The Force is strong in this BenQ

BenQ-Siemens’s sleek new SL91 looks like it could be a triumph of sci-fi form and function.

Underneath what appears to be a dark glass shell is BenQ’s new touch-activated and seemingly Star Wars-inspired Force Sensitive Resistor technology. It reacts to the slightest pressure and reveals the phone’s navigational panel.

Other futuristic features include a Design Shell – or docking station in non-marketing lingo – which functions as a charger, hands-free kit, mobile hi-fi system, and also synchronises the phone with your PC. If you miss a call or text, the Design Shell will flash and pulse like some sort of extra terrestrial egg until it grabs your attention.

If style alone isn’t enough for you, the SL91 also wields a 3.2MP camera with auto focus, – although sadly no flash – and a second VGA camera for video calling. Not to mention the MP3 player and bundled stereo headphones, expandable Micro-SD memory, and Bluetooth.

Now they’ve got a taste for style, BenQ aren’t about to drop it. The curvy E71 (below left) was apparently inspired by metal and water, and has a special fingerprint-resistant ‘non-stick’ coating to keep the high-gloss surface as good as new. Presumably, it’s good for frying eggs on too.

Much like the SL91, it comes with its own SyncStation and a cable for connecting to your hi-fi system. Keeping things inter-planetary, it has a moon calendar, which will come in terribly handy when you’re stuck wondering which lunar phase we’re in – a common quandary in the Stuff offices.

Finally, the E81 (below right) is the business phone of the trio, although strangely it’s the only one to come with a flash for its integrated 1.3MP camera. Lightweight and compact, its 1.8in TFT display is capable of displaying over 250,000 colours, so you’ll be kept safely away from the dark side.

BenQ Siemens E71 and E81

BenQ-Siemens SL91, E71, E81

Price: £TBA

On sale: TBA (Q4 2006)

Contact: BenQ-Siemens

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.