is working spectacularly! Without A-GPS it needs a long time to connect to sattelites and sometines it won't connect at all, but only if you are in car/bus/house. With A-GPS turned on, it can connect almost everywhere in a matter of seconds, and it only downloads few KB. Oh, I've turned off 3G, I'm not using it, but plain GPRS is fast enough. With intense use of GPS, battery is holding well, it can be on several hours before battery drains out. I am not using camera much but it seems good, it can record really good video. 10/10!
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Reviewed by Donald from Scotland on 24th Sep 2008
Had mine 2 months and its utterly useless. As a farmer I thought the "ideal for outdoor lifestyle" included me. Yes I am hard on phones so I bought a fancy screen cover thingy which is the only thing which works on the phone After 2 months it looks like its been in Iraq for the past 5 years paint is off the corners and dust inside the workings. GPS is inaccurate 2700m accuracy well b****r me I'm better off using the stars to navigate. As mentioned it before it switches itself off after 1 Having the lense cover open for too long which happens all the time because it rattles open in your pocket. 2 Getting a knock on something hard (including buttons on my shirt as I take it out to answer a call) 3 Deciding that enough is enough and it can't be arsed so switches off. Sound quality not great especially in noisy surroundings Battery life is a joke almost as bad as previous Nokia 6500 which was why I tried the Sony, Camera is good, Light is good as a torch but not a flash but as a phone its frankly useless and will be going back. If I could give it no stars I would. Reckon I will try a Samsung solid!
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Reviewed by Georgee from Enlgand (UK) on 17th Sep 2008
After finaly selling my 6 month old SE K800i, I decided to go onto contract with o2. I was looking at many phones and the C702 seemed to be the one for me. After reading many reviews, mostly bad, i was reluctant to sign the contract to say that i would have this phone for the next 18 months. Bad Points: Photo light is a joke! and when its on, the photos either come out too dark still or if being used in a brightly lit room, the pictures come out with a disgusting yellowness to them, The screen is very very easily scratched, the phone freezes and then restarts only to say inactive sim and sometimes it wont charge!! Battery life is poor and back battert cover has become loose and you CANNOT text if you dont use your nails! Good points: Camera is good for a phone BUT WORSE THAN A K800i! SatNav and google maps are accurate!! Its splash annd dust resistant, has a good media centre and good internal memory. Overall: A good phone and I would definitely recomend it however if you have a k800i or K810i then stick with it for now because neither the C702 or the C902 are better!
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Reviewed by Kerry from Scotland on 12th Sep 2008
This phone is possibly the worst phone I have EVER had! (and i have had LGs!) It freezes CONSTANTLY, the slide cover for the lens went lose after a week, its easily scratched! Just a horrible phone to have, and its a brick. Having to buy a new phone because O2 are just being awkward about sending it back!
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Reviewed by Sarah from UK on 10th Sep 2008
I have had this phone for little over a month and was impressed until....you guessed it, it started to freeze and showed a blank screen then after about 5 seconds it vibrates then the 3,6,9,# and centre menu button light up blue, when it eventually does come on it reads "invalid SIM" not to mention whilst on a call it freezes and cannot hear the caller for about 10 seconds and suddenly your re-connected. Also when texting or taking pictures it freezes then switches off! I totally agree with others that screen scratches also appear after only a few weeks! Grrr, as you can guess I am taking it back!
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Reviewed by Jimmy C from UK on 9th Sep 2008
I got this phone after sending back C902 because of freezing problems and signal, I like this phone much more than the 902. I did find out after calling SE about signal problems that turning off the 3G and putting it to GSM only removes all the problems with poor signal. Like someone else has pointed out the screen scratches easily and the grey paint around the top edges wear off therefore making it look a little onld after a few weeks. As a phone it is good but again SE where is the return to the start button gone!! Bring it back!
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Reviewed by mike from england on 9th Sep 2008
It broke due to 'liquid contamination' after 2 months and vodafone won't replace it. It's never even got wet! It was starting to look very worn after only 2 weeks. Avoid like syphylis. Its a shame I have to give it one star. Doesn't deserve any.
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Reviewed by Alan from Scotland on 5th Sep 2008
Very disappointed with phone as it regularly freezes & switches off. It also loses signal in poorer reception areas when other, cheaper phones continue to opereate. Would not recommend it.
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Reviewed by LOKENDRA SINGH from INDIA on 4th Sep 2008
IT AND OUTSTANDING PHONE , I GOT MOBILE AS WHAT I WAS LOOKING , EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
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Reviewed by Youseff from Saudi Arabia on 31st Aug 2008
I use this fone lots. It very good, all things work good. I am in sand lots, phone very durable. No problems with battery. Paint is fine. I use camera, and it always work very good. I would recommend this phone to you.
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Reviewed by Trevor from Wales on 25th Aug 2008
The phone seemed very good for a few days,and I was very impressed by the media player. However, the sliding camera lens cover became loose after about a week, and as this very quickly drains the battery when it opens, it is going back from whence it came; I cannot make my mind up whether to get a new one under warranty, or to get another phone by a different manufacturer I used to have a K800i before, which I lost, and I see very few avantages in owning a C702 over a K800i
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Reviewed by Ian from UK on 25th Aug 2008
Had my C702 a few months and was very happy with it to start with after my Nokia N73. Looks great, build quality is good (other than paint rubbing off already) and the software is simple and fast. The wife also has one and she loves the 'Tracker' software for jogging. Downside is the battery life is truly awful. Have to charge every other day and I am a light user at best! 1 or 2 5 minute calls a day. I have also just got the phone back after a warranty repair (corrupted sofware reinstalled- wouldn't boot up) not good after only a few months. Overall a bit disappointed, in hindsight I would've left the upgrade and kept the N73. SE are letting things slip a little.
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Reviewed by Dean from Corby, UK on 20th Aug 2008
I've had three of these handsets now and each has been faulty. Dead pixels featured on two of the three phones, and all three had a tendency to frequently freeze and restart, sometimes several times in a 5-minute period. I carried over the M2 memory card from my previous phone, a K800i and in each of the three phones, the memory card reader was faulty. Songs and videos kept sticking, or jumping, sometimes leading to the phone restarting again. The buttons are rubbish for texting and despite being marketed as a durable phone, after less than two weeks use, the screen was showing signs of scratching and the paint at the corners was beginning to wear off. O2 are claiming this phone is "The perfect replacement for your Sony Ericsson K800i" which is quite misleading considering the flash in the 3.2 mega pixel camera is much worse than the K800i. The battery life is also poor in comparison. All this is such a shame because this is a good looking phone, one I really wanted to like and wanted to work. But there's no shying away from the fact that I was first, second and third time unlucky with the C702 and now i'm back with the trusty K800i (and the memory card is working fine).
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Reviewed by Doug from Kingston upon Thames on 19th Aug 2008
Looks good on paper but such a disappointment!!! I am a big fan of SE phones but the 3.2 Mpic "cybershot" doesn't have a zoom, yes the camera has devolved! Earpiece is also rubbish and I have to tell everyone to shout on the other end. And the keys (again) are a bit dodgey. I say wait till the C905 it should be an improvement. The (a)GPS isn't bad but charging for it is confusing :o(
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Reviewed by Jake from UK on 11th Aug 2008
One of the best phones i had (i had 90 of them). Excellent aGPS, my old n82 goes to ebay due to that. Marvellous pictures and music (on newest R3CA037 firmware). Highly recommended for people who need small fast phone with music and gps!
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Reviewed by juvenal from philippines on 5th Aug 2008
the best mid range phone
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Reviewed by Paul Teale from United Kingdom on 2nd Aug 2008
I got this off ebay on a vodafone contract and it seems vodafone have taken off a few programs, namely wayfinder and Youtube video downloader. It's otherwise a great handset although battery life isn't up to normal SE standard its not bad considering whats on the phone. My only gripe is the quality of the finish, its only a week old and the paints starting to come off over the top of the screen, and the screen itself is more scratched up than my year old k800!
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Reviewed by Swanny from England on 1st Aug 2008
I bought one of these 10 days ago. I had a W810i for a couple of years but felt it time to upgrade to a phone with a better camera. The picture quality from this phone is amazing even compared to my Fuji camera. I find the menu a little bit slower than my W810i I'm with o2 which means the key in the bottom right of the screen edge connects you to the net, it's very easy to push this with out realising as I found out one morning when I woke to find I had been on the net all night. Speaker and earpiece volume is great, my hearing is not the best but I have no problems with this phone. I still prefer my old W810 but this is superior in many ways so will stick with it. Am only giving it 4 stars as I find the keys a bit fiddly. Hope this helps :)
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Reviewed by chris from uk...preston on 20th Jul 2008
the c702 is a decent phone and av had lots of new phones out...the battery cover is a nightmare really u gotta unlock it and struggle to get it off as it doesnt slide......my other issue is texting keys are bit stiff....but i guess cos its dust and splash proof.....great phone otherwise bright screen.good camera,lot of onboard memory,but i had to go back to my sek800i u just cant fault that phone in my eyes
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Reviewed by Skitt from UK on 15th Jul 2008
Received my C702 a couple of days ok. Have been switching between SE and Nokia for a few years but never really found a phone that would be good as a business phone but practical when out and about. Finally SE have got back to the good old days of the K800 and designed a truly great classic looking phone. Camera is 3.2MP but gives a number of 5MP phones a run for their money. There have been comments about the keys being a little small but I find the spacing makes up for this. The joypad can take a little getting used to but is a major step forward compaired to the D-pad found on the K850. The menu system is traditional SE, quick responsive and easy to navigate. The phone comes with the same battery as was found in the K800/810 and I have found the battery life to be very good. The only issue I have with the device is the lock on the back for removing the battery case, I understand why they designed the phone this way but the old click/slide worked very well. A great mid-range phone from Sony Ericsson.
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Reviewed by Paul from UK on 14th Jul 2008
Just to clarify my Google Maps problem below, when I received the phone from O2 online, Google Maps was not installed. However I swapped the phone with one from CarphoneWarehouse (still with O2 but slightly more expensive contract), and Google Maps is installed and works great with the GPS.
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Reviewed by Michael George from UK on 11th Jul 2008
Had the phone a few days, my only gripe is there is no dedicated music button like on my old K800i which you can just click to stop/start listening to music or the radio. As with a previous review O2 seems to have taken off Google maps? so not been able to try it out. But everything is better than by old phone.
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Reviewed by quentin from aus on 9th Jul 2008
had this phone for a few days now, gotta say when i first got it i wasnt too sure i made the right choice, but the more time ive spent with it the more i like it. it does exactually what its spose to do, was pretty much exactually what i thought it would be, nothing more, nothing less.i did my homework in checkin out all the reviews i could find and sempt like a great choice for a mid-end phone with prety decent features. my only slight gripe would be i woulda liked steel and not the silver plastic but all in all still a much better build quality than other plastic phones out there. as i said liking the phone more and more.
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Reviewed by Damian from Monmouth,UK on 8th Jul 2008
This is a very good phone. It has a good quality screen and the menus are easy to navigate. The 3.2 mp camera is fantastic. The picture quality is better than the 5mp Samsung Tocco that i replaced, and the video quite good too with good sound reproduction. I am also impressed with the GPS and Google maps. The sound quality is also excellent. The build quality feels very robust. My only gripe (and this is why i've given it 4 stars) is that the screen seems to scratch easily. I'm very careful with my phones,but the screen has scratched after only two days use. Thank God for Displex scratch remover. You would of thought that a splash and dust proof phone would also have a tougher screen.
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Reviewed by James from Devon,UK on 8th Jul 2008
After my old friend W810i finally gave up the ghost after more than 2 years of heavy service I decided to go for the C702 as a replacement. Was a bit of a risk as i'd always used my 810 for music at work through an MMR 70 plug in transmitter. Found that still worked fine with the C702, and the media player is as good as the walkman player, playlists etc.I also bought a 4GB mem. card which I've rammed full of music. (no card supplied in bundle). The 3.2 Camera takes great pics, with enough settings on it to confuse me, face recognition. etc. Aswell as being sturdy enough to survive building site use, the vodaphone sat. nav. and google maps works well, even though there is no 3G in my area. The sound quality is good and you've got a nice big screen. My only gripes are, there is no proper flash, and the keypad is a bit fiddly at first, especially when you're hands are covered in crap, but i'm getting used to that. If you need a tough phone with loads of boys toys on it, its the one for you. There's not much it doesn't do.
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Reviewed by Des from UK on 6th Jul 2008
Ive been using this phone for just over a week now and all things considered, i think i prefer my old k750i im very impressed with the picture quality but the keypad/buttons are too small to text and navigate around, and the battery life is terriblem, im having to charge it every 2 days also, i dont have google maps installed on mine, i dont know why. if my 750i wasnt so knackered id go back to that
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Reviewed by Paul from UK on 4th Jul 2008
Only played around with this phone for 1 day, but surfing the Internet on it was a pleasure, and all the menus and apps ran quickly and smoothly. Just a heads-up, but O2 seem to have removed Google Maps from the phone, which makes the GPS a bit pointless for me really. I spoke to Sony Ericsson and they confirmed O2 had done this. Apparently you can re-download it, but it doesn't work again with the GPS properly.
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Reviewed by Dan from Ashton-under-Lyne, UK on 3rd Jul 2008
This is great phone and the built in Sat Nav is as good as any other in-car sat nav device. The sound quality on calls is far better than my last phone (SE W810) and the camera is excellent as well. The only thing that I do find is that on the back of the phone there is a metal necklace bracket that can make texting a bit fiddly but i'm sure I will get used to it in time. Very pleased with the phone so far.
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Reviewed by ean from uk prenton on 1st Jul 2008
this phone is a great phone when you firsr purchase the phone after a few days of playing with it it tends too frezze for several mins it winds me up :@
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Reviewed by shed from uk on 23rd Jun 2008
I had this phone for a couple of days but unfortunately had to send it back as the screen kept freezing. I was also disappointed with the camera as the flash wasn't what I'd expected,so the picture quality wasn't that brilliant in darker environments.. I like the look and feel of the phone and I thought it would suit my needs.The other functions were fine but I've now changed to a K800i and am happy with it.
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Reviewed by Jasmin from uk on 23rd Jun 2008
I love this 4n
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Reviewed by ste from cumbria/uk on 13th Jun 2008
Just got this smashing phone, i can honestly say its outstanding... its a big improvement to the k800i which ive upgraded from. Like all phones theres always going to be someone who wont like what this has to offer, but this phone offers enough for me. I was going to get the c902 but after reading alot of reviews i gave it a miss, i think they are trying to cram too much technolgy onto these little phones these days, and this is where and why all the problems start. This phone works great! Id check other websites like i did to see how many other peeps speak highly about this model before buying ;)
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Reviewed by dagunduro ayoola from uk on 12th Jun 2008
one of the best phones i have ever used.Excellent.
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Reviewed by david from ireland on 5th Jun 2008
i have it,great fone.not enuf memory tho
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