Phone Scoop - Sony Ericsson Z500 Info

User Review: Reliable and durable phone but very basic

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:12:40 GMT

tapewurm submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 3 (out of 5)

Pros:

Very durable

Nice feel when talking and navigating

Excellent speaker both ear and ringtones

Cons:

No Bluetooth or IR

STN display (TFT would have been nicer)

scratches easily

Overall it was an excellent phone for the basics without any special quirks.

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User Review: It's been a good ride

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:52:30 GMT

isingbass submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

I've had this phone for nearly 3 years now and it has served me faithfully. Bear in mind that the new features that have come along since 2004 make it not so glamorous anymore but it doesn't deserve to be slammed for that.

Bottom line: If SE added Bluetooth and Walkman to this phone I would buy another one in a heartbeat; or if AT&T would re-release this phone as is, I'd seriously consider it. Here's why:

Pros:
-Extreme Durability
It's a tank! I carry it in my hip pocket wherever I go. It travels with a lot of junk in there and has been squeezed and poked mercilessly. I've also dropped it a few times.

-Inexpensive
It wasn't the cheapest at the time, but it did go on free specials periodically and now it's so old that they should pay you to take it if it's tied to a contract. I'm frugal with my money so this was a perfect fit.

-Loud ringer/earpiece
I don't know how it stacks up against other ones, but I can hear it in pretty loud surroundings and it is much louder than the Motorola V180 I tried out between my Nokia 5125 and this one. It's ringer was useless sometimes.

-Clear call quality
Never had a complaint.

-Powerful yet nearly silent vibrator
A good feature when sitting in a quiet classroom. (Other college students, notice.)

-Good displays, inside and out
The external display shows all the important information and is easy to see.

-Menus/interface
This is the reason I won't buy anything other than another SE for now. I've been trying other phones as this one is getting old, but they all fall short of my SE. It's easy to get around this phone with few keystrokes.

I could go on, but you may have stopped reading already. I've got to talk about cons.

Cons:
-No Bluetooth
I can't exchange ringtones with friends or use wireless headsets A cheap data cable is nice to have.

-Locking up
Seldom does this on its own. Might if I drop it. Better than many out there.

For the record, This phone is thicker but smaller than RAZR.

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User Review: Decent But Could Be Better

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:48:24 GMT

G22C submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

I got my Z500 when I renewed my contract with Cingular in 2005. My Z500 was the promotional "Star Wars" edition, which came pre-loaded with a short video, several pictures, a few soundclip ringtones, and the "Revenge Of The Sith" trial game. It also came packed with a coupon for a free movie ticket to "ROTS", as well as one for a Star Wars faceplate. Used the movie ticket coupon (sweet!!), but never got the faceplate after mailing in the coupon (grrr!!).

As for the phone itself; I experienced the same shortcomings as most other Z500 owners. To me, it wasn't as bad though, or maybe I just didn't let it get to me. The user interface was easy to navigate, the camera was decent enough for a camphone, and I never experienced many dropped calls, if any. Overall, it was a basic phone that did its job in being "basic".

The only frustrating gripe I really have is, again, the same thing that many others here have noted... the dreaded firmware "crashes". This only happened to me while viewing pictures. As I clicked and viewed each one, the screen would sometimes go totally blank, and I'd have to click the button a few times to get it to show up again. Very frustrating!

I wish I could write a better review, but I'm too lazy, and I'm surprised I even got this far. Basically put, if I had to buy this phone again, I wouldn't. It's not worth the frustrations of constant firmware "crashes".
I sometimes browse eBay to see what the prices are for these Z500's, and how pathetic it is to see some cellphone dealers trying to unload this thing for anything more than $25 (seriously, I wouldn't go paying more than that for this phone if I were you).
If you're looking for a back-up phone or just a cheap temporary replacement, go for it. Also consider the Motorola SLVR L6, which is a really great in-between model of the older L2 (no camera) and newer L7 (has iTunes).

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User Review: sucks

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:30:36 GMT

Hollywood 33 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

ok, its not a bad phone, but

1. its huge
2. camera sucks
3. the snap.
4. and its ugly.

but theres one good thing, it records ringtones. which is good.

but overall, this phone sucks, and im switching back to verizon when my contracts up.

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User Review: I like this phone!!!!!

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:10:18 GMT

cfay222000 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

I purchased this phone used on Ebay and found this sight looking for info.on it. After reading the first page of reviews I got a sick feeling in my stomach. Low and behold it arrived the next day.And after figuring out how to navigate through it I actually like it. I have rather large hands and the biggest complaint I had read was the size, I think it's perfect. Don't let the negative reviews scare ya...

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User Review: Adequate but bulky by today�s standards

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:45:20 GMT

vitabrevis submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 2 (out of 5)

Ordered this phone unlocked from the net. Larger than what I had expected and, my last phone too, a .Motorola V400. It was branded Cingular but worked fine with my T-mobile service in south Florida with the exception that one time I had to actually change networks from T-mobile to Cingular while traveling, even thought it was set to do this automatically it showed no service until I switched it myself. Maine gripe was the call log. The phone by default does not display the calls dialed, answered, and missed in chronological order by the time that the call was dialed, answered and missed. Instead it will place a call that was dialed at the top of the list over a call that was answered closer to the actual time it was received. It only holds a maximum of 30 calls and if more calls are dialed than missed it will pull from the others and replace them with more received calls and you will not have the last 10 calls that you dialed or missed. And it only leaves one telephone number in each category so if you dialed, missed, or answered a call 3 times it will only show the last time. Also in the call log if you put someone in the phone book it only displays the name not the number you must select options and then edit or exit and go to the phone book. A nice waste of time, in all there are better phones out there it's old and showing its age.

Pros:
Good volume on handset & speaker phone
Reproduced clear mp3 ring tones
Loud ringer volume
Camera & video

Cons:
Poor phone book, 1 number per contact can't display SIM & phone stored number simultaneously
Poor resolution main screen, almost impossible to see in direct bright sunlight
Poor battery life compared to what is claimed, needed to recharge every 2
No USB, must buy special data cable to sync to computer
No red/green keys all are silver with minimal amber lighting

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User Review: Worst phone i have ever owned!!!

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:51:58 GMT

BKKloppenborg submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 0 (out of 5)

Well i got this phone because it was a real basic phone, i don't care about internet or camera, just making basic calls ok. However this phone can't even do that!!! Blue screen of death happends ALOT where you phone freezes up like others have been saying charging is a joke you have to stuggle for it to charge or else your battery will DISCHARGE and you will have no battery in the morning. The screens are slow laggy and freeze alot. I got 2 more replacements of this phone and they all do the same things. I would imangine its the software on this phone just SUCKS!!! Reception is HORRIFIC my Nokia had 4 bars Vs this one got 1, voice quality is also worse then a Moto (Is that possible?) with this phone yes. I will never buy another SE again after having to deal with the nightmare of this phone.

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User Review: stay away

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 23:22:02 GMT

TVP125 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 1 (out of 5)

i signed up for a 2 year contract and got this phone free. it looked good but when i got it things changed. the phone is a really cheep plastic that just pops off second my phone would just restart for no reason and sometimes it would get "the blue screen of death" and stop responding i would have to putt he battery out to restart it. the phone is large and heavy i thought sony ericsson was a good cell phone manufacture but something went wrong with this phone the only good thing i have to say is the phone itself hold up well i through this thing at the wall and the as hard as i could at the ground the only thing that happened was the plastic covers pooped off but to my surprise the screen did not break and it did not snap in half. DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE

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User Review: My First Phone Ever

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 04:07:07 GMT

JerryRSun submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Looks:
The phone looks good in person except that it's big, but the antenna is internal, so it sort of compensates. Over time, the paint has chipped off some and it breaks into four pieces sometimes when dropped (front plate, back plate, battery, phone). The screen is STN (inferior to TFT), and what you see has inaccurate colors and noise.

Usage:
I think Sony Ericsson has designed a very scientific keypad and menu layout. It takes a day to get used to, and then everything makes sense with the back button and two big buttons that are otherwise labeled call and end. The menus are not the fastest, but very tolerable. I have experienced the blue screen crash before, but a negligible amount of times. (you just take out the battery). It charges quickly compared to my friends' phones. The battery life is decent. I charge about every two days, but I don't talk on it that much, like 5 or 6 short calls a day.

Media:
I bought a counterfeit USB cable in China, which has let me do file transfers between the phone and my computer. The pictures the camera takes are decent, it's actually the way the screen shows the pictures that disappoints most of the critics, I think. Ringtones and speakerphone sound great on this phone, which is a big plus for me. Video is alright, too. I made customized themes with Photoshop, and it's pretty cool. The sound for incoming texts has to be chosen from 7 (or so) preset ones.

Pros:
-simplistic design
-file transfer with USB cable (great)
-light weight
-durable (doesn't die)
-satisfactory battery life
-good address book
-very good voice dialing
-No external speaker
-Good speaker
-Lots of features (calendar, timer, etc.)

Cons:
-Button latency (slow for texting)
-Bulky
-Loose face plates if dropped too many times
-STN screen
-External screen is worse
-Undeletable chicken ringtone from Cingular

P.S. I called Cingular to give me the unlock code. I unlocked it via secret menu, and was able to use it in China...good thing.

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User Review: Easy to use, clear signal/sound, handy speakerphone

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:26:02 GMT

dreeme submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

Previously, I've used numerous Nokia phone, which I think are great, except their deep menus.

The Sony Ericsson Z500a has been a great phone with handy features. I would recommend it for those not needing Bluetooth.

Pros:
- Flip phone so main, inside screen doesn't get scratched.
- Good size. Slightly larger so you can actually hold it and not lose it.
- Easy to use / good menu
- Clear signal/sound
- Speakerphone works great
- Outer display shows date/time and who's calling
- Phonebook takes multiple numbers, email under one name/entry (rather than only one number per name)
- Long battery life
- Fun ring tones
- Camera is good for screensavers and sending photos to other phones (use a real camera for large shots).
- Nice button surface, not slippery, doesn't show prints.
- No Bluetooth, we didn't want it as bluetooth is not yet secure enough.

Cons:
- Small number buttons
- Internet interface could be faster

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User Review: I love this bulky phone.

Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:57:08 GMT

christierose submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 4 (out of 5)

I love this phone because I like the personalization and easy to use menu. I can record my own ring tones! I love that. I am a college student, and I personalize ring tones for each friend. It's great. It is big, but you had to know that before you bought the phone. That is what the research tells you. I like the clicking when I open and close it, but some people don't. I don't need fantastic looking picture quality. I can not access the internet with my cell phone plan, so it's not like I'm sending photos or anything to anyone. Just text messages. There is an outside screen that will tell me who's calling. I can put a picture to everyone in my phone book as well as a ring tone. Loud ring tones if you need them to be. . One part I do not like is: it is big, so when I drop it... it bounces! So I am working on that. All in all.. I love this phone!

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User Review: it works for me

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 05:58:25 GMT

umyrface submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 3 (out of 5)

I've had this phone for a year and a half, so I've spent quite some time with it.

PROS:
Very customizable - wallpapers, profiles, shortcut keys, screen saver/start up screen, etc.

Speakerphone is quite loud, as are the ringtones and the vibrate is very strong. I can be walking down the streets of NYC and if I have my phone on the highest volume, you'll hear it. It's almost deafening! Which is a good thing, for me at least.

Extremely sturdy. I'm a total klutz, I tend to drop my phone when I'm in a rush running to class, and this phone has survived.

CONS
Side button is easily hit, so the shortcut you select for that button is almost always open.

Sometimes the screen goes blank. For no reason at all. If you push a few buttons it works again - I think this is just because I've dropped it so many times it's finally dying out on me.

You can't change the ringtone for the appointments, it's a really obnoxious sound.

Screen is hard to see in bright daylight.

The ringtones that come with the phone are horrendous but you can easily download one or have a friend send you one.

OTHER
The buttons are flat. It doesn't bother me at all, but some people prefer buttons that are raised slightly.

Quite big. Like I said, it works for me because I drop my phone from time to time, so I don't want to have a SLVR and break it after one drop.

The menu buttons are for the recent calls and some other pointless shortcuts. Since the phone is really customizable with the shortcuts, it wasn't an inconvenience for me at all.

All in all, I don't have too many complaints. My battery is running low and sometimes if my battery is on the orange setting it shuts itself off in the middle of a phone conversation and actually shuts my phone off completely. THAT is the reason why I'm upgrading my phone in less than a month!

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User Review: Not Great

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 22:16:18 GMT

loony12 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 1 (out of 5)

not good
messes up all the time but that could be because i left it in the hot car\

pros
tough
easy to talk on

cons
aweful battery life
aweful pictures
not enough memory
too many buttons
not easy to use
could go on and on but i will not

however i can see y cingular discontinued it

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User Review: The Biggest Mistake of my Adult Life

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:03:29 GMT

coryha submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 1 (out of 5)

This is the worst phone ever to have been created - a cruel joke played on the world by the evil people of Sony Ericsson.

My friends refer to it as the Zack Morris cell phone because it is simply huge. There's no reason for any phone to ever be this large. If you buy this phone, your friends will regularly ridicule you.

The phone routinely freezes with the blue screen of death and you have to let the battery die (which can be for an entire day - great way to ruin a relationship or ostracize friends after you have made plans). Also, when you plug in the A/C cable to charge it only works about half the time, so you have to mess with it constantly to try and get it to charge. The battery life might be 30 minutes, but that's a stretch.

Pros:

-Lifting up to your ear is a great arm workout
-Your friends can spot you across the room in a crowded bar as the idiot holding the plastic brick up to his ear

Cons:

-This phone is literally the size of a mailbox
-Blue screen of death will make you lose your mind - always happens at worst possible time
-Pictures look like 4-year-old sketches (i think Sony may have added software and done extra work to make sure no pictures come out remotely clear) - awful camera
-Small SMS memory - must constantly erase inbox and outbox
-Ringtones are so horrible and embarrassing I've kept this phone on vibrate since the third day I owned it

I was tricked into buying this phone January 2005 and am a month away from an upgrade. I feel like a huge weight is going to be lifted off of my shoulders. Everytime I get a call, it actually puts me in a bad mood because I have to look at/use this phone.

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User Review: I AM FINALLY GETTING RID OF IT!!!!

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:24:43 GMT

alex_velociti submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 3 (out of 5)

Well, I don't have much to say ---except that this phone blows.

I purchased this phone new, off eBay ---and the picture in the ad made the phone look good.

Well, when i first received the phone, i remember thinking to myself "this looks cheap"

And yes, its a cheap phone. The phone cuts off every now and then ---just like motorola phones...so i guess thats no biggy. I like the features on the phone, but it doesn't have a REAL security feature. I want to be able to lock people out of certain menu items ---but it doesn't allow that. I like the phone book though --- for some reason.

I wish the phone had bluetooth - it doesnt
The internet isn't that bad i guess...but i haven't had much experience with other mobile internet devices.

I hate the look of the phone. The buttons look cheap. The orange "lighting" just throws everything off.

The camera sucks balls
The phone scratches too easily for me --- and the from display cracked on me.

Uh, it gets the job done - reception kinda sucks though. Internet goes slow......
it does get the job done --- calling purposes only. It doesn't have any true computer software either...thats what sucks.

I ordered a motorola today, and i can't wait for it to come in.

OH! One last thing that works my nerves 24/7 the sim card placement. Who the hell knows how to get it in there, without scratching the card surface?...i've had this phone for almost a year, and it has been a pain ever since.

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User Review: THIS PHONE REALLY REALLY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 00:32:48 GMT

chris100989 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 0 (out of 5)

This phone sucks so bad that it is not even funny. i got this phone August 31, 2005 and on November 14, 2005 it just died and when i turn it on it would give me the blue screen of death and it refused to work. it is to big and the paint rubs of to fast and the camera sucks. the keypad has that ugly orange color. when u open and close the phone it makes a load clicking sound and when u open it the keypad lights up then the light goes out then the light comes back on and it freezes allot. This phone makes me so MAD!!!!!!!!!1 WARNING: to anyone think of buying this phone DONT!!!!! u would be better of talking on a candle b/c at least there would be a nice smell to claim u down

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User Review: Worse phone I have ever own

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:54:10 GMT

sky12585 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 0 (out of 5)

I got this phone for free with a plan last December and I loved it at first but now I have learned that this is the worse phone ever invented. The only plus on this phone is that it was free.

The cons
~To big
~To loud when opening and closing
~constantly freezes
~Screen goes black
doesn't charge right
~The outside looks like crap from paint chipping off.
~You have to take out the battery and let it sit for a min to get it working when it freezes or the screen goes black
~Drops calls all the time
doesn't dail right, you have to hit the call button a few times for it too register

All in all its a piece of crap and if you want a decent phone avoid this phone at all costs!

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User Review: Very Good Basic Camera Phone for ADULTS

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:50:59 GMT

scd1271 submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Maybe I expect too little of a cell phone, but I do not buy a phone to take pictures, or annoy all around me with nerve-jarring, annoying ringtones. These abilities entertain me for about the first ten minutes I have the phone. Yes, the hinge on the phone does click when opening or closing. To me, it feels much more solid than the polished turd of a Motorola I replaced with the SE. The camera does not take the best pictures, but if the pictures are viewed on a computer they are not bad. The phone certainly does better at taking pictures than my digital camera does at making phone calls. I have Cingular service and although their CS blows, the phone works very well in the urban/suburban area that I live in. MUCH better siganl and sound quality than Motorola and LG phones I have used. Bottom line--This is a basic camera hone and marketed as such, usually free with plan. In this case at least you get a dependable, solid phone for nothing. If you are looking for a Zoolander-esque fashion statement rather than a phone, look elsewhere. I personally do not want to look like my phone was on "Pimp my phone" and do not want to have to use a stylus to press microscopic bottons on a chicklet sized, chrome POS. I guess it is a matter of what you have a cell phone for.

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User Review: Having this phone pretty much lowers the quality of my life

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 03:59:16 GMT

mananda submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 1 (out of 5)

I bought this phone on a family plan with my fiance about a year and a half ago and was pretty happy with it at first other than the size. It's lucky for me that we have the same phone, because mine no longer charges. Whenever I have to charge the batter I have to switch our batteries and charge mine in his phone. I have dropped the phone a few times, but no more than I assume the average person would.

Pros
-Cheap
-Easy to use when working

Cons:
-Battery no longer charges
-Screen freezes and turns blue multiple times a day
-Phone randomly turns itself off, which has made me late to work as I use it for an alarm
-Too big!
-Clicks loudly when shut
-A couple pieces of my phone actually fell off right where it opens and closes, and I'm waiting for it to break in half at any given moment.
-A few of my buttons barely work now.

If you are planning on getting a two year contract with this phone, I'd start saving now for when you have to replace it with new phone priced at the ridiculous retail value like I have to do now.

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User Review: Sony must, have been high at the time.

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 03:31:36 GMT

Cingularmami submitted this review of the Sony Ericsson Z500:

Overall rating: 1.5 (out of 5)

I was in love with this phone..really seriously...

for about an hour.

This phone is so big, and heavy just plain out unessesary. If you think for one minute that you are about to be cute and open this phone with one hand...you are wrong, this big brick has to be opened with two hands and it makes this loud clicking noise,how am i supposed to open my phone on the low with this noise sony? how?. The video clips only go up to like what 10 seconds..what?....no.
okay okay okay then to top it off the buttons were EMBEDDED IN THE PHONE i mean you have really got to get into it to press these buttons, dialing a number is a work out and by me having long nails that was just too much, sending a text was out of the question..

i had this phone for about 2 weeks, i couldnt take it seriously and neither should you. If you are thinking of buying this phone seriously think,..consider these things ive just let you know. I mean if youre buying this phone for a 14 yr old then thats all gravy they happy to get a phone but if youre grown,and a frequent cell phone user, please consider other options. the only thing good was the reception (which had nothing to do with the phone but with cingular) and being able to record your own ringtones.

remember consider your other options.

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