Sony Ericsson Vivaz Review

Let me introduce you to the Sony Ericsson Vivaz. This tiny little phone packs a pretty big punch! It small in stature… only 4.2 x 2 x .5 inches with a 3.2 inch display. That is where the “small” ends. It boasts a  75 mb internal storage expandable by microSD up to 32 gb (8 gb included). As the CPU has a 720 MHz processor it runs at a fairly decent clip. My favorite aspect of this phone is that it has an 8 MP camera (4x digital zoom) with flash and it takes video at 720p@24fps with a continuous autofocus & video light. Some other fun features include video calling, touch focus, geo-tagging, face and smile detection, PowerVR SGX graphics, stereo FM radio and the most fun aspect… it comes in Pink, Silver Moon, Cosmic Black, Galaxy Blue, and Venus Ruby.

A few apps and features include:

– Google maps
– Facebook and Twitter apps
– YouTube and Picasa integration
– WMV/RV/MP4/3GP video player
– MP3/WMA/WAV/RA/AAC/M4A music player
– TrackID music recognition
– TV out (VGA resolution)
– Organizer
– QuickOffice document reader
– Gesture control
– Voice memo
– T9

I have never used a smart phone before, so this was a completely new concept for me. I was sent the Vivaz and a pre-paid AT&T SIMM card to play with the phone and get to know it better.

The Vivaz impressed me right out of the box. It’s sleek and much smaller than my current phone, but yet it has a fairly large touch screen. I found that when trying to type on the touch pad that the stylus included works okay, but if you turn the phone sideways the touchpad keyboard widens and makes it easier to use just your fingers.

The apps are fun and useful. Twitter is front and center at the top of the screen and makes keeping in touch simple. Browsing the web was a small challenge for me, as I mentioned before I have never used a phone to do that. With some determination (& reading the manual) I think I figured it out enough to navigate without too much frustration. My main need for a portable internet device is comparison shopping. I like to get the best deal possible (don’t we all?). If I find an item in the store that I think is a good deal I like to check online to make sure. In the past I have called family and friends and asked them to hop online for a second for me (I’m sure I was a bit annoying).  Overall, the operating system was learnable but not nearly as intuitive as Apple. I think with more time I would be a pro.

My favorite thing about this phone was the camera and video. I am all about minimizing the amount of stuff I have to carry with me when I leave the house. Now that both my babies are older my diaper bag is getting smaller and smaller. I have often heard myself say “Oh my gosh, that is so cute! I wish I had my camera!”. I always have my phone with me, though. Having a phone with an 8MP camera (with zoom & flash!) makes me so excited (yes, I excite easily… but if it makes my life easier don’t knock me for it! )!  Now I can capture these impromptu moments that won’t wait while I go fetch my camera.

I couldn’t believe it when I read this tiny little phone could take HD video, but I am now a believer. The crispness, the clarity, the detail… it’s all there. I am so in love with the camera and video capabilities of this phone. I paid nearly $300 for a digital camera to do the things this phone can do and the camera is twice the size of this phone! Overall I would continue to use this phone, but sadly I do not use this particular carrier. With still a year left on my contract I will have to dream about the Vivaz…

While surfing Youtube to find a great demo video I found this. If you are interested in the Vivaz he does a fabulous job of showing you the features.

Disclaimer: This post was written by me and was not edited by anyone. The opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way. I received product for review purposes only. I was not compensated for writing this post. For more information please read my disclosure policy.