Sony Ericsson's R300LX doesn't have quite as many features as its predecessor, the R289LX, and it costs more. However, this mobile meets the needs of its target audience: first-time buyers who want a no-frills, reliable cell phone.
Full-figured
The first thing you'll notice about this full-bodied (5.0 by 1.9 by 1.0 inches; 6.1 ounces), candy bar-style phone is its large, five-line, backlit screen, which appears to be bigger than that of the R289LX. Users who dislike small text menus will appreciate the big, easy-to-read fonts found on this phone's display.
Although the R300LX is on the hefty side, there are some benefits to its design.
Since it feels more like a cordless handset than a cell phone, the contoured R300LX is comfortable to talk on for extended periods of time. While you can throw the two-tone (topaz blue in front, black in back) mobile in a bag and not worry about it getting lost, the R300LX is slightly too bulky to transport in a pant pocket.
This Sony Ericsson has ample features, including a 300-name phone book, a calendar, a calculator, three-way calling, two-way SMS, voice-activated dialing, customizable shortcuts, 24 ring tones, and a vibrate mode. It also accepts downloadable tones via SMS and offers four games (Tetris, Ballpop, Erix, Emaze) that we found entertaining. And like the R289LX, this model supports wireless Web access, but AT&T Wireless isn't offering its PocketNet service for the phone.
Accessories lovers will be happy to note that the R300LX works with the company's MP3-player attachment, portable chat board, and various headsets, including the FM radio accessory. And though it lacks a 2.5mm jack and doesn't support standard headsets, the phone comes with its own.
Beep me, please!
As for battery life, the R300LX didn't fare too well in our tests. We managed a respectable five days of standby time, but that's well short of the phone's 200 hours of rated standby time. We also fell short of the 195-minute rated talk time, as the phone unexpectedly quit on us at the 180-minute mark. Alas, the R300LX doesn't have a low-battery reminder to alert you when the phone's about to die.
We tested the trimode (TDMA 800/1900 AMPS 800) phone in the San Francisco Bay Area using AT&T Wireless service and never had to roam into analog mode to make a connection. Furthermore, we found call quality to be above average. Callers said we sounded as if we were next door instead of hundreds of miles away.
Despite a few shortcomings, the R300LX is a reliable phone, and at $49.99, it's reasonably priced. That said, its predecessor, the R289LX, is now free with AT&T Wireless service, making it a better deal if you're looking for a no-frills mobile.
