Amongst the consumers of mobile devices, there is a large market segment who do not want an all singing, all dancing device. For many of these users, the development of the smartphone is a world that completely passes them by, they are either not interested, or they are wary of such complicated products. For any manufacturer to be successful, it is vital to have a good range of devices in their portfolio that cater for this market. The devices may not catch the eye or lead the headlines the way top end converged smartphones do, but by the shear number of devices sold in this market, it helps keep the profits turning over, and that is all important in the battle to survive in a competitive industry. That brings us nicely to the Sony Ericsson Spiro, a low end device coming under the Walkman brand.
The Spiro is a compact handset, slide form factor, measuring 92 x 48 x 17mm and weighing a lightweight 90g. The screen is a standard QVGA TFT display, supporting up to 256,000 colours, measuring 2.2 inches point to point. The keys under the display share that common design as seen on many previous Sony Ericsson handsets; flanking the central, circular Navi key are semi circle menu selection keys, which circle around the call send/end keys, although these may change to bespoke action keys, depending on the level of network customisation that goes onto branded devices. The Navi key slightly slopes into the middle where there is a large button for making selections whilst browsing the menu. These main keys also double up as music control keys; pressing up from the main standby on the Navi key quick launches the music player, whilst the side parts of the Navi key operate as fast forward and rewind options. The middle key doubles up for play/pause functionality.
The Walkman 4.0 player menu is well laid out, and easily navigated, even by someone who may be new to this style of device. Music is listed in various ways, and can easily be accessed by genre, artist and album. Playlists are easily created on the handset, and there is full support for album art. The device itself, in keeping with the low price range of the handset, offers only 5MB of internal memory capacity. This is compensated by the inclusion of a Micro SD memory card slot, with official support for memory cards up to 16 GB, plenty of room for thousands of tracks. Thankfully Sony Ericsson has also included a 3.5mm audio jack on the Spiro, so you can easily listen to your music with your own favourite headset. This is still a novelty for Sony Ericsson, even in the recent past most Walkman branded devices made do with the proprietary Sony Ericsson connection port. Whilst you could use a headphone adaptor, this often meant around 2m of cable to deal with, which would be very annoying.
The music player on the device supports multiple formats, including MP3, AAC, eAAC+ and WAV, and as well as the Walkman there is also a stereo FM radio with full RDS support. The inclusion of Bluetooth 2.1 also allows you to listen to your music on the move with a compatible wireless headset.
The Spiro is a dual band GSM phone, with limited data connection options, restricted to just GPRS and EDGE. This suffices for general web browsing, but you wouldn’t want to be attempting any downloads of any kind. A good option here would be to use the Opera Mini browser, which offers superior experience browsing on low speed data networks. The Spiro includes a basic 2.0 Megapixel camera, with video record facility, and there are native Facebook and Twitter applications included on the device, too.
Clearly the Spiro is all about the music, and in that regard it works well, and would make an ideal device to use on a night out, instead of taking a more expensive handset or music player. Apart from the Walkman effect, the Spiro is just a standard run of the mill mobile phone, and this may just be the key to its success.
The Sony Ericsson Spiro is expected to launch sometime during Q3 2010, and will be available in Black contrast, Pink sunset, Green Spring and Black stealth colour variants.
Related Sony Ericsson Spiro Links
- Compare the latest Sony Ericsson Spiro deals
- Compare Sony Ericsson Spiro pay as you go prices
- Read user Sony Ericsson Spiro reviews
- Full list of Sony Ericsson Spiro specs
- View gallery of Sony Ericsson Spiro pictures
- Watch latest Sony Ericsson Spiro video
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3:39 pm
I'm going to buy the phone for £49.99 and with £20 top-up. Is the phone and the price worth it?
3:17 pm
Yes, that price is totally worth it. I have that phone and so does my son I'm so glad I purchased it. I bought mine a couple of weeks ago and already loving it everytime I use it even my son's friends have the phone. It's really popular and totally worth the price. I'd pay probably up to £70 for it. It's a really good phone.
I think it is a good price to pay i paid £50 for mine but didn't get the top up. I wouldn't buy it from Tescos' because, I know, they're all the same phone but 3-4 of my friends have said that they are faulty. But mine isnt and neither is my sons. Good deal Syed
2:51 pm
Purchased this phone in January and from day one it switches itself off constantly, could not rely on it at all. Will never buy another Sony Ericsson.
4:06 pm
The worst phone i have ever purchased. Keeps swiching itself of, cannot even perform simple tasks such as taking a picture without switching off. Text messages come through hours & hours after they were sent & calls often dont come through even with full signal, sent straight to answer phone. Very unreliable.
8:53 pm
Syed it is not....i got my new spiro from Tesco.com from tesco mobile at £35 and just needed to pay £5 to get unlocked and now its great and you'll like it if you like simple and music playing
5:52 pm
Yeah this is misleading as Facebook doesnt support this phone.
8:17 pm
Rocksie, are you saying your device doesn't have the Facebook app pre-installed? The SE Website indicates that the Spiro does support Facebook, if you need to download the app you should be able to get it from the Play Now service, if it isn't on your device.
2:33 pm
Hi all, the phone is pre installed with the facebook application. The music lovers will love this phone. I own one and loving it apart from using the keypad and buttons as it is little tiny.
9:40 pm
does anyone have a problem at all with their phone keep on turning itself off? mine does it all the time so i dont know if its just mine or if its a common problem
11:42 am
Yeah my phone is doing the exact same i think im going to return it to the shop and get a different phone for the same price or something.
3:39 pm
Same problem, keeps switching itself off, took it back they gave me a new one, same problem, got go back again tomorrow now.
10:49 pm
this phone is not worth the money. i got this phone and after 5 days it stopped sending texts so i brought it back to my shop and they gave me and brand new one and once again after 5 days it stopped sending texts, i am very dissappointed with this
10:35 pm
i agree with clair. i bought this phone a week ago and it started turning itself off. i find it very annoying and distracting.
1:48 pm
i bought this phone 6 weeks ago and have already had it replaced as after 2 weeks, it wouldnt rec or send txts i am now having to go back to the store to have it changed again as it is doing the same, obv there is a problem with the software on this product it is extremely irritating.
5:50 pm
Hi guys, I bought the Sony Ericsson Aspen 2 months ago. I think it is worth the money, but I myself am still struggling with it. Does anybody know where I can find information about how to work with the phone?
For example, I can watch a movie, but there are no sounds and voices, how can I fix that? I want to copy text messages from my phone to my laptop and I cannot figure out how does that work... Finally, where can I find game applications for the phone? Thank you in advance for your help!
3:19 pm
Got my Spiro phone at the end of August and after 2 weeks it would not hold its charge and kept turning it's self on and off. Tried a new battery ok for while then same thing started happening. Got sent a new phone only had this since fri 5th nov, have tried to charge it up and sometimes it charges and sometimes it does not. Getting really fed up with it now it is a shame as i like the phone. Just my luck to get two phones with faults. Will now have to sort this phone out. Here we go again.
12:43 am
This phone is a total waste of money, my first one stopped sending and receiving texts after a matter of days and I am now on my second handset and it keeps switching itself off. They told me in the shop to try a "On-line system upgrade" which makes no difference what-so-ever, and why should I have to "system upgrade" a phone that I have just spend £60 on a matter of days ago?? Think Sony Ericsson have alot to answer for on this failure of a phone, I have always had Ericsson and never had any problem like this before, I am now tempted to change to another make.
11:21 am
Take it to t-mobile, get new software for your phone.
7:42 pm
hey guys, im getting the Sony Ericsson Spiro roxy for christmas but after what you were saying, im having second thoughts about it, my sister had a Sony Ericsson before and she had the same problem it kept switching off too, honestly do you think i should still get it, is it really worth it?
2:29 am
My Spiro keeps sending messages to all my contacts, and i cannot stop this unless i take my battery out, also it wont let me see any incoming messages saying they are 'corrupt'. Lastly it turns itself on and off all the time. I have only had this phone two weeks and am going to take it back to the shop and get my money back.
11:45 am
I've had the same problem, saying messages I receive are corrupt, not allowing me to send msgs. I'm on the 2nd replacement since xmas. Tesco keep telling me there is no noted fault with this phone but there obviously is. Back tomorrow to try and get another.
11:26 am
Bought the Spiro from Argos. After a week it wouldnt send/receive texts, got a replacement Spiro and after a week same problem and i have the same problem with it switching off. Not happy!!
3:45 pm
I got this phone this morning, its awesome apart from the fact it wont let me set my own music as my ringtone so im stuck with the ones that came with the phone :S im determined to find a way though.
7:59 pm
Can you tell me if you have found a way yet, as i'm disappointed can't use my own.
10:20 pm
I have had numerous problems with this phone. On the first handset i had the battery would run down really quickly. I got a second handet and this one turns itself off randomly. It does this when i try to take a picture, when i try to put my phone on silent and it is very irritating. Today it stopped sending and receiving texts so i am going to have to take it back again. I would not recommend this phone
12:35 pm
Ok i had the sony erricson spiro for christmas..
at first all way great.. didnt come with a transfer lead to your computer but i found a way around it.
i tryed to take a picture with it and it turned its self off, it turns its self off randomly aswell, sometime i have to reset it jus so when i slide the phone down it locks, after a week it has stopped sending and recieving texts, sometimes when i put it on charge, it does not actually charge.
It is a shame as it is a nice phone, small, easy to text on, quite loud.
but i would not recommend it.
8:02 pm
I will not be recommending this phone to anyone. Like most reviews I too am on my second handset and it is not sending or receiving texts. Looks like another trip to the phone shop at weekend. I will NOT be accepting a replacement of this phone.!!!!!
10:13 am
Hi all, I've had the Spiro for about 3 weeks now and so far the only thing i dislike about it is that although it is supposed to be a walkman phone the memory only has room for 1 song. So looks like i will have to buy a memory card which i dont mind doing but do think its ridculous that without a card i can only have 1 song. I had an older sony ericsson model before this for 4 years and never had any problems with it and i had loads of songs on it without having to buy a memory card!!!!!
7:28 am
Hey guys im thinking about buying the roxy Spiro, is it worth it after what you have said here? where are the professional reviews? i want a phone with a good music player and camera but mainly a phone that can hold a lot of memory as mine only holds 2000KB which is pretty crap and it has no music player or camera, nice on the outside not so nice inside. so whats a good new zealand phone i should get?
7:33 am
This is a useless phone all over and i am repenting for it now...its a damn slow stupid piece and not worth of the cost at all. Sony Ericcson might be a brand name but this phone is merely useless and gets stuck always and doesnt allow me to text. Overall doesnt give a battery back up also and on other hand gives loads of troubles and this is the worst phone ever i have prchased in my life.
10:59 am
Purchased the Sony Ericsson about 2 months ago. It's just about acceptable for the my limited usage.Talk and Text mostly. The battery life is terrible have to charge it every day, even then if I have a few calls ot texts it lets me down if i don't have the charger handy. DON'T TOUCH THIS PHONE. i'd give it - - - - -.
9:07 pm
I bought this phone on the 4 of the Jan this year in NZ, as of last night it no longer wants to send txt msgs & every msg i recieve it says 'corrupt'... seriously i would not bother with this phone. Im gutted because i have sworn by Sony Ericsson for years now & have only ever had one!! Am hoping to get my money back i dont want to be getting a replacement & have this happen again & again!! I wish i had googled the reviews before i purchased it!
4:51 pm
It's not up to much at all. I can't read texts because it says they're blank, and I now also can't send texts either. I went for SE cos my boyfriend has one which is 5 years old and still going strong, but these new cost cutting phones are just not the same thing. I'm not into all these smart phones and whatever so not sure what to do, I just want a basic phone that's easy to use and lasts... but they seem to be more and more difficult to come by these days!!
5:15 pm
People update your phone, these problems have been fixed the text thing and the shutting off. If you dont have a data cable but know someone with a nokia n97, n96 or 5800 borrow theirs, it will work they are the same, you will need to download the update service from there site and follow the instructions. It will sort your phone. visit there site.
7:52 am
Thanks Mark!! I was going to throw mine away as it stopped sending and receiving texts last week. I saw your post and just downloaded and installed the update. My phone is instantly sending and receiving again. You just saved me a couple hundred bucks in having to buy a new one!!! Thanks man
1:12 pm
Hi all, I got a Spiro (PAYG) from Orange in the UK and I've had all the same problems although I've been dealing with it as much as I can. In the first week it crashed and all the text on the interface was only 'g's'. The 'not sending messages' can be temporarily fixed by turning the phone off and then on, but is very irritating, also using the 'Messages' function instead of 'Conversations' sometimes fixes it for a short while. I'm getting a replacement but I'm sure I won't recieve a phone that isn't faulty. I bought it for £68 and they will not refund me, only send me a new Spiro. Stay away from this phone, it's a pretty crappy size too and the internet is deathly slow. The only good thing I have to say is that if you have some good earphones, the music is usually good.
10:21 am
Had the same problems very bad for freezing, switches itself off fed up with it too!
2:51 pm
Don't bother buying this phone it is rubbish, and a waste of money, so many problems, I've had it about 3 weeks, and everything goes wrong on it, today all my messages are coming in as corrupt, and all the original messages are now blank. I cannot send any messages either.
7:53 am
See my comments - download the update. Instantly fixes your phone!
3:41 am
Second one I've had. Cant take it back though for a refund cos got a few scratches on screen. Started shutting off after two days. Then a week ago it wont send texts and says corrupt for any incoming texts. I read these posts before buying it, but thought would be ok. NOT! Dont touch this phone, it is a waste of money!
7:49 am
Same thing happened to mine. Texts stopped sending and receiving. Go to the Sony Ericsson website. Download the update service to your computer. Follow instructions, connect your phone and install on your phone. It fixed my phone and can send and receive texts sweet as now. Phone is back to normal. Am stoked cos was gonna throw it away!
10:23 pm
After a month my Spiro keeps switching itself off during calls and is constantly switching between Orange and T-Mobile networks. I have contacted orange and they say the problem is with the phone. I have taken it back to the carphone warehouse to send away for return. I have always used sony mobile phones but after this experience I will not buy another one and thinking of going back to Nokia, the Spiro is a total let down.
10:59 pm
I am going to buy this phone. By now the problems should have been fixed but if they haven't then I shall update it. I know from my previous experience with LG that updating it instantly makes the phone better. Although it is a budget phone, you get what you pay for and considering I'm not looking for much, it's all good for me. If you are having problems with customer service, switch to o2! Although their prices are higher than all the others, I have always had a good customer service from them and I have been with them for about 7 years now! Like I said, you get what you pay for
10:32 pm
Just fixed one of these, would not send or receive text messages. Updated the software and now it does, result.
2:48 pm
Good: Size and colour
Bad: Absolute rubbish, do not even contemplate purchasing one of these. If you are offered one for £1 it will still be a waste of money
Comment: I had the phone for 2 weeks when all texts (received and sent) were showing as blank pages on the phone and on any phone I sent the text to. Tesco's store in Trowbridge were excellent and told us it waqs a memory problem, so we put in a new 2GB memory card and the same thing happened. Tesco staff immediately replaced the handset with a new one.
Two weeks later this replacement phone did exactly the same, but the original receipt was not over the 28 days allowed by Tescos so the phone had to be returned to their Customer Services address. A week later the same phone handset was returned with a letter saying the fault had been found, repaired and the latest software had been installed. All went well with the phone for ....... Yes, you've guessed it two weeks.
Returned to Tescos Store and told them it was not fit for purpose and that it was not of merchantable quality. Both these comments should make it clear that a refund is due, but the manager had to check and was told the Customer Services had to make three attempts to repair before a refund could be given. I did not want to make a fuss with the poor manager as his hands were tied by the red tape.
Tescos have set up. The normal statutory rights of any purchase are that a full refund should be immediate if the item is not fit for purpose or not of merchantable quality. Those two comments describe this phone perfectly.
I have now been given the telephone number of Sony Ericssons repairs/ Customer Services so that I can get satisfaction from them. I will come back with a further review of this awful phone when I have had some replies from them and from Tescos head offices.
There is no option to give 0 stars so I have left a 1/2 star, but the phone does not really reach that very low standard.
1:36 pm
I got it for free and only had to buy £10 credit, what a mistake that was, it keeps turning its self off and the slide screen is already becoming lose. I would avoid this modle of phone at all costs even if free ive only had it 1 week.
1:33 am
I hate this phone. I had a SE W810i and I needed a new phone so I bought the Spiro W100. In this edition the camera is a 3.2 MP, but it is lousy in comparison to the old W810i 2 MP camera. Also I copied my MP3 files from the W810i memory card to my PC and back to the memory card of the Spiro, yet the Spiro MP3 player really sucks as it doesn't play half the files. It doesn't even see them on the card. The File Manager can't freely access the memory card as it could on the W810i. I really hate this phone and I'm NEVER going to buy Sony Ericsson again!!!
10:49 pm
i bought one from the carphone warehouse 3 weeks ago for £55 it keeps freezing and switching its self off. If i update the software will it sort them problems?