Sony Ericsson W595 review

Sony's W595 MusicStation equipped multimedia phone looks set to be a sure-fire hit with those who like their pop music Tested at £0.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

If you’re a fan of pop music, and like to keep your library fresh, a MusicStation mobile well worth investigating

Pros

  • +

    Feels good in the hand

  • +

    smart interface

  • +

    MusicStation software has plenty of appeal

  • +

    decent sound

Cons

  • -

    Variable MusicStation file sizes

  • -

    no headphone jack

  • -

    could be slightly more intuitive

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

While the Sony Ericsson W595 is a fairly smart new mobile, our main interest in this product comes as an opportunity to try out the integrated MusicStation application.

For either £1.95 a week or as part of your monthly subscription price, this exclusive-to-Vodafone service allows you to download, play and share more than three million tracks – and growing –wherever you are.

The service downloads music via 3G or 2.5G (depending on reception), and in the eAAC+ format. Music is stored on the 40MB phone memory or on a micro card of your choice.

It's a decent handset, and the interface is fairly intuitive – with the odd foible.

And it doesn't sound too bad at all. Listening to Dizzee Rascal's Dance Wiv Me, it's a lively, surprisingly detailed sound, if a touch lightweight.

We like this phone, we like MusicStation. With much more functionality promised, especially across other platforms, it's an application to keep an eye on.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test