Posted by Mia in 
According to the manufacturer, Sony Ericsson S312 is literally created for spontaneous photo and video. Despite the low price, this phone has several features that allow fast work with the camera. But first things first …
Design of majority of inexpensive candy bars from Sony Ericsson has long ceased to evolve significantly. Minor adjustments of the keys are made for the new models, which slightly retouch the front panel, and now the “new” phone is born. Alas, this is partly true for Sony Ericsson S312 as well.
The device is made in a monoblock form factor, traditional for Sony Ericsson devices in parallel lines and edges and not less than the traditional dimensions and mass (100 x 46 x 12,5 mm/80, 1 g). Plastic Case of Sony Ericsson S312 has a silver side faces and dark blue front and rear walls. It is noteworthy that in addition to blue, they plan to release models in the light-silver case that is sure to catch the fancy girls.
The mirror sheeting display is originally made. It is not abrupt halt at the edges of the shell and rests in a plastic frame, but as a smooth “rolled” on the edge. The absence of the plastic frame on the perimeter of display has given the new product a fresh and even futuristic look. The device is pleasant to hold in your hand – to the extent of heavy, pleasant to the touch, and pleases the eye. For the budget model it is the ultimate dream.
Display
LCD display of the novelty is a typical budget solution proven by time. On the one hand, a small diagonal and low resolution of 176 x 220 makes viewing the photographs and videos not very comfortable, but on the other hand, 262 thousand colors will not miss a single detail. The brightness and clarity of the new item is to the occasion. The one hundred percent truthful rendition is also pleasing. But viewing angles, alas, are not the best.
Luggage
When creating S312 the developers had a difficult task before them. On the one hand, they had to maximally reduce the cost of the device, and on the other – making it a good cameraphone. They decided to maximally cut through the installation of a novelty CMOS-sensor, which has only 2 megapixels. Even by yesterday’s standards it is quite modest, but by today it is very little. Naturally, the built-in camera is not equipped with auto focus. So that S312 could be called a cameraphone, it’s equipped with additional buttons (which we have already said), but also found next to the lens, LED flash.
Of course, the camera on this shoot was no better, but the increase in functionality, according to the manufacturer, should probably somehow compensate the shortcomings of quality. Of course, there are also drawbacks.
The exposure adjustment fails to improve the quality of images. Small details are lost (this is typical of any cameras without AF), noises are present in large numbers even when shooting in sunny weather, but under complex lighting automation is simply lost. The only thing that can be commended for the camera in a novelty, is a good color reproduction. Video clips also did not differ with decent quality – noise and lack of detail is not visible except when playing back footage on a small phone. So we can draw the following conclusion – S312 camera is easy to shoot, fast and convenient, but there are no pretensions to quality.
Communications
In terms of communication capabilities S312 belongs to the classical GSM-models of recent years, working in the 900/1800 MHz bands. Work on the Internet is carried out thanks to the GPRS / EDGE module. Reception of the new items in the measure of sensitivity, and the quality of voice are good enough.
Connectivity is maintained by the Bluetooth module, and the A2DP profile provides phone compatibility with wireless headphones. Bluetooth has been tested on sample and data communications with HP iPAQ Pocket PCs 4700. Devices quickly find each other, but the transmission of data (two dozen pictures) on your PC, as always, was very slow – average speed was 0.13 MB / sec.
Multimedia features
Despite the fact that the manufacturer has put the usability of the camera at the heart, all the other multimedia capabilities of modern phones are also not forgotten. Audio player is different with neutral interface and many options sufficient for not too demanding user, among which is worth mentioning 4-band EQ and level controls low and high frequencies. Video player did not have any settings, although it is extremely simple to use. Program for viewing photos has a little more opportunities. With the help of it the image can even impose one available in the arsenal of phone digital effects – for example, take a picture black and white or in shades of brown.
It is slightly annoying that all these players are not collected in a single multimedia unit, as in more expensive phones of Sony Ericsson, and literally scattered on the menu. But the FM-radio traditionally allocated to a separate tab, is located on the main page. It is good that producer sets FM-module with the ability to receive RDS-message even in their low-cost model.
Conclusions
Unlike many other budget sets, which practically do not stand out from the large gray mass of their own kind, Sony Ericsson S312 boasts a special feature – thoughtful management of the camera, as well as the presence of an LED flash. But not to increase the value, the camera is installed at the new items, alas, outdated. For this you can indefinitely blame the manufacturer, but otherwise the S312 simply ceased to be called a Budget.
Also pluses to this phone should include a fresh design, quite comfortable operation, long battery life and a complete set of hardware inside.
