Also, although the handset lacks 3G support, Sony Ericsson has pre-installed the Opera Mini web browser (you’ll find it in the applications menu), which helps speed up browsing by using third party web servers to render and compress pages before firing them out to the handset.Īdmittedly the S312’s two inch screen makes even simple webpages a bit of a chore to read as there are only 176×220 pixels available. The predictive text engine also works a treat and this combined with the large, responsive keys on the keypad makes it easy to tap out longer texts or emails. This is very easy to use as its main menu has a familiar gird layout which makes all the key features quick and easy to find. Undoubtedly one of the best things about the S312 is that it uses the standard Sony Ericsson Symbian-based operatins system that’s found on most of the company’s budget and mid range phones. You can buy headphone adapters for this socket but, again, such a thing isn’t included. Normally, you can at least listen using a basic bundled headset but, presumably as a cost cutting measure, you don’t even get this. Instead audio is piped through the traditional Sony Ericsson charging port. With most recent efforts like the Elm, and Vivaz using microSD, it’s very strange to see Sony Ericsson reverting to its proprietary ways on this phone.Īnother slight issue with the phone’s design is that it doesn’t have a standard headphone jack. Not only is this different to the microSD standard used by most phones, necessitating you buying another card if you’re swapping brands, M2 cards are also more expensive. Even worse though, this is an M2 memory slot. However, this is a tad awkward to get at as it’s hidden beneath the battery directly under the SIM card holder. When it comes to saving pictures and videos the phone only has 15MB of storage onboard so Sony Ericsson has added a memory card slot. Whether this is an advantage is debatable, as on most phones a quick flick of the d-pad will change modes anyway.

One of these takes stills shots while the other is used to shoot video. Interestingly, as on the Sony Ericsson Vivaz, the S312 has two camera controls.

It feels very solid to hold and although the silver finish on the rear looks a little bit plasticky, it doesn’t distract too much from the overall attractiveness of the handset. The phone has a traditional candy bar design, but Sony Ericsson has added some nice touches such as the mirrored coating on the screen and cool looking keypad where the buttons are arranged across four horizontal bars. The question is, does it succeed?Ĭertainly the S312 is more attractive than you would expect at this price. However, with the S312 Sony Ericsson seems keen to show that a cheaper price tag doesn’t always have to lead to poorer build quality or less desirable styling. Many are crippled by keypads that feel like they’re ready to fall to pieces even before you take them out of the box or screens with poor viewing angles that lead to murky looking text. However, generally speaking we’ve found that at the bottom end of the market the cheaper the handset, the uglier and more annoying it is to use. These days there’s plenty of competition out there when it comes to budget mobiles and even at £40 the S312 is far from the cheapest phone on the market. If you’re one of these people then Sony Ericsson has you in its sights with the S312, a budget handset that can be picked up for around £40 on pay as you go.

Some folk just want something cheap and simple to make calls on. Not everyone is looking for the latest smartphone when it comes to buying a mobile.

Sony ericsson candy bar