Sony Ericsson C902 Comprehensive Review Specs & Price Guide

Design and Build Quality

The Sony Ericsson C902 boasts a sleek and compact design that seamlessly integrates style with functionality. Measuring 108 x 49 x 10.5 mm and weighing just 107 g, this device easily fits into pockets and purses. The phone's dimensions reflect its slender build, which is highlighted by its smooth edges and minimalist aesthetic.

Housing a Mini-SIM slot, the C902 is designed for those who appreciate a traditional phone feel, with a build robust enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily usage. The material choices convey quality, ensuring that the phone not only looks good but also stands the test of time.

Display

The C902 features a 2.0-inch TFT display capable of rendering up to 256K colors. With a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels, the screen offers enough clarity for viewing photos and reading messages with ease. Although its screen-to-body ratio is around 23.4%, the display size was adequate for users during its time, catering to their basic multimedia needs without excessive demands on power consumption.

Camera Capabilities

One of the standout features of the Sony Ericsson C902 is its camera. Equipped with a 5 MP autofocus main camera, the device enabled users to capture decent quality images, a notable feature at the time of its release. The LED flash provided additional lighting support in low-light conditions, ensuring that memories could be captured day or night.

The camera also supported video recording at 320p@30fps, alongside a front-facing QCIF video call camera, enhancing its multimedia and communication features.

Performance and Storage

Under its hood, the C902 was equipped with a robust enough setup for a feature phone, although specifics about its processor aren’t widely documented. It sported 128MB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 160MB. While this may seem limited by today's standards, at the time, it was sufficient for storing essential media files and applications.

Users also had the option to expand storage via the Memory Stick Micro (M2) slot, supporting up to 8 GB, thus allowing more flexibility for photos, music, and other files.

Battery Life

Powering the C902 is a removable 930 mAh Li-Po battery (BST-38). This provided ample standby time of up to 400 hours on 2G and around 360 hours on 3G networks. Talk time usage extended up to 9 hours on 2G networks and approximately 4 hours on 3G networks, ensuring users could remain connected throughout the day without constant recharging.

Connectivity and Network

The Sony Ericsson C902 supported both 2G and 3G networks, ensuring good connectivity for voice and data services. Technologies like GSM and HSPA enabled mobile data speeds suitable for browsing and basic multimedia streaming, with the device reaching speeds up to HSPA 3.6/0.384 Mbps.

Additional connectivity features included Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, USB 2.0, and a stereo FM radio with RDS capabilities, providing diverse ways to connect and consume media.

Multimedia Features

The C902 was optimized for a wide range of multimedia applications, leveraging downloadable polyphonic, MP3, and AAC ringtones to personalize the user experience. While it lacked a 3.5 mm headphone jack, it maintained a reliable loudspeaker and vibration alert systems.

The device supported Java MIDP 2.0, allowing users to download and enjoy various Java-based games and applications.

Software and User Interface

Running on a feature phone operating system, the C902 delivered a user-friendly interface designed to simplify mobile tasks. Offering messaging capabilities with SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, and Instant Messaging, it facilitated a strong communication experience irrespective of location.

The browser, WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), included an RSS reader, enabling users to keep up to date with their favorite news feeds directly from their phone.

Market Impact and Legacy

Announced in February 2008 and released in June of the same year, the Sony Ericsson C902 quickly established itself in the market as a reliable camera phone. Available in multiple colors like Swift Black, Luscious Red, Titanium Silver, and Cinnamon Bronze, it was designed to appeal to a wide audience looking for a stylish and functional mobile device.

The C902 was priced around 130 EUR at launch, making it an attractive option for those seeking a balance between functionality and budget. Its legacy is remembered as part of a line of Sony Ericsson devices that prioritized camera quality and style, setting a benchmark for subsequent models.