In typical Windows Mobile style, applications aren’t automatically closed when you leave them and move to another function. This means you can unwittingly leave a number of apps running in the background, which has a real impact on the speed of the device, slowing it down considerably.

With just a few apps open, the 260MHz processor keeps your waiting as you negotiate apps or click on menu options. With several open, you’ll really notice the extra time it takes to do anything, so visit the Task Manager on a regular basis to check on and close down unnecessarily open applications. Helpfully, there’s a Task Manager icon on the home page.

There’s MicroSD support up to 2GB, and internal storage of 64MB

BenQ’s estimates for battery talk time are up to four hours of talktime or up to 180 hours on standby. In real conditions, this will depend on how much you use features like Wi-Fi or the media player – another reason to check your Task Manager for idle open apps. In our tests, with average usage, judicious apps management, plus a modest amount of Wi-Fi activity, we ran the phone for around two days between charges, which will get you by but isn't particularly impressive for a non-3G handset.

Sound quality for voice calls was good, with audio clear and loud enough through the earpiece.

Verdict

The BenQ E72 does little to make it a first-choice Windows Mobile smartphone for serious users. Its design is consumer friendly, and it has a decently crafted home screen. Shame about the size of the display, though, and the slow processor. The phone’s storage capability could be better too.

While BenQ has sprinkled on a few extras, the E72 presents few compelling reasons – apart from its SIM-free price - to choose it above other smartphones with a higher spec, more functionality and better performance.