In a nutshell: Sony Ericsson's C903 is an entry-level 3G
slide phone. It's a Cyber-Shot phone with a 5 megapixel camera with
LED flash and autofocus, and also comes with an MP3 player and an
FM radio with RDS. Connectivity is via Bluetooth or USB cable. Memory
is generous at 130MB, plus support for memory card up to 16GB. Bonus
features include GPS and a Walk Mate fitness tool. However, the
reliability of the C903 is very poor and we don't recommend it. Best buy: *Free* from Three
(Black); or £99.95 on PAYG from Dialaphone
(Pink or Silver), or £119.99 on PAYG from Three.
Review:
June 2009. Last updated October 2009.
The entry level class of 3G phones is already flooded
with Sony Ericssons, and here comes yet another one! Sony Ericsson
are very hit and miss with their phones at the moment, so we almost
dread reviewing the C903.
This looks like standard slider fayre from Sony
Ericsson. It's very glossy and is an obvious fingerprint magnet,
and the build quality doesn't feel up to the job. At least the keypad
is better than your average Sony Ericsson. The display is exactly
the same kind that SE have been churning out for years now, although
this one does benefit from an auto-rotate feature.
As a Cyber-Shot phone, we are anticipating a good
camera, although experience tells us that these cheap Cyber-Shots
rarely meet expectations. Although this one is rated at 5 megapixels
and has autofocus, face detection and an image stabiliser, we can't
help feeling that the Sony Ericsson
K800i from 2006 was at least as good. The video camera isn't
really up to much, with a maximum resolution of 240 x 320 pixels
and 30 frames per second.
The other features include an MP3 player, FM radio
with RDS, Java games with motion gaming, web browser, etc. There
are two features that set the C903 apart from the many other Sony
Ericssons in this price range: assisted GPS and the Walk Mate. The
a-GPS comes with Google Maps and a 3-month trial version of the
Wayfinder Navigator software. This is very much a budget GPS system,
and you'll struggle with the small screen, but it's one of the few
phones in this price band to offer GPS, so it's a nice bonus. Another
nice bonus is the Walk Mate, which acts as a smart step counter,
and is a nice feature for the health conscious among us.
The memory of 130 MB is certainly better than average,
and the C903 supports memory cards up to 16GB. Connectivity is average,
with Bluetooth and USB. Why do Sony Ericsson find it so hard to
include a 3.5mm audio jack in their phones? HSDPA is available for
fast internet access, although to be honest this isn't the kind
of phone that will need a lot of fast downloads.
When we first reviewed the phone in June 2009 we
wrote that it felt flimsy and we doubted that it would prove to
very durable. A few months on and our user reviews confirm that
indeed the C903 is about as durable as a cube of sugar in a hot
cup of tea. Frankly, we're fed up with Sony
Ericsson at the moment. They keep churning out run of the mill handsets,
or handsets that look great on paper and then self-destruct as soon
as you take them out of the box. The C903 has turned out to be one
of the self-destructing kinds. As well as this, the user guide is
rubbish and the battery life poor, and we think that you deserve
something better than this. Thumbs down for the C903!
Features of the Sony Ericsson C903 include:
5 megapixel camera with LED flash, autofocus,
face detection, BestPic, image stabiliser, 16x digital zoom and
geo-tagging
Video camera with video stabiliser
Display: TFT, 262,144-colour, 240 x 320 pixels
with auto rotation
Media player with MegaBass
FM radio with RDS
MP3/AAC ringtones
Speakerphone
Voice recorder
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email with Microsoft Exchange
ActiveSync
3D Java games with motion gaming
a-GPS with Google Maps & Wayfinder Navigator
(trial)
Walk Mate step counter
Animated wallpaper
Personal organiser functions
Flight mode
Vibration alert
Internet: Web browser, RSS feeds, blogging,
HSDPA (3.6 Mbps)
Memory: 130 Mbytes plus support for Memory Stick
Micro™ (M2™) (up to 16GB)
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!
Reviewed by Claire from UK on
5th Feb 2010
Great little phone. Nice big screen and smooth sliding action. keypad
is good - very easy to text on. Have had it for 5 months without
any issues. Camera is excellent. Only downside is that it is a bit
plasticky so to be honest I don't know it would fare if it got dropped
on concrete...I always look after my phones tho. I csn only speak
as I find, and I may have been lucky but I have found the phone
reliable (and attractive!). It gets the full five stars from me! Rating:
Reviewed by Helen from UK on
31st Jan 2010
When I first got the phone it worked well and I was very pleased,
but after 5 weeks it started to break down. First of all it lost
ALL my pictures I had taken (and no i did not accidentally delete
them), then it wouldnt allow me to select any as a wallpaper or
screensaver because it said i had 'no pictures' when I did! I master
reset the phone, by the request of the people at the shop where
I had bought it and bought a memory card in the hope the problem
would subside. The phone now frequently loses its connection to
the memory card, to which i have to take the card out and then put
it back in to find them once again. I am not impressed with this
phone and I will be taking it back to the shop when Im next in town.
Not recommended. Rating:
Reviewed by Tom from Pontefract, United
Kingdom on 31st Jan 2010
I got this phone on o2 pay as you go for 130 quid. Had no problems
the 1st few days. After a week i recieved a text and as i was reading
it my phone froze. I took the battery out and put it back in but
it failed to load back up, instead i had no signal and nothing would
work. Managed to change it the next day and touch wood nothing has
gone wrong with it. The phone itself isnt a bad phone. The camera
and video are both very good. Has a good memory and the internet
is decent on the phone too. Id reccomend this phone for people who
are after a good camera phone. Rating:
Reviewed by eamonn from ireland on
30th Jan 2010
got the fone, from 2 as an alternative for my new contract. The
fone broke completley within 2 weeks. Battery gave up, software
gave up. Sent back to get fixed. Returned within one week the speaker
had broke, could not hear anyone on fone. Returned again to get
fixed. Fone was "fixed", broke again same problem as last time.
3 will not give me a new fone rather they want to "fix" it again!
yeeeooooo cant wait. Dont go near this fone, its as flimsy as bambie
on ice! Rating:
Reviewed by Terence from UK on
29th Jan 2010
Had the phone for about 6 months and no problems whatsoever. It
has proved to be a reliable little beast. It is no more a finger
magnet than other phones I've had, so can't complain there. The
sliding mechanism works well, calls are very clear, nice loud ringtone,
big screen, easy to text on and very intuitive - easy to use without
looking at the instructions. I see other people have had problems
but I would buy it all over again as it has served me well. Five
stars! Rating:
Reviewed by Maria from England on
26th Jan 2010
I bought this phone 3months ago~ 18 months contract. I was quite
happy with it until today. Suddenly it doesn't want to charge and
says that I should insert sony ericsson battery. The problem is
I never removed it. Now it doesn't even want to turn on. I gave
it away for repair~ they said that they have to update software
but I'm not really sure if it will help. I'm getting insurance on
this handset it is too fragile and it breaks on it's own. Not recommended. Rating:
Reviewed by Jane from UK on 24th
Jan 2010
Quite a nice phone, but batterie life is short. Im alittle anoyed
about not being able to access all the features as a pay as you
go customer on O2. Rating:
Reviewed by Si from UK on 20th
Jan 2010
I've had this phone for a few months - there were some issues but
resolved by updating the SIM card and reformatting the Memory Card
(8gig Sandisk) after that - works pretty well. The GPS works well
if you get something like We-Travel loaded on. Small, quick, light.
Replaced my HTC Smartphone nicely. Syncronisation with Windows Mobile
(and Windows AUTO in my car) FAR better than with Microsoft Windows
Mobile 6.1 (or 6, or 5). I'd recommend it. Rating:
Reviewed by Anna from UK on 18th
Jan 2010
I've had this phone for three months and it has only had light use.
Started to use it this morning and now there is very slight play
between the screen and buttons when it's open. To be honest I am
now having doubts as to whether it will last the duration of my
contract. It hasn't been dropped or mishandled anyway - it's just
the biuld quality isn't up to much. Such a shame - in all other
respects it's a great phone! Rating:
Reviewed by Alice from England on
17th Jan 2010
i love my c903, i think it is amazing,one of the best phones i have
ever had.i would recommend this phone to anyone looking for a nice
camera phone!!!!!! with good screen quality. loveley phone. :) Rating:
Reviewed by gazza from england on
16th Jan 2010
Fantastic phone. Honestly cannot help but feel this review is biased
as all of it is incorect. Firstly: Its a strong phone. I have dropped
it on many occasions and it still works GREAT. Secondly: Entry level?
Its got far more features then most phones around the same price
range. Its got more then some smartphnoes. Thirdly: The camera is
great and is far better then k800i. Rating:
Reviewed by Mark from Cheshire on
16th Jan 2010
Gobsmacked by your review. How is this phone entry level? It's got
the whole feature set of the n95 apart from wi-fi in a tiny body
with better build quality and a gorgeous screen! Mine's been superbly
trustworthy with no faults at all and can't help but suspect that
a lot of people's issues lie with using years old 2g sim cards that
aren't compatible with these kind of phones anymore! Rating:
Reviewed by George from UK on
15th Jan 2010
I just got this phone today as a contract from o2 and i must say
its the worst phone i have ever had, ive always been pay as i go
but decided to change. I had a sonyericson phone previously which
has been really great tho ive had it a while and i started encountering
problems such as it randomly turning off and during a phone call
the other person cannot hear me. as for the c903, the phone is going
so slow for me as if its lagging, it also switches off randomly
and i also cannot send texts...i dont understand why i cant send
txts with this one i put my sim in my old phone and it works fine.
Ive set it up correctly to send sms but it still refuses to send
txts. I can make phone calls, send emails, picture messages but
not text messages. Also the phones date and time resets by itself. Rating:
Reviewed by Jim from England on
12th Jan 2010
Have been using a touch screen Nokia 5800 for about the past six
months but honestly so nice to go back to having a real keyboard
and buttons with the Sony Ericsson! And a proper camera cover that
starts up the camera when you open it! The above review seems seriously
unfair on this phone cause it's very nice indeed. Love mine to bits.
Reasonable battery life, nice big screen, easy to use and a very
good 5mp camera. Has been very reliable & am extremely pleased with
my choice. Rating:
Reviewed by Vanessa from UK on
11th Jan 2010
I have had a few Sony Ericsson phones and do like the layout. My
last phone, W910i was a very good model. Being a bit of a camera
buff, I thought I would really like this phone. The camera is very
good, and apart from the looks, thats about all. It has a few gremlins.
I keep opening the camera slider when I grab the phone for a call.
It rings people on its own when its supposed to be locked in my
bag. It doesn't disconnect the last call when closing the slider.
The battery life is poor. I cannot comment on the internet side
of things because I only use it as a phone and a camera. BUT the
worst thing is how it keeps freezing on a daily basis. It loses
the pictures and my numbers and I have to keep taking the battery
out to reboot it. Its a real pain....so much so that I have given
up on it and am going to buy the T715. Stay away from it! :-( Rating:
Reviewed by Nicky from UK on
10th Jan 2010
My phone has crashed again now (see below 25th December) and I have
swapped to a Nokia now. Will not be returning to this phone ever!! Rating:
Reviewed by Claire from UK on
10th Jan 2010
I can only speak for myself but I have had the 903 for almost six
months and it has worked faultlessly. The build quality isn't fantastic
(see the SE W995 at a £100 more for that) but the camera is excellent
even with a dual LED flash instead of a xenon flash. The camera
lens cover is a fantastic idea. Track ID is brilliant as is the
radio and music player even though it is marketed as a camera phone
not a music player. I may be lucky and got a 'good' batch, but I
couldn't be more pleased with my phone! Rating:
Reviewed by ... from UK on 8th
Jan 2010
Had the phone about 3months then randomly one day it said insert
correct USIM and then turned itself off and back on after that i
just couldn't get any signal at all. i'm with 3 and they where impossible
to contact about taking the phone in for repair ... was ok while
it was working but not that great Rating:
Reviewed by Dusty from UK on
7th Jan 2010
I don't know what all the fuss is about. Build quality is good,
user interface is great and camera is pretty good - least pic taken
on the phone transferred to my PC look great...! The screen is beautiful,
signal quality is good and I'm on - wait for it....... "3" UK -
problems with random shutting down etc are fixed with a fresh install
of OS via SE update tool... Seriously, if like me you are getting
bored with Nokia (and Ive been a Nokia fan-boy for years) this phone
is a must try. Track ID is one of the single best phone features
Ive used in..... well ever and the fact that SE are the only phone
manufacturers to incorporate this into their phones is worthy of
a 5* vote (if you use this feature) I'm sticking to my guns on this
one, fantastic phone. I love it! Rating:
Reviewed by Hazel W from England on
6th Jan 2010
I took this phone 6 hours ago with my new 18 month contract from
3. I had to input all the contacts manually as I've just cancelled
my Orange Sim. About half an hour ago it kept popping up with the
message: Copy contacts to Usim? After doing this about 3 times every
time I went into my contacts list, I thought it must be because
it's new and decided to restart the phone. Upon turning it on again,
I now receive the error message: Insert correct USIM and it says
that I'm not using a Sony Ericsson battery!!! I'll be taking this
back to the shop as soon as I can, and reading some of the other
reviews on here I'll be requesting to swap handsets and models!!!! Rating:
Reviewed by DavidB from England on
6th Jan 2010
This mid range phone is not really all that. Its quite flimsy and
if you put in a memory card it keeps on loosing the connection and
you have to take it out and re insert. The camera is quite good
but the software for downloading your pictures is rubbish. The GPS
is a bonus and works quite well but the sceen is easily damaged
and mine had a smear behind the glass from day one. I would not
reccomend this phone unless you can get it on a 12 month contract
like i did. I will be looking for a new model soon. Rating:
Reviewed by ashley from new zealand
on 5th Jan 2010
i own a c903 it is a nice phone , but yeh it is a big finger magnet,
getting smuges on the screen . its cool that you can view your texts
in a msn convo typed deal witch is great . nice camera and yeh the
k800 isnt much different i beileve definatly not as nice tho with
the camera settings avaible tho . but i am having trouble running
the c903 on telecoms new xt network in my country Rating:
Reviewed by Clare from UK on
4th Jan 2010
After all the bad reviews on here I was wary when I bought this
phone but I love it! I have it in white and purple and it is stylish
with plenty of features. The camera is excellent and takes a really
good photo. The internet is fast and loads full pages with ease.
The app that came with 3 for emails is great too! I love the "conversation"
feature as I previously had a blackberry and liked the continuation
of each message as I often forget what I wrote in the previous messages!
The themes are varied and would suit any user with choice in colours
for each, I have the amethyst one as it matches the colour of the
phone. I feel the handset itself is relatively sturdy, as much as
it could be with a big moving screen, as with all sliding phones.
The buttons are very easy to press and far enough apart that you
don't accidentally press the wrong number. The screen is big and
bright and does photos justice when you are viewing them. The only
downside is that it isn't provided with a M2 memory card, I have
a little 512mb one but have decided to buy a 4gb one to put on songs
and take lots of pictures. This would be a lovely perk if one was
provided at all. Rating:
Reviewed by Nicky from UK on
25th Dec 2009
I have had the same problem as Kimberley below. I have had this
phone since September and had a replacement within the 1st month
and had the next phone has been sent off twice. I bought this phone
as I could access the internet and it had its own facebook application
which I used alot as was on maternity leave and it came in handy.
When the phone was about to crash the phone would ask do you want
to copy the contacts and then would say insert correct USIM and
at this point it could only be reset when sent off. The problem
started everytime(and this may be a coincindence) when I clicked
on applications on facebook such as bejewelled bedazzled, I tried
to explain this but no one ever confirmed this was a problem. When
I have got my phone back most recently 1 week ago I said I would
be able to break it within in 10 minutes but the facebook allowed
me to access the applications which it has never done before and
it has not crashed since. I really like the phone and will be keeping
it (Three said I could have another model if it broke again!) I
like all the features however it is a bit plasticy but I hope that
I can trust it now as I am back at work and need it to keep in contact
with the childminders. Rating:
Reviewed by sze from Australia on
24th Dec 2009
WHY does Sony have to come up with very very unique connectivity
of their own in this new world of connectivity where everybody is
connected? Beat me, these Japs Rating:
Reviewed by kaz from uk on 18th
Dec 2009
bought the phone..had it for a weeks...im kinda happy with it...camera
is decent aint checked the video quality yet...erm looks wise its
very nice!!..the navigation is kinda bad it looses the satalite
connection easily..but over all i would recommend it..it is a decent
phone with nice features and touch wood aint had no problems yet
although iv only had it for a week Rating:
Reviewed by Sean from UK on 17th
Dec 2009
Had this phone less than 24 hours before it decided it no longer
wanted to turn on - just got blue lights and blank screen! Sending
it back today for replacement - if this one breaks I'm off back
to Nokia! Rating:
Reviewed by Georgia from Belfast on
13th Dec 2009
My dad bought me this phone from 3, and at first I loved it, I thought
it was great but one day I turned my phone on and its screen was
black with a crack in the screen on the left hand corner, so my
dad rang them up and they wouldn’t take it back or fix it
and it had a years guarantee and they blamed me for breaking the
phone!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Rob from Australia on
11th Dec 2009
Love this phone. Great price and all the features you want and need
from a phone. Very happy with it so far. Rating:
Reviewed by georgie from UK on
7th Dec 2009
I've had this phone the white and purple C903 for 3 months now onto
my second phone after the first stopped working after a month, just
suddenly saying incorrect sim and refusing to charge telling me
to insert a sony ericsson battery....it had the sony ericsson battery
it came with. I'm a big fan of sony ericsson having used their phones
for the past 6 years, but this phone has really disappointed me.
Now the exact same thing that happened to my first phone has happened
again to my replacement and if I'm offered another kind of phone
I'll definately be changing. My advice, don't get this phone until
moderations have been made! Rating:
Reviewed by Beth from United Kingdom
on 7th Dec 2009
So.. I must have joint three about three months if not a bit more
ago just because of the deal this phone had! I have had no problems
with it at all, but now it started freezing about two weeks ago
and low and bvehold today it said something about I can't charge
the battery because I need to insert a Sony Ericsson one (lies!
I havent swapped it from the original one i've had) and now it wont
connect to 3 =/. Am I going to have to go into 3 and complain or
is there someway I can fix it? Rating:
Reviewed by doom inc. from england on
7th Dec 2009
this phone is absolutely amazing. i think the two main snipes people
are having are due mainly to a) the phone was '3' network only at
launch, which is the worst network by a country mile, their reception
is hopeless! this would account for internet loss etc. second is
most of the opinions on here are by people who clearly don't look
after phones and seem surprised they break when droppped/ used in
bank robberies/ hitting each other over the head/ resting their
greggs pasties on etc... plus sides, great camera, one of their
better ones since the k800i for ease of use, light years ahead of
the god awful k850i one. great big clear display, good slide movement,
responsive buttons, fast internet with smart screen options. my
favourite se in years frankly! Rating:
Reviewed by steve from birmingham on
6th Dec 2009
Having had many Sony phones over the last couple of years this one
is suprosingly poorly built. Saying that it does the job and looks
good. Have had no tech issues with it and the camera is great. The
video camera is very good. Rating:
Reviewed by Mike H from UK on
6th Dec 2009
Like Lu below, I moved to Three recently, but I was with O2 for
the past 6 years. The tariff and internet facility on the phones
attracted me. I totally agree with many of the views on here. The
battery life is appalling!! especially when compared with previous
SE models. I've had to charge it every day, sometimes twice a day
if i have been using it. I recommend a spare battery. the phone
also definately feels flimsy, especially the plastic cover for the
camera. the slider which reveals the keypad also feels like it will
break. the phone and software are the usual standard for SE. I'm
very satisfied. Its easy to use and I must say the 3 technical support
is excellent should you need it. Network issues are not that bad
if you live near a major city, but otherwise, don't be fooled by
the 3 sales pitch. its not great in most areas, and if i could now
i'd get my money back. The only good thing is that the network defaults
to another network should coverage be poor, but you lose all the
network facilities so whats the point. Overall, the phone is a neat
little device, by far the weakest points are 1. poorly made phone
2. battery life choose wisely............. Rating:
Reviewed by umar from uk birmingham
on 3rd Dec 2009
hiya guys, i brought this phone 1 week ago and first 2-3 days it
was perfect, after that suddenly it freezes, i have to take the
battery out all the time, can someone please help me my email address
is umar.225@hotmail.com Rating:
Reviewed by pepi from uk on 3rd
Dec 2009
Very Cute to look at but an Awful phone.... 1st one sent wouldn't
charge! 2nd one sent the speaker stopped working and only takes
a charge about 1/2 the time! As I only upgraded 3 weeks ago you
can probably guess that I am not pleased. I would not reccomend
this phone! I'm having it replaced by a different phone altogether
today, so hopefully my problems will end..... Rating:
Reviewed by Kimberley from UK on
2nd Dec 2009
ive had this phone for around 3 months, and i have already sent
it in 3 times for repair, the last time i sent it in for repair
was just over a week ago, and now it had broke again. nothing is
working, it wont connect to the network, and apprently i'm not inserting
the correct sim, even though it works in my old 3 phone (K850i).
it is a good phone, however it has broke down on me so many times
i feel like giving up on it! and it's broke down in the worst of
times, when i was on holiday, away from friends and family, and
now when im in my mock exam and need to contact my family when im
on study leave. the battery life on it isnt that good either, i
have to charge it up every night to ensure i have enough battery
to last the whole day. so if anyone wants to get this phone, i advise
you dont. Rating:
Reviewed by Jneo from England on
1st Dec 2009
Great phone all!! Rating:
Reviewed by Lu from England on
30th Nov 2009
I've stuck with Sony Ericsson phones for the past 7 years. I'm used
to their set-up, so I find them easier to get along with. (They
do always break on me though). When I saw Three had an offer with
the C903, 200 minutes, unlimited texts and internet for only £18
a month, I had to have it. I've never had internet on my phone before
(... having been on Orange for 7 years - have you seen their tariffs?
Ridiculous!). So I was quite excited. So, with still 3 months to
go on my Orange contract, I decided to go ahead and get Three's
deal anyway. My boyfriend is on Three, and he told me that they
were an "alright enough" network. I set up the contract with an
eager salesman. When I got home, I immediately set up the phone.
The first thing I noticed was the rather flimsy feel of the slide
mechanism - it was rattley (if that is even a word). It's also quite
difficult to push upwards, it's like it needs some sort of a grip
or something at the side. Whenever I go to answer a call or something,
I press buttons accidently! Not good. Especially if it's the end
call button, or speakerphone (as it usually is in my case). I'm
hoping this is something I'll get used to in time though. I had
to enter all of my contacts manually, and found this was really
simple. The buttons are so easy to push! - However, I have been
using the ancient K750i for a year (because my most recent SE broke
after 3 months!) so this might not be so unusual for other people.
I found the internet was super fast, and quite simple. Email on
3 was a nightmare - but I don't think that's the phone's fault (although
notifications for every email was so annoying - and I couldn't find
a "turn off" option for this). The signal is rubbish. I was worried
about this, and even enquired at the 3 store. They said they hadn't
heard of many problems. Rubbish. Luckily, I live in a town centre,
where the signal isn't bad. I'll probably make sure I have some
sort of back-up phone in my car for when I go out into the sticks...
just in case. And, like so many others have said - the battery life
is awful. I've only had the phone five days. I've had to charge
it every day. I tested it today. I didn't use the internet. It's
still needing a charge (it's 21%). I've never had this problem with
SE's before, it could be the internet still - as that globe symbol
is always there at the top of the screen! I can't be doing with
turning my phone off and on every time to get rid of it though.
So far, it's definitely not the best phone I've had. It's flimsy
and the battery life is rubbish. However, I do like the look of
it, and the screen size is great - and the net is fast. But... I'm
a bit worried that I haven't taken out insurance, after reading
these other reviews!! :-S Rating:
Reviewed by Heather Ferguson from Northern
Ireland on 28th Nov 2009
i love this phone and i havent even got it yet! Getting it for xmas!:)
Cant Wait My Friend Has It In Purple And White It Has An Amazing
Camera Mp3 Ect.. JUST CANT WAIT TILL XMAS :D Haha Cant Say Nothing
Bad About It From What I Have Seen And Heard Dont like it in plain
sliver the best colour is white and purple or black i think! :D
Xxxx Rating:
Reviewed by tina hunter from england
on 24th Nov 2009
my husband had the nokia n95 and n96 for some time he said hed never
have a different style or type phone, but his network contacted
him and i talked him into accepting the sony ericsson c903, he is
over the moon with the phone it caters his fat fingers, size is
good, the slide is smooth, very loud never misses a call or txt,
i ll agree with most people though that the battery isnt great but
my battery isnt to clever on the w595, im buying my self the c903
today in white, thumbs up for this phone Rating:
Reviewed by Clara from U.K. on
22nd Nov 2009
Bought this fone yesterday, but it wobbles! Why do Sony make fones
that wobble???? It's the same as W705 and W995. But it's still a
nice fone. Rating:
Reviewed by Angela from UK on
18th Nov 2009
Can't understand your thumbs down for this phone!! My opinion of
it has not changed since I wrote my first review. It remains a lovely
reliable little phone. I gave it a 4 star rating due to the lack
of a software disc but now I will give it 5 stars. Yes, 5 stars
and it is worth every one of them. Rating:
Reviewed by Alisza from UK on
15th Nov 2009
Horrible nasty little phone - sounds great when the sales rep describes
it but does not live up to its expectations - video calling is impossible
as it only has one camera sat nav never holds a signal, internet
browser is slow and I still havent figured out how to disconnect
from the internet easily so internet is on all night if you dont
watch it plus you catch the shortcut button by accident and connect
to the net when u dont want to ! grrr in all a frustrating waste
of time handset the Sony W910i was far better only with a primitive
camera. The camera isnt bad on the C903 but thats the only positive!
Dont waste your time with this handset I could name numerous older
models that are better! Rating:
Reviewed by ibraralam from singapore
on 10th Nov 2009
the phone has a great camera but is made for right handers because
every time i hold the phone the cam cover slides open so is a pain
Rating:
Reviewed by simonbu from england on
9th Nov 2009
Sony Ericsson c903 are rubbish in certain features,I have tried,
with no sucsess to down load music from my computer,I have tryed
and tryed more times than I care to remember and have had no luck,'WHY'
couldn't they put a disc in the box with a descent manual instead
of a sheet of A3? Rating:
Reviewed by Alf from Portugal on
6th Nov 2009
Who wrote this text???... Did these guys worked with C903? I only
can say it looks greats and is working well. Rating:
Reviewed by Emily mithins from afghanistan
on 5th Nov 2009
so untrue my phone rules all pwa hahaha Rating:
Reviewed by jake swann from england
on 4th Nov 2009
this reveiw is a lode of rammel the c903 is a great phone and the
reliability of the phone spot on Rating:
Reviewed by sarahsullivan from united
kingdom on 3rd Nov 2009
the worst phone in the world ! Rating:
Reviewed by Gillian from Edinburgh on
24th Oct 2009
Very dissapointed with this phone. My second c903 has broken again
with the same prolem as the first. Withb two months my two handsets
microphone an speaker has broken. Normally never have any problems
with sony ericssons. Rating:
Reviewed by Faatimah from UAE on
23rd Oct 2009
Not happy about this phone - i have had so many problems getting
it set up, installing settings etc. the keypad is the worst ever
designed, it is a nuisance to use as the keys all merge into one
another. i am mainly a texter so in a phone i don't need much else
than this, so if you need a good phone for texting do NOT get this
phone. camera however is good, good features etc. Rating:
Reviewed by Carol from New Zealand on
20th Oct 2009
Love this phone so far - disapointed with the user guide tho - it's
a sheet of paper folded up like a map and really only lists how
to use functions rather than some trouble-shooting tips or a how
to transfer media from phone to comp and back...GREAT camera - takes
excellent clear pics - the use of the m2 memory card is irritating
tho - as everyone else uses the more generic sd micro memory cards
- SE is the only phone that uses these ones - still working out
how to use the phone properly, but so far, so good - I've not had
any problems with the screen or anything as yet... Rating:
Reviewed by Adam Smith from UK on
18th Oct 2009
I don't usually write reviews but in the case of the sony ericsson
C903, I had to make an exception. I have only had the phone, from
the 3 network, roughly 2 weeks. The first week, a faint line formed
down the screen, before i knew it i could hardly see my screen which
made texting impossible! I took this with a pinch of salt and had
my phone replaced only to find that a week later my sim card is
not reognised and the battery won't charge. A great phone when it's
working but it is about as reliable as a chocolate fire guard. Consider
this a warning... Rating:
Reviewed by jane from london on
17th Oct 2009
do not get this phone its tacky, poorly made and within a few weeks
of having it, it started to regect my memory stick then crashed
several times now its regected its own battery. now it will not
charge or turn on, thank got i had an old phone in the cupboard.
very poor Rating:
Reviewed by Angela from UK on
14th Oct 2009
What is it about Sony Ericsson phones?! K800i, K850i and current
C903 all had to be replaced within days of buying them! Replacements?
No problems and loved all of them!! The C903 is great. Small, compact
and easy to use. Fast internet and email, excellent camera, syncs
well with Outlook and easy to transfer files via PC Suite. Good
mp3 player. One downside. Phone supplied without software disc,
usb cable and M2 memory stick. Up to date PC suite had to be downloaded
from SE website. If it wasn't for this, I would have given the phone
maximum rating. Rating:
Reviewed by Joe from UK on 11th
Oct 2009
This phone is great- had it for 2 days no problems. The battery
is perfectly fine guys. Internet is fast. Ps to switch on delivery
reports 1. Go to messages 2. then click on messages 3. Go to the
bottom and select settings 4. you will see delivery report 5. Just
turn it on Rating:
Reviewed by Heather from N.Ireland on
9th Oct 2009
This phone is great - I love it. How do you switch on delivery reports
though? Rating:
Reviewed by Chris from UK on
8th Oct 2009
I have this on 3 too. Firstly I want to put something straight in
regards to battery life. 3 uses HSDPA or UMTS signal and when out
of range of their own 3G network, rides on the back of O2 with just
a normal GPRS connection. UMTS and 3G is capable of carrying a lot
of data at high speed, it uses twice the battery power of conventional
networks. It also switches between the 3 network and O2 constantly
which takes a lot of power. You will find all phones on 3 have poor
battery life, the frequency of the radiation is much higher (using
more power). So, the poor battery life is down to 3 network. Solution,
buy a spare battery for £10 and live with it. The functions are
very good and the phone is easy to use. Yes I do get the odd crash
and memory card non recognition. But overall, this does not happen
often. For the price, I would say it is a good phone. One nag is
the GPS software. Obviously you have Google Maps but the built in
Wayfinder software relies on a data connection and you have to pay
for it. It is good for in car Navigation and Walking with the GPS
picking up a signal within around 10 seconds. The problem is there
is no option to have your maps built into your phone like Nokia
Maps. Obviously I have free data on my tariff so this is not a problem
but for those who dont, you are severely restricted for Sat Nav.
I would recommend this phone overall, but make sure you get a good
data bundle from your supplier!!! Rating:
Reviewed by john hogg from United Kingdom
on 3rd Oct 2009
Hi have the solution to no text delivery reports three supplied
me with new sim card now works Rating:
Reviewed by Sarah from UK on
3rd Oct 2009
I have had this phone for 3 days now and I have to be honest and
say it is fit for purpose. Its not flash, its not edgy but its small,
compact, easy to use and has a good camera. I have read some reviews
and I think it depends what network you are on. I am on 3, have
no problem with delivery reports and the battery life is fine if
you are a "normal" user, I have only had to charge it twice in 3
days and I have used it a lot! I would say that I agree its not
a very solid phone, after just 3 days the slider is getting loose
and is wobbly - I hope it holds out or I shall be looking to get
another phone. Apart from that, easy to text, easy to navigate,
agree that the themes are poor but overall, a good basic SE phone
which does what it says on the tin! Rating:
Reviewed by Jemma from UK on
1st Oct 2009
I loved the phone, how it looked, how it worked. Until 2 weeks after
using it it started crashing whenever i make / receive a phonecall,
charge it, or simply switch it on. I haven't tried a software update,
but don't feel i should go through that after only 2 weeks of having
the phone. Quite disappointed Rating:
Reviewed by lee from uk on 28th
Sep 2009
i recently purched this on 3 network for 18 pound a month contract
this phone seems to be really good as screen is beautiful and camera
is really good too. however i didnt realise the battery was poor
i meen it seems to drain quickly but its nothing that annoys me
too much the browsiing system is fairly good and overall i think
its a dencent phone, would recomend Rating:
Reviewed by kyle from New Zealand on
26th Sep 2009
the phone has a great camera but is made for right handers because
every time i hold the phone the cam cover slides open so is a pain
in the ass Rating:
Reviewed by steve from uk on
25th Sep 2009
some good features on this phone however the memory card in mine
keeps giving up and i have to restart the phone (or take the back
off, and press in and out the memory card to reset it) and then,
it eventually lets me have my music/images back! This is more than
an annoyance and is a massive defect. Then, you also need to know
that the signal receiving capability is terrible on this phone compared
to the k800i i have just 'upgraded'. Im on 3 by the way. The screen
is great, the email ability good (into my exchange server at work
& my googlemail) in same interface and it even pushes mail at me
when it arrives so who needs blackberry type things i say! the pics
from the camera are fairly good but would be infinitely surpassed
by even a £40 digital camera nowadays..... oh yes, battery life
with moderate mp3 usage far less than a full day.... all things
considered, its abysmal reception and poor battery life would put
me off ever recommending it when there are other good options out
there.... i think im off to nokia next time - never had anything
but quality phones off them.... the one star rating is almost totally
because of the reception. Rating:
Reviewed by Ellie from UK on
23rd Sep 2009
I bought c903 from 3 on a contract and the battery life lasts about
1 day if that! It is a complete nightmare and a hassle having to
charge it, this is wrong from the battery life it advertises and
also the slide that you use to activte camera comes open when ever
i slide the phone up or down. I have to use this phone for another
18 months ! I wish i had of chosen a different one now ! Rating:
Reviewed by Anne from Uk on 22nd
Sep 2009
Got my 903 in glamour red (exclusive to CPW) and I couln't be beter
pleased with it. Easy to use user interface. Good build quality.
As for fingerprints they don't show up any more than the average
phone. crisp and clear calls,and a stunning home screen, though
the wallpapers/themes they offer you are pretty unnspiring. This
is certainly not an entry level phone considering how much it cost.
Lost of bells and whistles too numerous to mention here, Wayfinder,
Youtube portal, Walkmate and so on. The camera is execellent - with
an upgraded version of bestpic, photofix and a series of effects
- sepia, black and white and so on for the budding photographer
in you! I love it so much I want two (not on my budget tho lol).
Highly recommended. Rating:
Reviewed by Emily from England on
20th Sep 2009
I got this phone as an upgrade to my Nokia N95 from 3 (bit questionable
that though I don't think it is anywhere as good)I have had it for
about a month and initially thought that the poor reception was
the area we lived we moved house over the summer, however I get
bad reception where I work in a different town. I like the phone,
I don't need a camera or mp3 player I just use it for calls and
texts. It looks nice but I have had to go back to my battered N95
as I can't handle the bad reception. Rating:
Reviewed by Zoe from Uk on 20th
Sep 2009
Well I've had this phone or all of three days (LOL) and so far it
hasn't broken taking out of the box! I love everything about the
phone and can't stop playing with it! just in case I took out insurance
to cover it as it goes over the 14 day guarantee. Belt and braces
me! The slider isn't loose as some people experience, the down side
is you don't get delivery reports (or else there's something I'm
not doing). Another wee gripe is instead of a user manual with instructions
it has a fold out leaflet - cheap or what??? None of these are worth
deducting a point over, so it is 5 points for me. Watch this space
though, as i have it for a longer time, and in view of the negative
responses on here, who knows what could go wrong? Wish me luck! Rating:
Reviewed by Olaf Raasch from New Zealand
on 18th Sep 2009
This phone turned out to be a disaster. It could not be set up for
email and pix, even after a real afford on my part to get all the
info from Vodafone and from Sony Ericsson. They either had no info
on the set up, or like Sony would not want to talk to me. Back it
went. Must go to to Nokia. Rating:
Reviewed by Helena from England on
13th Sep 2009
My Husband is packing this phone back in the box as we speak ready
to send back. I have bought better phones for a quarter of the price!
The slider is loose (I've had this phone 2 days by the way) it doesn't
deliver reports even with the report setting switched on, the camera
is terrible! The whole point of the phone is for the camera and
it is rubbish! DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE IT IS VERY DISSAPPOINTING!!!! Rating:
Reviewed by Sharon from Scotland on
13th Sep 2009
Great little phone but terrible battery life!!! - to all those who
have said that there are no delivery reports - there are!! just
look a little harder. Feels slightly flimsy but apart from this
and the battery, Ive had no issues. Rating:
Reviewed by sue from uk on 12th
Sep 2009
i've had this phone now for a week and love it. i am real fan of
sony ericsson and this one is the best so far. Rating:
Reviewed by richard from United Kingdom
on 8th Sep 2009
the worst fone i have even picked up, terrible, went back in the
box within half an hour of opening. GARBAGE does not deserve 1 star Rating:
Reviewed by lorraine from uk on
4th Sep 2009
i havehad my phone literally 2 hours and its sayin insert sim and
cannot charge battery as its not sony eric, when it clearly is rubbish!
i am replacing it for a new one however, if this one isnt right
its going back and a totally new phone is being purchased! Rating:
Reviewed by daz2519 from uk on
25th Aug 2009
beware c903 is rubbish - even software update wont cure it Rating:
Reviewed by George from England, United
Kingdom on 24th Aug 2009
What an awful phone! the part on the back of the phone that activates
the camera when opened broke on all 3 of my handsets! now on my
4th and this one feels loose as well! The phone is slow, boring
and battery life is terrible. and the reviewer' is right, my K800i
takes pictures that are just as good as this phone! and the K800i
has never broke on me! wish I had never purchased this phone, Its
terrible. It doesn't desserve the 1star i've given it on here! DON'T
BUT THIS PHONE!!! Rating:
Reviewed by emma from uk on 22nd
Aug 2009
This is the worst phone ive ever had ive just took it back for the
fourth time in 3 weeks and this time ive got a completely different
handset thank god !!! The first one i had said insert sim all the
time took it back was given another c903 handset this was fine for
about 7 days then it said invalid sim went back they changed the
sim it was ok for 2 days then yes you guessed it invalid sim again!!!
Finally after going back again ive changed my phone completely and
im glad this one was terrible i wouldnt touch this phone for a sony
ericsson and the big price tag its not worth it !!Absolute rubbish
!! Rating:
Reviewed by Katey from UK on
19th Aug 2009
Had it 3 months and already been back in for repair on two occasions,
speaker then screen packed up. Mate had one, after 9 returns for
faults, he finally gave up and bought a Nokia! Avoid at all costs,
piece of rubbish. Rating:
Reviewed by Jim from Essex on
16th Aug 2009
A really nice mid-range slide phone. Lovely big screen, decent 5mp
camera and gps. Plus great features and easy to use- and the camera
slide's lovely. Certainly wouldn't call it an entry level 3g phone!
Main downside is that the build feels a bit light and plasticky.
Can imagine it breaking fairly easily. And therein lies the most
tragic part of the story. My dad had had his one for about six hours
and then came downstairs almost in tears. He'd had it in his pocket
and it slipped out with a plop into the loo! Not even remotely waterproof
:( Rating:
Reviewed by Anthony from England on
13th Aug 2009
I have just upgraded my mobile and for the first time have veared
away from Nokia. I like this C903 and it has been easy to make the
transision to SE. I am disappointed that it has no text delivery
reports but that is the only negative I can think of. It's light,
looks good and is packed full of other good stuff like GPS, Walkmate,
good music player and camera that having no delivery reports becomes
a minor issue. Rating:
Reviewed by Claire from Scotland on
12th Aug 2009
The c903 sony ericsson phone is great but am having abit of a problem
with it for some odd reason especially when iv got no signal it
will change the theme part of my phone and will say updating photos
in my photo pic????am wondering if anyone else is havin the same
problems Rating:
Reviewed by Melia from England on
1st Aug 2009
I used to have a c905, it was a really good phone but hD SO Mny
problems after numerous handsets i still had the same problem. CPW
finally allowed me to swap handset i opted for the C903. This phone
seems to be the same as the c905 minus the 8.0 mega pixel camera
and the wi fi everything else is the same it is light and small
the internet works fine it is brighter in the left hand side of
the key pad. Rating:
Reviewed by karen from wales on
31st Jul 2009
This phone is the best phone ever!!!! I prefer Sony ericsson phones
and this is the best yet! Fab camera, fab sound when playing music,
great to hold and use!I'm with 3 so Facebook is great, GPS has come
in sooo handy too! One criticism tho, there's no delivery report
on txtin. This site is invaluable, only buy phones when they've
been reviewed here 1st, keep up the good work guys! x Rating:
Reviewed by Andrew from UK on
28th Jul 2009
This is by far the best phone I have ever bought: -Great Camera
-Excellent Bulid Quality -Great Memory -Easy to Use -Most Recommended
I will be keeping this phone for a long time. It looks good and
works well. Rating:
Reviewed by keshav from UK on
23rd Jul 2009
i got c903 yest........it looks cool , i cn showoff this handset
and everyone ask abt it....the camera slider is amazing.... Rating:
Reviewed by andy from canada on
22nd Jul 2009
@Bailin. Ive found the same thing. The backlighting on the keypad
is very strong on the left side, and nonexistant on the right. Doesnt
really matter tho, its not a big issue. Not something id take off
points for. Rating:
Reviewed by Bailin from UK on
18th Jul 2009
Hi, got this phone about 3 days now and realised that the backlighting
of the keypad doesn't light up evenly, there are only 4 and 7 keys
are having bright backlight and the rest of the keys have much less
backlight, I have called 3, and the tec guy said it is normal because
the backlight is located on the left of the phone, so there will
be strong backlighting for the most left side keypads, i.e. 1, 4,
7 and the * keys. called the tech guy about it and the backlighting
is not even, only 4 & & keypads are brighter, the information from
the tech guy are it is normal for this phone set Rating:
Reviewed by Dave from UK on 18th
Jul 2009
I found this phone not as good as the iphone, but better than the
Tocco. Nokia or iPhones are the best for me. Rating:
Reviewed by andy from canada on
16th Jul 2009
alright, so, ive got my hands on the phone. its pretty good, and
it looks great. however, the sliding mechanism is very flawed. it
wobbles very noticably. does anybody else have this problem? other
than that, it works very well. Rating:
Reviewed by andy from canada on
15th Jul 2009
please tell me in what way this phone is "entry level" this is the
most outrageous statement i have seen in a while. I could buy 3
w580s for the price of one of these. It costs more than the w980,
w902, k850, c901, etc. In short, its one of the 5 most expensive
SE phones at the moment. please tell me how that is "Entry level"
[Editor's reply: In the UK, this phone will cost you the same as
a W580i on a 24 month contract. Maybe it's different in Canada.]
[Reply by andy from Canada on 15th Jul 2009: thanks for the quick
reply editor. i find it hard to believe that this is a cheap phone
anywhere tho. look at gsmarena. they gave it 8 stacks of money.
this is the only place i have ever seen that has suggested it is
a budget phone. I just bought one for about 400USD, and it seems
to cost at least that much everywhere else. unlocked i mean. could
you provide any info on how much this phone costs unlocked in the
UK? id be totally surprised if its even close to the w580 price]
[Editor's reply: In the UK, few people buy their phones sim free,
so the market is often quite distorted by network subsidies. Check
the links in the "best buys" section above if you want
to pursue this further. BTW would you like to tell people here what
you think of the phone?] Rating:
Reviewed by Chris from Bradford on
7th Jul 2009
Got a C903 about a week ago ( free on 3 ) and its a great phone.
Camera is awesome, pic quality is great, the net browser is very
fast, the software is a slight improvment on previous SE software
i have used and although plastic-y the shell seems sturdy enough
and it looks great. Battery life is a bit poor but if you just use
it for texting, phone calls and occasionally photos it will last
3 days or so Rating:
Reviewed by Jamie from England on
6th Jul 2009
I'm not usually one to write reviews on anything but I felt I had
to with this. Before I give my two cents worth, I'd first like to
point out that I am a very hard guy to please, not just with mobiles.
So anyway, here goes. I got the Sony Ericsson C903 in black on the
3 network. 18 month contract, £20, unlimited texts and internet
and 200 minutes. I have had the phone for a week exactly now and
I've got to say, quite simply, it's the best I've ever had. I'll
cut to the chase and tell you about the things that I find important:
* Picture/screen quality is excellent, can't ask for better really.
Crisp, clear images. And fast * Build quality feels excellent. Very
heavy with a smooth, satisfying "snap" action when sliding * Very
easy to navigate, buttons are a joy to text with, as are the navigation
keys Another couple of points I'll mention is it does not pick up
fingerprints as easily as people claim on here. A little TLC every
few days with a glasses cloth will suffice. The main (and only)
potential drawback of this phone is the battery life. Mine has not
gone to 100% as yet, and after 12 hours average usage the battery
is at 37%. This does not bother me too much as it takes less than
a second to clip it into the wall charger for an overnight fuel.
To summarise, an excellent phone. If you buy it, I can guarantee
you will not be disappointed. Well done Sony. Rating:
Reviewed by Ryan from Manchester on
2nd Jul 2009
Dunno what everybody is moaning about with this phone i thinks its
great , its got a great camera with zoom and it pics up sound very
wel with its video , its slides nice and the cover for the camera
is easily accessible and although the phone feels a little plasticky
it makes up for it in its ease of use and ability to text fast on
and navigate quick. Rating:
Reviewed by John from Luton on
1st Jul 2009
Bought this phone and it is awesome. and you reveiwer said why can't
it have 3.5mm jack, well personall i like the SE stly headphone
port, althought it could do with a control, play,pause etc Rating:
Reviewed by Pablo from UK on
1st Jul 2009
This phone looks nice, and the camera is quite good. It does not
feel very strong though, and is not as well made as Nokia phones.
The battery life is not as goos as Sony Ericsson say it is, if you
use internet and email, it lasts for less than one day. Not as good
as I was expecting. Rating:
Reviewed by bobbob from uk on
29th Jun 2009
Further to my previous review, it is getting worse. The slider is
now (after 6 days) becoming loose and rattling. AND.......the literature
and advertising for this phone, says that you can watch your pictures
on tv, if you buy the TV-out Cable ITC-60. I bought this cable,
but it DOESN'T WORK. Even the staff at the SE web site have told
me that the advertising is wrong. This is a MAJOR problem for SE,
when they sell this Cybershot phone, stating you can plug it into
your TV, when the truth is.........you cant. Very disappointed with
this phone, seems to be built down to a budget, and SE are lying
on their advertising to rty get rid of as many units as possible,
as quickly as possible. I now understand why 3 were pushing this
phone on me so hard when i really wanted a Samsung Tocco!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Reviewed by bobbob from UK on
27th Jun 2009
Very nice phone, good camera, easy to use menu's, stylish, seems
to be generally well made, although when the slider is open, it
does feel a little 'loose'. I love the 'Walkmate' function, which
acts like a pedometer, and keeps a record of your wekly step counts.
BIG disappointment is the battery life, I have had this phone for
5 days, and have to charge it every day, I have not used the phone
excessively, and not used the internet much, this alone is relly
letting the overall satisfaction down quite significantly. Rating:
Reviewed by Ne-Yo from United states
on 17th Jun 2009
5 megapixel cyber shot with face detection and smile shutter is
perfect for photo lovers It's Iso can be up to 1600 and 35 fps which
is very fast The battery life is not bad 930 mAH And personally
I like the speed of browsing Rating:
Reviewed by MOHAMED HAZIM from SRILANKA
on 23rd May 2009
IT GOOD BUT THE BETTERY LIFE IS POOR EVENTHOUGH IT IS VERY USE OF
FRIENLY Rating:
