Showing posts with label LG. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LG. Show all posts

Thursday, February 23, 2012

LG announces the Tegra 3-powered Optimus 4X HD

LG on Thursday unveiled its first quad-core smartphone, the Optimus 4X HD. The handset features a 1.5GHz Tegra 3 processor with a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Optimus 4X HD will also come equipped with 16GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM, a 2,150 mAh battery, an 8-megapixel rear camera a and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera. “LG introduced the world’s first Dual-Core smartphone exactly one year ago and today we’re announcing the next milestone,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Mobile. “But speed in itself isn’t what makes LG Optimus 4X HD unique, it’s the benefit we’re bringing to customers with the HD multimedia experience in a mobile form factor.” Even with a quad-core processor, the phone is expected have impressive battery life thanks to NVIDIA’s  ”4-PLUS-1″ design, which uses a fifth “companion core”  for low processing activities and allows the phone to save battery life. The Optimus 4X HD will make its debut at next week’s Mobile World Congress. Read on for LG’s press release.
LG’S QUAD-CORE SMARTPHONE MAKES DEBUT AT 2012 MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS
LG Optimus 4X HD Takes Desktop Performance to the Mobile Space
SEOUL, Feb. 23, 2012 – LG today unveiled its first Quad-Core processor smartphone, LG Optimus 4X HD. Combining NVIDIA’s latest 1.5GHz Tegra 3 with True HD IPS display, the LG Optimus 4X HD delivers PC-like performance in the palm of one’s hand.
“LG introduced the world’s first Dual-Core smartphone exactly one year ago and today we’re announcing the next milestone,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “But speed in itself isn’t what makes LG Optimus 4X HD unique, it’s the benefit we’re bringing to customers with the HD multimedia experience in a mobile form factor.”
The NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor is the world`s only 4-PLUS-1™ Quad-Core mobile processor designed for high-level multimedia performance but utilizes a fifth battery-saver core to handle less demanding tasks such as active standby and music playback. When running at full speed, the 12-core graphics processing unit (GPU) in Tegra 3 delivers a visually rich experience and console-quality game playability.
Equipped with the True HD IPS display, the Optimus 4X HD guarantees the finest viewing experience with high resolution, clarity and no color or shape distortion. The Optimus 4X HD includes 16 GB internal memory and runs on the latest version of Android OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Besides the smooth and fast performance, the Optimus 4X HD boasts a 8-megapixel BSI (Backside Illumination) Sensor camera with LED flash and advanced multimedia features to enrich the overall multimedia experience.
And LG designers made sure that looks didn’t take a back seat to performance. The 8.9mm slim and sleek smartphone features a “prism-edged” design with enhanced materials and finish.
Additional information on the revolutionary new Optimus 4X HD will be available at LG Stand (Hall 8) at MWC 2012 from February 27 to March 1.
Key Specifications:
o Chipset: 1.5GHz Quad-Core processor (NVIDIA Tegra 3)
o Display: 4.7-inch (1280 x 720) True HD IPS
o Memory: 16GB eMMC and 1GB LP DDR2
o Camera: 8.0MP BSI Sensor (Rear) and 1.3MP (Front)
o OS: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich





Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Quad-core LG X3 could launch as Optimus 4X HD


Just as LG’s first dual-core handset denoted its power with the Optimus 2X name, so will the manufacturer’s first quad-core phone, PocketNow reports. The phone rumored as the LG X3, which is said to feature a 4.7-inch 720p display, will honor the four magnitudes of power provided by its Tegra 3 processor when it launches as the LG Optimus 4X HD. The name seems like a no-brainer when taking LG’s previous releases into account.
References to a T-Mobile G4X have recently been spotted, suggesting that the sequel to the Optimus 2X will also make its way to that network. The T-Mobile G2X was the carrier’s branding for last year’s model.
LG has been busy announcing a few of their handsets, including the Optimus 3D Max and Optimus 3D Cube, ahead of Mobile World Congress, but we suspect they will keep their biggest new addition under cover until their press conference in Barcelona this Sunday.


LG Optimus 3D Max – same thing, but thinner and lighter

LG has just officially announced the long-rumoured reworking of last year’s Optimus 3D, which will launch in Korea in March before gradually rolling out to Europe and the rest of the world. It’s not a big update as the original Optimus 3D was a pretty powerful thing to start with, with this tweaked phone coming with a 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP4430 chipset, a 4.3″ glasses-free 3D display toughened with the latest Gorilla Glass 2 stuff, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of media storage space.
And it’s now 9.6mm thick/thin and has slimmed itself down to 148 grams.

It seems to have the same 5megapixel dual-lens system as found in last year’s model, plus it’ll arrive running Android 2.3 – with LG promising, as ever, an Android 4.0 update shortly after launch. Here’s a press release which is significantly more excited than it really ought to be:
LG WOWS THE WORLD AGAIN WITH OPTIMUS 3D MAX AT MWC 2012
More Than Just Glasses-Free 3D, Optimus 3D Max Pushes the Boundaries of Power Features and Performance
SEOUL, Feb. 22, 2012 – Following in the footsteps of last year’s glasses-free 3D smartphone, LG Electronics will publicly unveil the Optimus 3D Max at the 2012 Mobile World Congress (MWC). With powerful 3D technology and sleeker design, the Optimus 3D Max provides a complete 3D entertainment platform and marks a big leap forward in the ever-expanding 3D ecosystem.

“The Optimus 3D Max was born from LG’s constant efforts to bring user entertainment experience to a higher level,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The introduction of the Optimus 3D last year ushered in a new era for smartphones and Optimus 3D Max is real proof of LG’s commitment to portable 3D entertainment.”
LG Optimus 3D Max is equipped with diverse innovations and offers users with advancements including:
¦ True Performance Muscle with Latest Mobile Technologies
LG Optimus 3D Max is a powerful smartphone in both 2D and 3D mode and a pleasure to view with LG’s exclusive brightened display. 3G’s network speed has been also improved to HSPA+ 21Mbps. LG Tag+ offers advanced NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities designed to promote greater user convenience. One of its benefits is automatic setting changes which are possible by creating predefined tags that are customized to certain modes such as car-mode, office-mode or sleep-mode. Depending on location, the predefined tags will automatically adjust various phone settings including Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS and sound volume.
Beyond its already innovative features, attendees of MWC 2012 will see some of the future benefits that will be made available through a Maintenance Release or an application available on the LG SmartWorld (www.LGsmartworld.com). Additional features include:
- HD Converter to offer HD quality on a TV connected through MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link), when transforming Open GL-based 2D games and applications to 3D and viewing Google Earth;
- Range Finder to calculate the distance between the camera and the subject as well as the dimensions of an object through triangulation;
- Out-focusing Shot to enhance camera quality beyond that of other smartphones through image processing using depth information.
¦ True 3D Entertainment Features with Improved 2D-3D Compatibility
Users can convert Google Earth, Google Maps and other road views into 3D using the enhanced 3D Converter. Furthermore, 3D photos and videos captured by the Optimus 3D Max can also be viewed in a single-screen mode in 2D, using the 3D Hot Key mounted on the side of the phone to easily toggle between 2D and 3D. LG also plans to continue expanding video contents, applications and games optimized for the 3D Converter available from the 3D Zone at LG SmartWorld.
¦ True Excellence in Design with Slimmer and Lighter Body
The LG Optimus 3D Max’s premium design comes from LG’s commitment to fine details. LG focused on trimming details on the design of the Optimus 3D Max by keeping only the essentials and eliminating everything else. Measuring only 9.6 mm thin and weighing 148 grams, the lean body with metallic and rounded edges incorporates the best 3D features in addition to desirable 2D features. The Optimus 3D Max includes unique 3D-style cubicle icons which users can customize with their own photos through the Icon Customizer.
The Optimus 3D Max will first launch in Korea in March and will gradually roll out in other markets starting in Europe. The device will receive an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich from Android 2.3 Gingerbread shortly after the launch.
Key Specifications:
o Chipset: 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor (OMAP4430)
o Display: 4.3-inch 3D WVGA Display with Corning? Gorilla? Glass 2
o Memory: 8GB Internal Storage, 1GB Internal Memory
o Camera: 5MP Dual-lens
o OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
o Battery: 1,520 mAh
o Others: HSPA+ 21Mbps, HDMI connection 2D/3D TV/monitor up to 1080p via MHL, DNLA for wireless connection with TV/PC (3D video also supported), NFC Full Support, LG Tag+



Tuesday, February 21, 2012

LG announces 3 new “L-Style” Android devices: L3, L5 and L7

LG has yet again revealed a few more devices they’ll be showcasing at Mobile World Congress next week. This time, unlike the massive Optimus Vu, LG has created a “new design identity” with the L-Style category. These devices have a “timeless design with finer details” and LG states that every “L” device has five aesthetic elements: “Modern Square Style for a comfortable grip, Floating Mass Technology for a slimmer look, Seamless Layout for a more intuitive arrangement of keys, Harmonized Design Contrast utilizing metallic accents and Sensuous Slim Shape that naturally draws one’s attention”.
In total there’s currently 3 new L-Style Android smartphones: Optimus L3, Optimus L5 and Optimus L7. The L3 has a 3.2-inch display and will be hitting Europe in March, no details on Canada yet. The Optimus L5 will run OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and has a 4-inch display, and the Optimus L7 has a 4.3-inch screen and will also be powered by ICS. Both the L5 and L7 will be launching “in the first half of the year”, but again, no details yet on Canada.
All the other specs will be revealed at MWC this weekend.
Source: LG



Monday, February 20, 2012

LG Optimus LTE Tag is LG Optimus LTE + NFC



Today LG announced its new handset, the Optimus LTE Tag, an Android device, which uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to change your smartphone's settings with a simple swipe wherever you happen to be.

The new feature, called LG Tag+, uses special stickers or "tags" that can be stuck anywhere and then programmed to change your phone's settings once you've tapped it against them. LG uses the example of entering your office, so there you'd swipe your phone on a sticker and it would switch to silent mode and activate Wi-Fi for you automatically, but that's just one example, you can do all kinds of things with plenty of tags and plenty of imagination.

The Optimus LTE Tag's specs make it a very capable Android device, it's running a 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a 4.3-inch IPS display.

There's been no official word about when the smartphone will be available or how much it'll cost, but according to early reports it'll be launching onto the Korean market before we see it anywhere else.




Sunday, February 19, 2012

LG unveils Optimus Vu, complete with 4:3 aspect ratio and stylus



LG has made the Optimus Vu official, announcing the 5-inch phone on their Korean Newsroom site early this AM.  Running Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and packing a 5.0-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a specialized stylus, the size alone makes this one a force to reckon with.  The full list of specs according to LG:
  • 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
  • Weight: 168g
  • 5-inch IPS 650 nit display at 1024x768
  • 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front
  • 32GB storage
  • 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor
  • Android 2.3 Gingerbread
  • 2080 mAh battery
  • HDMI
  • DLNA
  • Wifi Direct
We've already seen the Optimus Vu holding hands with the other member of the ginormus-phone club, the Galaxy Note (which went on sale for AT&T hours before this announcement), but it's nice to see some clearer press shots.  No word on any worldwide release, but we're told to expect it in Korea on SK Telecom in early March.  LG also says to expect more in Barcelona about the Vu, and we'll be right there to hear and see it.  
Source: LG Korea

Thursday, February 16, 2012

LG Miracle Windows Phone appears on camera ahead of MWC unveiling [video]


Images of LG’s mid-range Windows Phone — the Miracle, previously code-named Fantasy — have been published once again, this time with an accompanying video. The images and footage were obtained by Mobilissimo and confirm the handset’s 5-megapixel rear camera and 4-inch display. The Mango-powered smartphone is also rumored to feature a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8GB of storage and an NFC chip, although Windows Phone 7.5 Mango does not yet include support for NFC. LG is expected to unveil the Miracle at this month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Read on for additional images and a video of the Miracle in action.




via - bgr

Monday, February 13, 2012

LG Optimus 3D 2 leaked

LG showed off its first 3D phone, the Optimus 3D at MWC last year and it looks like it’ll be doing the same thing this year again. An image and some details of the phone have surfaced today, revealing the phone ahead of its purported launch date. The LG Optimus 3D 2 is said to have a higher resolution IPS display (most probably the HD AH-IPS display on the LG Optimus LTE), and is said to be slimmer at 9.8mm and 20g lighter than its predecessor; and of course, glasses-free 3D capability. If you’re keen on finding out more, stick around until the end of the month, where we’ll be at MWC 2012 and to keep you updated on whether the leaked specs turn out to be true.



Friday, February 10, 2012

LG Optimus Vu does a photo shoot alongside its biggest competitor



In case LG Optimus Vu's teaser from a couple of days ago got you curious how a 4:3 aspect display might look like, we have some good news for you. A photo of the device has emerged, where you can see LG's upcoming phone/tablet pose next to its biggest competitor (or inspiration?) - the Samsung Galaxy Note.






As you can see from the photo above, the screen of the newcomer is wider than the unit of the Galaxy Note, despite its smaller diagonal - all thanks to its 4:3 aspect ratio.

A screenshot from the LG Optimus Vu from the same source hints at its software capabilities too. The phone will likely do some tricks, which will resemble the Samsung Galaxy Note's functionality.



We haven't learned more about the specs, than we know already. They include a 1.5GHz, dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8 megapixel camera, 8GB internal memory, NFC, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and the impressive 5" IPS display with 1024 x 768 pixels resolution.

It shouldn't be a surprise if we see the LG Optimus Vu break cover during MWC at the end of this month. Naturally, we will update you accordingly the moment we find out

LG Prada 3.0 Android Smartphone




LG and Prada recently announced their latest Android Smartphone, the LG Prada 3.0, which comes with a 4.3 inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.

The video below was put together by the guys over at Clove and it gives us a good look at the LG Prada 3.0 smartphone in action, as well as many of the features on the device.





Other specifications on the LG Prada 3.0 include a dual core 1GHz processor and comes 8GB of built in storage plus a microSD card slot, plus Android Gingerbread and an 8 megapixel camera which can record HD video in 1080p.

The LG Prada 3.0 Android smartphone is now available in the UK from a range of mobilecarriers and the device is also available SIM free.

Source Clove

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

LG teases new 5-inch Optimus Vu Android smartphone [video]

LG recently began teasing a new smartphone that could very well make its debut during the Mobile World Congress trade show later this month. The device, dubbed the Optimus Vu, will offer a 5-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, and rumor has it the phone will also come equipped with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 8GB of storage, support for NFC, 1GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel camera. Unfortunately, the Optimus Vu will reportedly run Android 2.3 Gingerbread instead of the latest Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system. So far we’re not seeing a whole lot to be excited about other than the massive screen, since most of the specs are similar to what we’ve already seen in the LG Optimus LTE phone. We expect LG will have more surprises up its sleeve during the show, however.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

LG Miracle Windows Phone Smartphone Leaked



It looks like LG has another Windows Phone smartphone in the works, the device will come with Windows Phone 7.5 and is codenamed the LG Miracle, and it features a 4 inch WVGA multi-touch display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels.

It looks like the 4 inch display on the LG Miracle will be one of LG’s NOVA display, and the handset will be powered by a single core 1GHz Snapdragon processor.



Other rumored specifications include a five megapixel rear camera which will be capable of recording high definition video in 720p, and a VGA front facing camera for video chat.

The LG Miracle is also expected to come with 8GB of built in storage, plus 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth 3.0 and a 14.4Mbps HSPA radio.

There are no details as yet on when the LG Miracle will be announced, although we suspect we will see it at MWC 2012 later this month, also no details on pricing although it is expected to be a mid level device.

Source Pocket Now

Saturday, February 4, 2012

LG Spectrum Review


It's not easy being a Verizon Wireless phone. I mean, there's some serious competition at the high end with the Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX, Samsung Galaxy Nexus and HTC Rezound. On paper, the LG Spectrum should fit right in with its 4.5" 720p IPS display, 1.5GHz dual core CPU and promised upgrade to Android OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich by mid-2012. The phone has a front video chat camera, a rear 8 megapixel shooter that can capture 1080p video, and very good multimedia performance. It has a stable LTE 4G radio that hangs onto a signal as well as the very good HTC Rezound. So what's not to like?

The LG Spectrum is the Verizon version of the LG Nitro HD on AT&T, a phone we liked quite well other than its weak battery life. The spectrum gets a casing makeover with gloss plastics and a CDMA radio for voice and 3G, but otherwise the internals are mostly the same. But the Spectrum lags where the Nitro moved along decently, and that really gets in the way of enjoying what should be a fast, high end Android smartphone. We've also found it a bit less stable, and in the week we've had it, it's spontaneously rebooted a few times (not a common occurrence with other recent Android phones). We get the feeling there's a lot of promise here, but LG needs to work out the software kinks to bring better performance and stability.
LG Spectrum


The smartphone runs on a 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon CPU like the HTC Rezound and several recent AT&T LTE phones. Qualcomm's radio and CPU chipset integration are excellent when it comes to LTE performance. We see none of the waffling between 3G and 4G in weaker LTE coverage areas that plague us with the RAZR line and Galaxy Nexus. Now, if you're in a good LTE coverage area, or conversely have none at all and disable LTE on the phone, this won't matter to you. But if you are in marginal coverage areas, the Spectrum and Rezound are your best bet.

The display is lovely. It's an IPS panel with good brightness and much more natural and accurate colors than Super AMOLED. You won't see Super AMOLED's hyper-vivid hues and amazing blacks, but will see plenty of sharp detail, crisp colors and good contrast. The 1280 x 720 panel makes for a relatively tall but narrow phone, and that means it's easier to hold in a narrow palm, but it will likely stick out the top of all but deep pockets. There are times when the display doesn't seem to respond to a tap, but it's hard to judge if it's a display issue or lag (I suspect it's lag).
LG Spectrum


The phone has a high gloss plastic back with a fine silvery checkerboard pattern that looks lovely until you handle it: it gets noxiously gummy. The 5 ounce phone feels weighty and looks like a decent quality piece, and we like the contrasting home button that's easy to see in the dark. The phone has 3 rather than the usual 4 capacitive buttons because LG combines the menu and search buttons into one on the left, and that's fine by us. There's an option to turn off capacitive button backlighting when the display is turned on, and we turned that option off immediately because it's difficult to see the menu/search and back buttons with no backlighting.

The micro USB port is located up top under a door: I find the location inconvenient when trying to both charge and talk at the same time, and the door is fiddly. The headphone jack is up top, as is the power button. The volume controls are on the right and the microSD card slot is under the back cover. Verizon includes a 16 gig card since the phone has only 4 gigs of internal storage with approximately 1.45 gigs available. The rear door is easy to remove and snap on, and the 1830 mAh battery, LTE SIM card slot and microSD card slot are under the door. There's no word whether the Spectrum has NFC.

Calling and Data

Voice quality is good but not among the best Verizon Wireless phones (we give the Droid RAZR, RAZR MAXX and Bionic a nod for their excellent voice). Volume through the earpiece is good and voice on both ends is clearly intelligible but not crisp or very clear. The speakerphone isn't terribly loud for calls or multimedia. It doesn't help that the speaker is located on the back towards the bottom where one tends to grip the phone.

The LG Spectrum has 3G EV-DO and 4G LTE on Verizon's network. Data speeds are very good and the Spectrum matched Verizon's other top LTE phones. As noted, the phone really manages to hold onto a weak LTE signal and on my desk where the RAZR MAXX spends most of its time on 3G the Spectrum stays on LTE.

Performance and Horsepower

In terms of performance, this Android OS 2.3.5 Gingerbread phone gets middle marks for a dual core on synthetic benchmarks, and it falls behind better performing Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket running on the same CPU. We spoke of UI lag, and we wonder how much of this has to do with LG's custom UI. The LG Nitro runs nearly the same UI and feels snappier however. If you haven't seen LG's UI, do watch our video review to see it in action. It reminds us a bit of older versions of TouchWiz, and LG adds some nice touches like sectional dividers for the app drawer (you can create groups for different kinds of apps) and a lovely media quick-access widget.
Benchmarks
 QuadrantAnTuTuLinpack multi-threadSunspider JavaScript Test
LG Spectrum24805838652432
LG Nitro HD24006398752869
Droid RAZR2550618075.72102
HTC Rezound2421N/A632998
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket3346536783.82878
Multimedia

LG makes good cameras, and the Spectrum takes pleasing shots with good colors and reasonable exposure though it's prone to some whiteout in high contrast outdoor settings. Indoors it does surprisingly well with dim settings even with the flash off. The camera can shoot 1080p video at 30 fps, and again, other than a bit of whiteout for sunny day settings, it did a good job.


The phone easily handles video playback, be it streaming YouTube and Netflix or locally stored MPEG4 content up to 1080p resolution (even high profile plays well). The speaker won't win any awards but the phone has good sound via Bluetooth and wired stereo headphones. The high resolution IPS display really shines for video playback and we found watching movies thoroughly enjoyable. The Spectrum has WiFi for streaming without eating into your data bucket, and it supports WiFi Direct. Bluetooth stereo speakers and headphones work via the Bluetooth 3.0 radio.
Battery Life

Verizon LTE phones aren't Energizer bunnies when running on LTE. The two cellular radios for CDMA and LTE take their toll, and today's fast CPUs and large displays don't help. That said, the 1830 mAh Lithium Ion battery fared decently compared to other Verizon LTE phones, and we managed 6.5 hours of talk time (LG claims up to 8.3 hours of use time). There's an optional 3040 mAh battery available and a wireless charging back that works with the wireless charging mat sold in Verizon Wireless stores.

Conclusion

There's a lot to like about the LG Spectrum. It has LTE with strong 4G reception, a really lovely 4.5" IPS 720p display and a fast Qualcomm S3 dual core CPU. It's promised an upgrade to Android 4.0 and handles video playback like a champ. Not bad for $199 with contract. But we're put off by the occasional stutters and lags, and the phone isn't as stable as we'd like. A firmware update might remedy these issues, but we're not sure if the phone will get much tweaking before OS 4.0 ICS comes out by mid-year.
Price: $199 with a 2 year contract.





Samsung Galaxy R vs. LG Optimus 2X: Affordable dual-cores


Introduction


Yep, you read that right. Affordable and dual core wouldn't normally belong in the same sentence. In 2011. And you don't need to press fast forward. Just sit back and enjoy. There's a lot stewing in the industry's pot and we think the place smells of quad core already.

So, two affordable dual-core Android smartphones it is. The Samsung Galaxy R and the LG Optimus 2X have been duly and thoroughly reviewed but we thought a head-to-head comparison wouldn't hurt - we've certainly been asked plenty of times which one is better.



The LG Optimus 2X prides itself in being the first dual-core smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy R follows at quite some distance but runs on the same chipset - the NVIDIA Tegra 2. Both have comparable screens too: 4" of WVGA IPS LCD on the Optimus and a 4.2" WVGA SC-LCD on the Galaxy R.

What sets them apart is imaging - the Optimus 2X is in line with the current flagships with an 8MP still camera and 1080p video, while the Galaxy R stops at 5MP/720p.

Here's a quick summary of the ups and downs of the two phones in direct comparison.


Samsung I9103 Galaxy R over LG Optimus 2X:
A bigger screen: 4.2" vs. 4"
Thinner: 9.5mm vs. 10.9mm
Double the RAM: 1GB vs. 512MB
Faster HSDPA: 21Mbps vs. 7.2Mbps
Slightly better battery life
USB On-The-Go support
Bluetooth 3.0 vs. 2.1
LG Optimus 2X over Samsung I9103 Galaxy R:
Better still camera: 8MP vs. 5MP
Better video camera: 1080p vs. 720p
HDMI TV-Out (with cable in the box) over no TV-Out at all

The Optimus 2X has fewer wins in its column, but they're all major victories. At least on paper - we'll see if the difference holds up in our tests or if the Samsung camera can make up for the lower resolution with better detail.

There are, of course, other differences too. It's between Samsung's TouchWiz and LG's custom skin on top of Android Gingerbread. And there's the design and build quality too: both have metal inlays on the back but the Galaxy R is more than a millimeter thinner.

Other than that, the two phones are close enough in terms of specs to make this a fair and square fight. And exciting too. Let's get started with an overview of the hardware and software. Later, we'll move on to more specific tests.












Monday, January 30, 2012

Budget LG Optimus L3 E400 on the way

LG is bringing an attractive new budget smartphone handset with the LG L3 E400
LG is due to launch a budget smartphone called the Optimus L3 E400. A northern European retailer has already begun taking pre-orders on the device, so it should be set to arrive shortly.
The spec line-up is typical budget fare and although adequate isn’t anything to have a song and dance about. It features a 3.2-inch 320x240 pixel resolution display, a 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
What’s really nice about the L3 E400 though is the design, we’re used to LG putting out attractive handsets but this is one seriously smart-looking device.
It’s priced at €145 at the Swedish retailer CDON, which translates to around £121 for the UK.
LG hasn’t officially announced the phone just yet, so we don't know exactly when it'll launch. However, we suspect the company may reveal the device at Mobile World Congress, towards the end of February, alongside its premium LG CX 2 and the quad core LG X3.
It’s also not clear at this stage whether it’ll get a wider release across Europe and in the UK, but if it does it’ll probably prove a popular choice with those who don’t want to spend a fortune on a sharp-looking smartphone.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

LG Prada 3.0 Android Smartphone Hits The UK Tomorrow



LG and Prada announced their latest smartphone a while back, and now it looks like the new LG Prada 3.0 will go on sale in the UK tomorrow, as UK mobile retailer Phones4U will be selling the handsets with a number of different mobile carriers.

The LG Prada 3.0 features a 4.3 inch multi-touch touchscreen display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and it also comes with Android Gingerbread.






Other specifications on the LG Prada 3.0 include a dual core 1GHz processor, plus 8GB of built in storage and a microSD card slot that can take up to 32GB microSD cards.

The LG Prada 3.0 also features an 8 megapixel camera which is capable of recording full high definition video in 1080p, and it will be available from Phones4u from tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

LG Optimus LTE hits 1 million in sales

LG has just announced that sales of the Optimus LTE have now exceeded over one million units, putting it as one of the best selling LTE phones of today. The world’s first HD LTE phone was first launched in Korea in October last year and hit 600,000 units in the first 3 months, making it the most popular LTE phone there. It was then released in Japan where it recorded sales of only 8,500 units. It then headed to Canada and also made its way over to the US as the rebranded LG Nitro HD for AT&T. Since then, sales have steadily racked up and the phone has now crossed the one million mark. Now the question is – will it see two million? 

Monday, January 23, 2012

LG Optimus range gets Android 2.3 Gingerbread update

LG rolls out Android Gingerbread update for Optimus Black,Optimus 2X and Optimus 3D
LG has started rolling out the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update for its Optimus Black, Optimus 2X and Optimus 3D smartphones.
The company previously announced the handsets would receive Gingerbread in late October 2011 and has since revealed they would also be upgraded to the latest build, Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) 4.0, citing quarter three of this year as an approximate launch.
No doubt this will be good news for anyone owning one of these phones and running on the now dated 2.2 Froyo build of Android.
Gingerbread adds plenty of new functionality, it generally runs much quicker, features an updated interface, enhanced copy and paste features, download management and an improved app management and multi-tasking suite.
There are other changes, but generally we can't help but feel it's a bit too little and too late now that Ice Cream Sandwich is out ‘in the wild,' so to speak.
Asus has already rolled out Ice Cream Sandwich for its Transformer Prime tablet. We know that's a tablet but there's not supposed to be much difference between the two platforms with the latest build and having seen both the Prime and Samsung's Galaxy Nexus running it we'd have to say that's a statement that holds true.
Furthermore, Samsung has said it will update its Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note phones to ICS in quarter two of this year, a whole quarter quicker off the mark.
The Gingerbread update is available via LG's in-built software update program now and is dubbed the ‘V20N' update.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

LG PRADA 3.0 leaked before launch



Last month LG and PRADA announced their renewed partnership and introduced the PRADA phone by LG 3.0. While the phone is supposed to be officially announced today, it looks like it has managed to reveal itself prematurely. Press shots of the phone have been discovered and posted online, showing the phone in all its glory. And while the design of the phone is pretty sleek and classy, its user experience is going to look equally attractive with LG’s customized version of Android.
The phone’s specs have also been revealed and it’s no slouch in that department either. The PRADA phone by LG 3.0 features a dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP4430 processor, a 4.3″ (480 x 800) NOVA Plus display (unfortunately no 720p resolution here), an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, NFC, microSD card slot, Bluetooth 3.0, HSPA+, Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread, a 1,540mAh battery and will measure 127 x 69 x 8.5mm. The phone is expected to be in stores in the first quarter of 2012. Any takers for this sweet looking device?

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

T-Mobile G2x Gingerbread OTA Update Resumes


After a not-so-smooth attempt at rolling out Android 2.3 Gingerbread for T-Mobile G2X users, experience-breaking bugs ran rampant throughout users’ phones prompting T-Mobile and LG to suspend updates. It took quite a while for them to get things ironed out, actually, as I almost forgot that the T-Mobile G2x even exists. In any case, the Gingerbread rollout is back on for those who are sick of frozen treats. Alongside Gingerbread, you’re also apparently getting improved battery life for your troubles. Yay! Get to the link ahead for the full instructions from LG. [LG via Droid Dog]