BenQ-Siemens EF81
MORE PICTURES

BenQ-Siemens EF81

User opinions and reviews

Sort by:

  • P
  • Paeijho
  • wrY
  • 24 Oct 2007

can't say much about the scratching problem, but for the others you only need to updated the FirmWare.

go to www.club-siemens.net for details.
good luck!;)

    • K
    • Karim Ahmed
    • fvI
    • 23 Oct 2007

    When I checked the EF81 web page for info, I was impressed about its features/benefits.
    Although it was extremely expensive, I decided to purchase it based on that features. Features included an anti-scratch alloy of outer body, A convinient, easy operating system, a decent camera, a media player and many others.

    As I tried the phone, I discovered it really had a very elegant screen display. The speakers are loud and clear.

    However, after two months of my purchase, problems started to arise. Several scratches began to appear around the corners of the phone, which proved out to be scratchable by everyday stuff. It just began to acquire those scratches by being put on a desk or with some coins in my pocket. The scratches increased in size, until it really looks worn out now.

    The second problem is the operating system. The operating system proved to be very slow actually, although I installed a small memory chip 256 MB. It's incredibly slow. Menu has really some good transition, but is very slow.

    I have to say that I found great difficulty in installing new themes to the phone.

    Battery life is the big issue about that phone. I have to recharge it now 2 times a day, though I don't speak more than 15 minutes/day.

    The operating system restarts once I engage in a phone call. It does that many times and really drives me mad sometimes.

    Another thing about OS to say is that when I have missed calls, I have a notification of "2 missed call" for instance, but when I click on "View" it simply displays nothing! I can't know who called!

    For a price of 2900 Egyptain pound/460 dollars, I expected a much better performance, and was deeply frustrated with all those bugs.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • SeK
      • 20 Oct 2007

      Just acquired a second hand EF81 with a problem, when I power it on it just turns off again, can anyone suggest what the problem may be.

        • P
        • Pae
        • wrY
        • 13 Oct 2007

        as long as you use 3GSwupFU updater, you can roll back the FW.
        with some risks though AFAIK.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • SeK
          • 12 Oct 2007

          Is it possible to go back to a previous firmware version without any prooblems, for example from version 58 to version 48 or are there complications?

            • J
            • Jed
            • pYV
            • 11 Oct 2007

            This is an update to my previous post dated 05/10/2007, with FW58 installed I tested the EF81 with a Bluetooth adaptor connected to one of my computers, I found that I was able to send music files and photo's to the phone and back to the PC although the process was rather slow, I have never used Bluetooth before for transfering files and have been informed that it can be a slow process, the supplied software with the phone is very slow (quite frankly IT SUCKS) but is certainly quicker than using a Bluetooth adaptor, I picked the phone up the other day to find it had turned itself off this is the first time this has happened to me and I am just wondering if it's a bug in the version 58 firmware as it never happened prior to updating the firmware, if anyone can comment on this it would be helpful, I have read posts regarding complaints about poor signal/reception quality with the EF81 I am on Virgin Mobile/T Mobile, the signal quality where I live is very very poor on this network but I am able to make a call near a window with the EF81 if I keep still, all previous hand sets I have used at this address have been much the same so I don't think there is reception problem with the EF81's at least certainly not with my handset, I have taken some photo's with the EF81 and have to admit for a 2 Megapixel image sensor they are the worst digital photo's I have ever taken so if you intend to take any memorable photos I suggest you use a proper digital camera.

              • M
              • Mediterran81
              • MS2
              • 10 Oct 2007

              I have the phone 10 days ago, It came with FW 48 installed on it in A Vodaphone Pack.
              The phone is pretty fine and everything in it goes okay; I made lotta tests and this masterpiece is just fine to be one of the most robust and prettiest devices...
              That is not a miraculous phone, you should not expect So much from it, its price will just bring u a mediocre mobile phone...
              There are some remarks about it :
              - Alarm Clock does not allow to program several alarms per day.
              - You cannot have a diaporama for your photos.
              - The Media Player would not let you manage your playlist.
              - Excellent screens.
              - Excellent Keypad
              - It switches automatically from GSM to GPRS et vice versa and sometimes you cannot know the quality of ur GSM Network...
              - If it is in ur pocket and u'r in the Tramway and the EF81 is being tortured by a fat girl's buttocks, it will switch off (many buttons pressed at the same time).
              - If you use 100% Brightness and you mess with the phone all day, battery life is short.
              - The full battery loading can be done from USB connection not from the Power charger.
              - Sometimes it is difficult to open the EF81 with one hand, unless you have guitarist fingers like me and you manage to...
              - I have the call list record working perfectly.
              - The Video mode and Picture mode are just fine, Good quality..But it is slow to take pictures..You better don't use ur EF81 to take Great pictures, it is just to use in occasions in case you do not have a Camera...
              - When I receive an SMS, the name of the sender appears and his/her number too.
              - Sound of that Mobile is just Wonderful, great bass and frequency, the tone is so nice; I heard they used HP speakers in that model.
              - It is not practical at ALL to insert and get back an SD CARD, neither for the SIM (that is a disadvantage).
              - SMSs cannot be archived, they remain in the INBOX, so u have to let them or delete them.
              I will add more once I complete my tests....
              All I can say is that is a wonderful phone despite some disadvantages, but they are symbolic...
              Enjoy ur EF81, if u have any question, just email me and I will answer, I worked in several Mobile Phones COmpanies Hotlines and I know what it is about...
              HH

                • m
                • mszilard
                • nDx
                • 09 Oct 2007

                somebody knows about drivers for vista. the program from the cd (mobile phone manager) doesn't work on vista and i van't find drivers for my phone :(

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • n7j
                  • 09 Oct 2007

                  Yes you can charge it over usb, phone only works good on newest firm, stnd firm sucks bigtime

                    • J
                    • Jed
                    • pYT
                    • 05 Oct 2007

                    Updated to Firmware version FW58 today the german version, I don't know what all the fuss is about and all the problems some people are having when updating I just installed the software on my computer, left the SIM card in the phone, clicked on the update button in the software and about five minutes or so later all was done, I just left the phone alone until the confirmation that the update had been completed and i didn't have to change the language as it defaulted in English, there is a noticable improvement in the general speed when moving through menu's and looking for names in the phone book is noticably quicker as well, I recommend anyone with an EF81 to update to FW58 if they havent already done so it will certainly change there opinion about he phone as it did for me, I will post more info as and when I have done more tests.

                      • c
                      • craig boyd
                      • MSR
                      • 05 Oct 2007

                      can you charge your ef81 from your computer thanks

                        • c
                        • cvele
                        • Tm4
                        • 04 Oct 2007

                        my EF81 is crazy. i hawe memory card (micro sd 1 gb) and i canot go more than 100mb!!! why please answer what to do?!?

                          • i
                          • igor
                          • nnW
                          • 01 Oct 2007

                          memory card how much mony?

                            • P
                            • Pae
                            • wrY
                            • 01 Oct 2007

                            LOL, you don't know Club-Siemens.net?
                            you really really have to check that forum out!

                              • r
                              • rassy
                              • p3L
                              • 28 Sep 2007

                              I' ve dowloaded a couple of themes for my EF81 but I didn't manage to install them in my phone. They have a .sdt extension and it seems that copying the files in the phone is not the correct procedure... The phone doesn't recognize these files... Do I need a specific application to install the themes into the phone? I haven't found any forums on this subject. If anyone on this site knows the procedure, please help me! Thanks!

                                • L
                                • Louise
                                • pY8
                                • 27 Sep 2007

                                Am I really dim here? Bought this phone with no instructions. How do I delete all messages? Finding it slow.....

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • MnQ
                                  • 23 Sep 2007

                                  I have the phone for 18 months
                                  everinthing was ok until yersteday
                                  when stopped working the "call record"
                                  menu I can not even call the last number

                                  Can anybody help me?

                                  THANKS

                                  Dimitris
                                  dvez@in.gr


                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • MCG
                                    • 18 Sep 2007

                                    Still (4 days old) no problems with phone...

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • T2$
                                      • 13 Sep 2007

                                      Design- good, graphics- reminds me of LG., features for the asking price- excellent, but the user- friendlyness is scores a 4 out of 10 in my view. The response time is slow especially when you put a memory card. And you cannot safely put a 1GB!! Better icons could have been used for the menu and the filing system leaves much to be desired. I had hell to play an mp3 cause i put it in a 'wrong' folder. Stress.

                                        • j
                                        • jhon
                                        • nTS
                                        • 12 Sep 2007

                                        first i bought this mobile from hungary
                                        the mobile made in germany
                                        everythink in this mobile is fantastic
                                        camra is good its make very fast
                                        it dosn't like motorolla v3x
                                        its better than it iam relly happing with this fantastic phone.if anyone wanna talk with me [send me massege in the mail]
                                        thanks