Looking for a replacement QWERTY phone

[gino_76ph]

Hi there!

I currently have the Nokia E5 QWERTY smartphone. the phone has been with me for a few years now and i am looking to replace it with another good (SIM-free) QWERTY phone.

I have tried a Blackberry phone (Curve 9360) but i found it to be quite fiddly (i.e. one task takes at least 1-2 more than my E5) and the battery life plus the startup time is very appalling.

I cannot see a similar-style/shaped Android phone other than the HTC Chacha and the Acer beTouch phones which i don't like.

What i want is something similar to the E5, user-friendly, an excellent battery life (like my E5 which sometimes last for days) and one that i can use to check basic emails or use the camera to upload photos.

Seen the Sony Xperia Pro and the Mini Pro but i don't know if they are that good for texting/typing considering they have this sliding keyboard.

Any advice please?

[Larkspeed]

My wife has a Xperia Mini Pro and it's a great little phone.

She can type way faster on that than I can on my SGS2

The keys are a bit small but once you get used to them this is not an issue

[jimbouk]

Got an Xperia Pro. So long as you are willing to Root and Rom it it's a good phone, but otherwise crippled by Sony software. Great piece of hardware though, good sized keys, nice screen and sturdy slider mechanism.

[gino_76ph]

I am not into rooting or installing custom ROMs. i want an ordinary SIM-free/unlocked phone.

My only reservation for the Xperia Pro or the Mini pro is the sliding keyboard. do i think it would be "bulky" in my pocket? will the mechanism wear out easily if i use it more often? Will i need 2 Android phones (my other one is an HTC Sensation), just keep my E5 or jump into a Bold 9900 or 9790?

[pp05]

Hi there!

I currently have the Nokia E5 QWERTY smartphone. the phone has been with me for a few years now and i am looking to replace it with another good (SIM-free) QWERTY phone.

I have tried a Blackberry phone (Curve 9360) but i found it to be quite fiddly (i.e. one task takes at least 1-2 more than my E5) and the battery life plus the startup time is very appalling.

I cannot see a similar-style/shaped Android phone other than the HTC Chacha and the Acer beTouch phones which i don't like.

What i want is something similar to the E5, user-friendly, an excellent battery life (like my E5 which sometimes last for days) and one that i can use to check basic emails or use the camera to upload photos.

Seen the Sony Xperia Pro and the Mini Pro but i don't know if they are that good for texting/typing considering they have this sliding keyboard.

Any advice please?

If you're happy with E5 then try get another one. Unfortunately Nokia abandoned this market after releasing such great handsets as E71/E72.

2nd hand e72 can be had for less than 100.

Have a look at Asha 302, can be had for less than 100 or 80 on vodafone. Similar kind of device. If office viewing is important then scratch this off your list.

Samsung Galaxy Chat is coming soon, screen will not be great but it will feature qwerty.

Blackberry Bold is okay as well but pricey. 9780 might be better option.

Mini pro is okay as well. I was looking to get it but not sure how crippled it is.

[Larkspeed]

Got an Xperia Pro. So long as you are willing to Root and Rom it it's a good phone, but otherwise crippled by Sony software. Great piece of hardware though, good sized keys, nice screen and sturdy slider mechanism.

I disagree. The average user would have no need to root and rom the Xperia Mini Pro they are a perfectly good phone as they sit.

[gino_76ph]

Getting another E5 is not on my list. So as a Samsung Galaxy Chat (stuck with Android 2.2 OS, low battery life, not-so very good reviews), an E71/72 (as its a much older phone), an E6 (as it is beyond my budget, some factory hardware faults on the d-button and again not-so good reviews), the 302 (as the camera is a paltry 3Mp and with no flash) and a Blackberry phone as (again) low battery life, slow startup and the list goes on.

Heard of so-so good reviews of the Bold 9790 though. and still dreaming about the Xperia Mini Pro/Xperia Pro.

Hmmm...what you think guys?

[Larkspeed]

Well like I have already said based on my wifes experience with her Xperia Mini Pro I would recommend that.

She has never once complained about it and she has had it since the first week they came out.

[pp05]

Give us an idea of your general usage...what is absolutely important?

Most phones will not have great battery life which is why suggested older models if your usage is limited to phoning and messaging.

Getting another E5 is not on my list. So as a Samsung Galaxy Chat (stuck with Android 2.2 OS, low battery life, not-so very good reviews), an E71/72 (as its a much older phone), an E6 (as it is beyond my budget, some factory hardware faults on the d-button and again not-so good reviews), the 302 (as the camera is a paltry 3Mp and with no flash) and a Blackberry phone as (again) low battery life, slow startup and the list goes on.

Heard of so-so good reviews of the Bold 9790 though. and still dreaming about the Xperia Mini Pro/Xperia Pro.

Hmmm...what you think guys?

[gino_76ph]

My main priority in choosing a phone (in general) would be battery life (like those Nokia phones), OS support (i.e. software updates, etc.) and one that i can download apps and proper app support (i.e App store) like that of Android.

If the battery life is not that good i can always buy a replacement extended-life battery anyway. And i did mentioned in my earlier reply about my reservations and worries about the other phones.

As it stands i'm torn between a Blackberry Bold 9790 and the Sony Xperia Pro/Mini Pro. The BB phones have (been known to have) short battery life, slow startup time and a not-so better app world compared to Google's or Apple's. I could be wrong. The Sony on the other hand might be ideal but again i'm worried about the mechanism of the slide-out keypad and might be a bit bulky/fat on my pocket. It would probablly make sense as it can also "complement" my other existing phone which is the HTC Sensation.

I will be mostly use it for texting my missus and friends, chatting via texting, typing (mostly for notes taking/reminders/organising stuff), the odd photos to upload online and checking my email. that's mainly it. i can do the other stuff on me other Android phone.

So, what you think guys?

[pp05]

Your choices are limited. Obviously slider mechanism will add a slight bulk to the phone.

Battery life - the old Nokia pretty much own the title for best battery life.

If the bulk of xperia mini pro 18mm body bothers you then you could always look around for xperia pro which will get you a slightly bigger screen (3.7 better for reading vs 3.0 of mini) but also slimmer profile (2mm thicker than a Blackberry 9790 which is nothing) and it is Android.