Sony Ericsson R306i Radio review

Network and connections
A good phone for the entry level market segment, given its essential but rather complete features. The signal receiver is GSM Triband, on the frequencies of 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz. Coverage is fairly good, even though UMTS mode is not available. Internet connectivity is guaranteed by the presence of an internal modem and a WAP browser. This makes it possible to view multimedia content, supported by the GPRS protocol for packet data traffic. There is also Bluetooth for exchanging files with compatible devices, as well as a USB 2.0 cable for connecting to the home PC.

Design and features
The R306i Radio comes with a clamshell design, which makes it compact and comfortable to keep in your pocket. Its dimensions are in fact quite small, 15.8 mm thick for a weight of 93 grams. The lines are rounded at the edges, making the grip more comfortable and secure. The outer surfaces feature perforations, which serve to let the stereo speakers through. Some keys dedicated to audio functions also remain easily recognizable to the touch. On the inside is the display, with a resolution of 128x160 pixels, capable of showing up to 65,000 colors. The keypad is instead a standard numeric one. The retail package also includes the USB cable and earphones.

Main features
As already mentioned, this is a low-end device, which means that it's not possible to find particularly advanced features. Nonetheless, they are complete enough to manage everything properly, such as the contacts phonebook, or the organizer synchronized with the calendar to keep track of appointments. Java support still allows you to install small compatible applications and utilities, to further customize the phone. The voice section includes hands-free, multiconference support and the voice recorder. It is also possible to easily write text messages, as well as multimedia ones or even E-mails.

Entertainment and multimedia
The name alone hints at the R306i Radio's strengths. It is in fact equipped with an AM/FM radio receiver, which allows you to listen to your favorite broadcasts anywhere. The dedicated keys and 3D audio provide decidedly excellent ease of use and quality even in noisy places. There is also a camera, with a resolution of 1.3 megapixels, which allows you to get fairly sharp images, along with a built-in Zoom. Internal memory is rather scarce and cannot be expanded; you'll therefore have to make do with the 5 MB available. On the other hand, the 900 mAh battery allows for a duration of up to 410 hours in Stand-by.