Design, Ergonomics and Build Quality

As noted earlier, the W810i is based on the K750i/W800i platform, and thus their dimensions are similar. The actual dimensions of the W810i is 100x46x19.5 mm, which makes it about one millimetre thinner then the K750i. It is also lighter then the K750i (97g for the W810i against the K750i's 104g), which makes the W810i. Translating that into practice, the phone is extremely handy, comfortable to hold and easy to keep in your pockets.

The keypad layout is interesting, to say the least. On one corner, the joined left soft-key and back button are grouped together with the orange Walkman button to form one (nearly complete) circle. The joined right soft key and back button, on the other hand, are grouped together with the silver Activity Menu button to form another. Both these circular button groups flank the silver central D-Pad, which replaces the joystick seen in the K750i/W800i (a big improvement, in my opinion), forming the distinctive tri-circular control arrangement of the W810i. Below this we have the keypad, which mimics the one found on the T610i, with equally spaced oval keys that are a bit rubbery to the touch and easy to press.

On the reverse side of the W810i, the first glaring difference between this phone and the K750i/W800i would have to be the absence of a hardware camera lens protector of any sort, somewhat similar to the W900i and W550i (a move that is subject to many outcries in forums all over the world). To cope with this, the lacquered black plastic that surrounds the camera module has a raised portion  encircling the lens to allow the W810i to be put down on a flat surface safely. The lens itself seems to be treated with some sort of any-glare/scratch resistant coating, although I am not really sure myself. Above the lens, we can find the dual-diode camera-light cum makeshift flash.

Below the lens area, we have the 4, grill covered circular holes of the W810i's internal speaker,  the forth hole covered with a circular piece of orange plastic that serves as the self-portrait mirror for the camera.

The other hardware features of the phone are, the power button and IRDA port on the top of the phone, the FastPort on the bottom, the Volume controls and the Camera buttons on the right side; and the Play/Pause button for the Walkman player on the left side.

From an ergonomic standpoint, all the controls are where they should be and are within reach of your fingers as you hold the W810i in your hand. The keys themselves are comfortable to use, making messaging and other activities involving heavy use of the keypad a breeze. The whole idea of flipping the phone on its side in camera mode is also brilliant, as all the controls are all in the right places, and are very easy to get used to.

In terms of build quality, our review unit creaks slightly when pressed all over, but there are no wide open seams or anything. Everything is tight and well screwed together. Some online reviews have complained of the plasticky nature of the W810i, something that we will echo here (the right and left joined soft keys suffering the most from this problem), although the slightly textured plastic that serves as the main body of the W810i deserves mention as it is not only hard to scratch or stain (with normal means, we haven't tried anything drastic on it yet), it also guards against the phone slipping out of one's hand.

There is another major complaint regarding the build quality of the W810i. The the whole tri-circular control assembly (Walkman button, soft keys, back key, clear key and Activity Menu key) were very creaky during the first few days of use, and is still quite creaky even now. It might have something to do with the rubber insulators/bushings inside, but the creaking noises are loud enough to annoy sometimes. At least there's no joystick to break down and replace, like the one on the K750i/W800i.

It has been said that ultimate test of a phone's build quality would have to be the Drop Test. Sad to say though, I've only had it for only about a week and I'm not planning to drop it any time soon.

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