BenQ-Siemens M81
Available
now 13th June 2006
The BenQ-Siemens M81 is the latests in the M-series
of ruggedised handsets from this manufactuter, following
on from the ME75,
M75 and
going all the way back the Siemens M30 Active of 2000
(and even the Siemens S10 Active from a couple of years
before that). These handsets have slogged it out with
the rival Nokia 5000 series for several years now.
So, it's a little coincidental that the BenQ-Siemens
M81 should be announced so soon after the Nokia
5500 Sport, but here it is. But while the Nokia
5500 is a pretty exciting handset in its own right,
it turns out that the BenQ-Siemens M81 is basically
just a slight upgrade to last year's M75 model.. or
put another way, it's the BenQ-Siemens
C81 in a rubbery case.
Like the M75, the M81 has a 132x176 pixel display,
1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, an MP3/AAC player and
expandable memory using RSMMC cards, although the M81
does now boast stereo Bluetooth and a torch. It's quite
a bit lighter than the M75 too - the BenQ-Siemens E81
weighs 96 grams which is 14 grams less than the older
handset.
The
M81 also has an email client, web browser, enhanced
3D gaming, USB 2.0 support and EDGE high speed data,
and the M81 has around 6 hours talktime. It's a fairly
well specified phone - not as good as the Nokia 5500,
but certainly better than the Nokia
5140i.
It's a good deal less chunky looking than the older
handset, but then the M75 came with a strengthened metal
chassis that the M81 doesn't appear to have. Still,
the M81 is dust and water resistant, and also comes
with a lens cover for the camera - so it should probably
survive most things that you can throw at it.
There's also an optional GPS accessory which BenQ-Siemens
say can turn the M81 into a navigation system although
details are sketchy. Still, it would make a interesting
rival to the Benefon
Twig Discovery, although we feel that the 132x176
pixel display is going to hamper the M81's abilities.
BenQ-Siemens say that the M81 will be available in
"Graphite Black" and "Steel Blue"
colours schemes for delivery from Q3 2006 onwards.
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BenQ-Siemens
M81 at a glance
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Available:
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Q3
2006
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Network:
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GSM
900/1800/1900
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Data:
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GPRS
+ EDGE
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Screen:
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132x176
pixels, 262k colours
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Camera:
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1.3
megapixels
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Size:
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Medium
candy bar 105x48x18mm
/ 96 grams
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Bluetooth:
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Yes
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Memory
card:
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RS-MMC
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Infra-red:
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No
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Polyphonic:
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Yes
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Java:
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Yes
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Battery
life:
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6
hours talk / 12 days standby
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