O2 X4 Review

O2 announced that it will introduce a range of attractive new handsets and an enhanced O2 Active portal over its 3G network. The move builds on O2's leadership in non-voice services and unique O2-branded handsets. 3G services will be available for Pay Monthly ("postpay") customers from 1 February and Pay & Go ("prepay") customers shortly thereafter.

To mark the introduction of its 3G service for consumers, O2 is launching the only own-branded 3G handset in the UK market to date - the competitively priced O2 X4. Based on the highly successful design principles of its existing X-range of handsets, which includes the popular O2 Xda II, the O2 X4TM sports a sleek clamshell design with a high-quality 262,000-colour main screen display. The O2 X4 is equipped with a 1.3 mega pixel camera with an 8x zoom lens and advanced 'flash mechanic'. It also includes an MP3 music player, video downloading and streaming capabilities, 10Mbytes of phone memory and 64Mbytes of additional capacity via a removable memory card.

Surprisingly, O2 cannot seriously expect the clamshell to be a big hit. For starters it does not have Bluetooth. Other may harp on about 3G but what about plain old connectivity? The X4 is not some lower segment phone that we can forgive this absence. We do have a USB port but given an option between wired and wireless connectivity is no option at all. Then again, 3G does not mean that it can compulsarily support video calls. The handset has the advantage of being 3G which means faster downloads but note that it does not allow video calls. The design isnt thrilling either, its just a plain clamshell. Reminds one of the X3 in more than one way, the major difference is only the inclusion of 3G.

Since the handset has already been released, there have been several complaints of the user interface being needlessly complex and taking some getting used to. Poor battery life has been another common complaint. Keeping this in view, you are probably better off going in for other 3G devices that O2 is also offering if you wish to take up O2's services. Give the X4 a miss.

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