Review: Xcute DV2 mobile phone

Nokia’s groundbreaking mobile phone with a five-megapixel camera isn’t out yet, but there’s already a mobile on the market that outdoes it in terms of camera image resolution. Or is there?

Unfortunately, although the website selling the Xcute DV2 describes it as a six-megapixel camera phone, close scrutiny of the specifications reveals the camera is “six megapixels (Actual three megapixels)”. In other words, it has a three-megapixel sensor and increases the resolution by interpolation, that is, by guessing what the pixels in between the recorded ones would be.

This is not quite the same, so it’s rather disappointing. The photos are unquestionably still good, indeed outstanding compared to many camera phones, but not as sharp as a true six-megapixel sensor would deliver.

Still, the swivel-screen DV2 has other ground-breaking features, like a 16.7 million-colour screen, a noticeable step forward compared to most phone screens with their 65,536 colour capabilities.

The handset is small and light, and has 22 shooting modes including settings for sunsets, cloudy outdoor shots and fluorescent light. There’s even a white balance function to improve shots according to whether you’re taking pictures in sunshine, clouds or under fluorescent light.

Plus, of course, there’s an automatic setting which, given that the menus are rather fiddly, is the one you’re most likely to use. As well as still photos, it also shoots credible video at 30 frames per second, which looks great on the phone’s screen though less impressive if connected to a television.

The makers are also proud of other features, like a menstrual cycle calendar which, along with an external screen that works as a mirror, they feel will be of interest to women.

However, it’s let down by that clunky operating system which is slow (it takes a 15-second button press just to switch the phone on) and the fact that there’s no Bluetooth on board, so transferring photos can only be done by cable. Its plasticky looks don’t help matters either.

Ultimately, the DV2 isn't a bad phone, even if it’s not quite what it suggests it is. And the price, without contract, is not exorbitant. It’s just that these days, with impressive camera-phones in abundance, the quirky features of the Xcute aren’t enough to make it anywhere close to being a winner.

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