Sony Ericsson Zylo review: Walkman rewind

Introduction

A small and sexy music slider thats what the Zylo is. Nothing more, nothing less. Sony Ericsson are probably hoping to begin bringing up the next generation of loyal users. You know, give a kid a walkman and they will be coming back for more. The Zylo has the catchy beat and the good looks and its got the social bug. Music and social networking are perhaps top of the young users list of needs and the Zylo meets them at a canter.

Sony Ericsson Zylo official photos

But besides that, Zylo is a phone for the brokenhearted. A thing to help you remember. And we need to give it to Walkman phones there is much to recall fondly. Whether Sony Ericsson are about to breathe new life into the W-brand or just shaking the dust off an old prototype that never got into production, the Zylo deserves credit for keeping the Walkman spirit alive.

Key features Large 2.6″ 16M-color TFT screen, 240 x 320 pixels, scratch-resistant surface Quad-band GSM support Dual-band 3G with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 2Mbps HSUPA 3 megapixel fixed-focus camera; VGA@24fps video recording FM radio with RDS Stereo Bluetooth 2.1 microSD card slot, 260 MB internal memory Environment-friendly package Social networking integration, widget-enhanced interface NetFront v3.5 web browser with full Flash support Very good audio output quality Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate Smart dialing Main disadvantages No 3.5mm audio jack No standard USB port No bundled data cable or memory card No camera lens cover No document viewer

The Sony Ericsson Zylo is a cheap but stylish slider with a Walkman badge. It comes with fast HSPA support, but this is all the high-end connectivity you could expect. There are no premium features such as Wi-Fi and GPS. What puts an upsetting question mark on the whole package is the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack. Its a cheap phone alright, and we know better than anticipate a proper audio plug in a Walkman. Doesnt make sense but thats how it is. Out of all W-line phones, therere only two exceptions: the premium W995 and the dirty-cheap Spiro.

The latest feature phones by Sony Ericsson are keen to treat users to great social networking integration. The Zylo is no exception here. It gives you all the social stuff right on the homescreen with a solid widget set running live updates.

Sony Ericsson Zylo live shots

The Sony Ericsson Zylo is an excellent small Walkman thats very simple to like. It is a start-up package, most likely someones first phone. And Sony Ericsson want to give the low end a fair try it seems. Thats where Walkman might make sense. Theyre giving users something with personality and pedigree to think about against cheap touchscreen.