Mobile phones GSM and 3G review 2008

Table notes

The following are explanations of how we arrived at the scores you'll find when using our table above or interactive database.

Overall score
The overall score is based on a combination of the following scores:

• Battery life: 17.5%
• Sensitivity: 12%
• Sound quality: 9%
• Music quality: 5%
• Everyday use: 9%
• Picture quality: 10%
• SMS: 10%
• Versatility: 10%
• Portability: 7%
• Durability: 5.25%
• Ergonomics: 5.25%

Battery score
This score is mainly based on the time-in-use, but we also considered the charging time, the battery’s weight and the battery status warning.

Sensitivity score
In both the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands we measured the phones’ sensitivity and sending power.

Sound quality score
For both incoming and outgoing calls, we carried out a number of acoustic measurements, such as frequency response. In addition, a user panel subjectively rated the sound quality of calls.

Music quality score
We measure the ability of the phone to perform as a music player. If a phone doesn’t have this ability, or the company indicates one of it's primary purposes is not to play music (for example by providing mono ear phone only), the score for music quality isn’t zero; instead the weighting for the music quality score may be shown as (N/A) and the scores are distributed evenly across the other category scores.

Daily use/SMS/Ergonomics scores
A user panel assessed the following:

• Instruction manual.
• Daily use (for example, ease of answering a call, storing a number into memory and dialling a number stored into memory).
• SMS use (writing and receiving an SMS, and suitability of the display for SMSing).
• Ergonomic features, such as the ease of using the keys and menus.

Picture quality score
Where applicable, we assessed the phone's digital camera, the display quality, and the transfer and storage of pictures. If a phone doesn't have a camera, the score for picture quality isn't zero; instead the weighting for the picture quality score is distributed evenly across the other scores.

Versatility score
We checked each phone against a list of features and functions, and assessed their suitability as a mobile office and for fun and games.

Portability score
Among other things we assessed the weight and volume of the phones and the ease of locking and unlocking the keypad.

Durability score

• Shock resistance: We put the phones in an 80 cm diameter barrel that was then turned, simulating falls from, say, a table or out of a shirt pocket. After five, 15 and 25 turns the phones were checked for damage. There was a maximum of 50 falls. This is a fairly severe test.
• Water resistance: We stored the phones in hot, damp conditions, and carried out a rain test.
• Workmanship: We assessed the build-quality of the phones.