New LG Cell Phone

Wow! LG Optimus M+ from MetroPCS

LG Optimus M+ Design and name Quality

Whereas some sequels adhere carefully to the design of the original, LG goes for one thing completely completely different with the Optimus M+.  Gone are the tender edges and bodily buttons in favor of a sleeker, extra angular look.  The M+ is made completely of plastic, with a textured again panel and a glass entrance.  The cellphone measures four. 5 by 2. 5 by . four inches (HWD) and weighs four. 2 ounces.  It's a superb dimension that may match simply into your pocket or bag.  The show has been elevated to three. 5-inches, however retains the identical 480-by-320-pixel decision.  It isn't impressive, however it's brilliant sufficient and will get the job accomplished.  The bodily keys beneath the show have been changed with haptic feedback-enabled contact keys.  Typing on the onscreen QWERTY keyboard was superb.

The Optimus M+ is a tri-band 1xRTT (800/1700/1900 MHz) machine with 802. 11b/g/n Wi-Fi.  Reception is average, and it linked to my WPA2-encryped community with out situation.  Voices sound full and clear withwithin the phone's earpiece, with simply a bit little bit of fuzz withwithin the background.  Calls made with the telephone sound clear and natural, with superb noise cancellation.  The speakerphone sounds fine, and goes simply about loud sufficient to make use of outside.  Calls sounded clear by a Jawbone period Bluetooth headset ($129, four. 5 stars) and voice dialing labored wonderful over Bluetooth with out coaching.  Battery life was common at 6 hours, eleven minutes of speak time.

LG Optimus M+ knowledge Plans and Apps

MetroPCS lacks a 3G information community.  The Optimus M+ doesn't assist the carrier's new 4G LTE network, so it's caught on 2G, which may be fairly gradual.  MetroPCS consists of a DeviceScape Wi-Fi hotspot shopper (which seems in your notification window as "MetroPCS simple WiFi") to hyperlink collectively numerous free hotspots, however it doesn't assure widespread Wi-Fi protection.

however even on 2G, the value is right: The M+ is offered with limitless talk, text, and knowledge for $50 per 30 days.  an additional $10 per 30 days will get you an identical plan with limitless music from Rhapsody.  simply keep in mind you may additionally get unlimited, talk, text, and information from Virgin cellular and enhance for concerning the identical price, although you additionally get the additional advantage of 3G speeds with these two carriers.  word that even with a 4G phone, 4G speeds on MetroPCS are lots completely different than 4G LTE speeds on AT&T or Verizon wi-fi.  As we found in our quickest cell Networks testing, moderately than providing spectacular speeds, MetroPCS is peddling first rate speeds at very low costs.

The M+ runs Android 2. three. 6 (Gingerbread).  There's no phrase but on whether or not the join will obtain an replace to Android four. 0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).  LG hasn't accomplished an excessive amount of to the UI, so it's a comparatively straight Android construct with some good graphical enhancements.  There are seven customizable residence screens you are able to swipe between, which come preloaded with some commonplace apps and widgets.  There isn't a ton of bloatware, and thankfully, a lot of what has been preloaded is deletable.

as well as to its underwhelming display, the M+ is powered by a dated 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7627A processor.  That's a step up from the 600MHz chip powering a lot of the carrier's different low-cost smarttelephones, however it solidifies the telephone as a decrease finish machine.  Thankfully, the Optimus M+ nonetheless feels responsive sufficient for informal use, although you shouldn't get it if you're  in high-end gaming.

LG Optimus M+ Multimedia, Camera, and Conclusions

There's an empty microSD card slot beneath the battery cover, as well as to 1. 87GB of inside reminiscence.  My 32GB and 64GB microSD playing cards labored superb.  The Optimus M+ capabilities as a flexible media player, and music sounded good by each wired earbuds in addition to Altec Lansing Backbeat Bluetooth headphones ($99, three. 5 stars).  The cellphone performed AAC, MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA take a look at files, however not FLAC.  Video codec help is powerful as nicely.  i used to be in a position to play all of our check information at resolutions as much as 800-by-480.

The 5-megapixel auto-focus digicam comes with an LED flash.  Shutter speeds had been a bit slow, at a median of 1. 1 seconds, however check pictures have been fairly first rate for a price range system.  pictures present respectable colour and element with good lighting, although a few of these elements wander off in darker environments.  It's not going to exchange an excellent digital camera, however it's completely acceptable for capturing a fast shot on the go.  The digital camera additionally information 640-by-480-pixel movies that play again at a easy 30 frames per second each indoors and out.

The LG Optimus M+ isn't the flat out success that the unique was, however LG has made sufficient enhancements to maintain this telephone within the highest tier of decrease finish units.  The HTC Wildfire ($119, three stars), Samsung Admire ($99, three stars), and ZTE rating M ($99, 2. 5 stars) are all barely much less expensive, however the Optimus M+ is value the additional $10 to $30.  4G smartphones on MetroPCS value rather much extra than the Optimus M+, although these costs are beginning to return down.  the 2 4G telephones we presently suggest are the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G ($199, three. 5 stars) and the LG join fourG ($2four9, four stars), each of which get you extra energy and far quicker knowledge than the Optimus M+.  The LG join 4G, in particular, is our favourite contract-free smartphone out there proper now, and prices $70 much lower than it did simply two months in the past.

Benchmarks

LG Optimus M+ Price when released is $129

This Rumor is True! LG Rumor Reflex from Sprint

LG Rumor Reflex enhance variations and inexperienced Cred

LG Rumor Reflex Pricing and Conclusions

Let's wait for LG Rumor Reflex.

Welcome LG Rumor Reflex from Sprint

LG Rumor Reflex Design and name Quality

The Rumor Reflex measures four. 2 by 2. 1 by 0. 6 inches (HWD) and weighs four. 7 ounces.  It's made totally of shiny plastic, with a textured, web-like sample on the again panel.  It is available in both white or gray, however if it was blue and pink you'd suppose it was Spiderman themed.  The 3-inch, 400-by-200-pixel capacitive contact liquid crystal display is quick and responsive, however extraordinarily restricted viewing angles means there's solely a 15-degree window through which you are able to see it correctly.

There are three operate keys beneath the display, which permit you to select, go back, and entry the house display screen.  Dialing numbers on display is easy, because of the responsive display, however the telephone additionally slides open to disclose a large, four-row QWERTY keyboard.  The keys are effectively spaced and raised, and typing on the Reflex could be very comfy.  textual content messages are threaded and simple to read, so that you ought to have the ability to take full benefit of a vast texting plan.

The Rumor Reflex is a dual-band (850/1900 MHz) EV-DO Rev. 0 system with no Wi-Fi.  Rev.  0 means the Rumor Reflex will get 3G knowledge speeds, simply not the quicker Rev.  A speeds.  That's fantastic for texting, however it makes for slower net looking.  The Reflex will get good reception, however voice high quality is simply common.  Voices sound skinny and grainy within the phone's earpiece.  quantity can get very loud, however sounds distorted at greater volumes.  Calls produced from the cellphone sound better, with clear, pure voice high quality and first rate background noise cancellation.  The speakerphone doesn't get loud sufficient to make use of outdoors, and voices sound distorted.  Calls had been additionally muddy by way of a Jawbone period Bluetooth headset  ($129, four. 5 stars), although voice dialing labored wonderful over Bluetooth with out coaching.  Battery life was average, at 5 hours and forty one minutes of discuss time.

As an eco-friendly device, the Rumor Reflex simply makes the reduce for our GreenTech Approval.  The phone's outer cowl is constituted of 31 % post-consumer recycled materials, and is available in totally recyclable, glueless packaging that is printed with soy inks and accommodates as much as 87 % post-consumer paper.  The battery charger qualifies for essentially the most energy environment friendly 5-star score for terribly low energy draw whereas nonetheless plugged in after your cellphone is totally charged.  And the system is freed from many environmentally delicate supplies akin to beryllium, brominated flame retardants (BFR), halogen, nickel, phthalates, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  Additionally, the Reflex comes with a postage-paid envelope to recycle your previous phone, and there's a digital person information on Sprint's web site.

LG Rumor Reflex Apps, Multimedia, and Conclusions

Although it will probably be customized, the Reflex's interface is drab and chilly.  house display choices are introduced in a text-based checklist operating down a flat, grey background; it feels extra like a menu than a house display.  And since a lot of the phone's menus appear like this, it's straightforward to wander off.

From the house screen, you are given hyperlinks to the principle menu, contacts, messaging, and Facebook, although you may add and subtract shortcuts as you please.  although fb and Twitter are included on the phone, they're simply hyperlinks that ship you to the services' cellular net websites.  The entry NetFront four. 2 browser does an okay job on cellular sites, however it won't work for desktops.  if you happen to need a cellphone to browse the net and entry social networking, it is advisable to get a smartcellphone.  There's no IM available, although you are able to entry e-mail utilizing AIM, AOL, Comcast, Gmail, home windows Live, and Yahoo accounts.

You get the usual calculator, calendar, clock, and notepad apps, alongside with entry to dash household Locator, dash Music Plus, Spring Navigation, and dash television & films.  There's 262MB of free storage, alongside with an empty microSD card slot beneath the battery cover, which labored nice with my 32 and 64GB SanDisk playing cards.  so as to play audio and music recordsdata from my microSD card, I first needed to navigate my method by means of a sophisticated collection of menus to seek out them.  as soon as I did, i used to be ready to play AAC, MP3, WAV, and WMA files, however not FLAC or OGG.  Music sounded positive over Altec Lansing Backbeat Bluetooth headphones ($129. 99, three. 5 stars) in addition to commonplace three. 5mm earbuds.  i used to be solely ready to look at H. 264 and MPEG-4 video information at 320-by-240 resolution, which limits your choices (not to say your quality) dramatically.

The 2-megapixel digicam lacks auto-focus or a flash.  Shutter speeds had been fine, at 0. 5 second, however take a look at footage have been poor.  photographs look comfortable and hazy, and colours are boring.  Recorded movies max out at a tiny four hundred by 240 pixels, and play again at a uneven 15 frames per second.  you may switch photographs and video by way of Bluetooth or microSD card, however they actually aren't value the trouble.

dash has valuable few textual contenting telephones available, so issues aside, the Rumor Reflex is price contemplating if all you would like to do is textual content.  The Samsung Trender (Free, three stars) is an analogous option, that options a smaller, whimsical design, and higher name quality, although its contact display screen isn't pretty much as good.  If you're wanting to do extra along with your phone, the Samsung remodel extremely (4 stars) is a free, keyboarded Android smartphone, and options a a lot higher camera, nicer display, extra multimedia playback options, and a wealth of apps, although it requires a month-to-month information plan.  We haven't examined it on dash yet, however you are able to have a glance at our evaluation of the increase cellphone to see what you are able to anticipate.

Benchmarks

LG Rumor Reflex will coming soon.

Here comes LG Viper 4G LTE from Sprint

LG Viper 4G LTE bodily Design, name Quality, and fourG

At four. fifty nine by 2. forty four by 0. forty six inches (HWD) and 5 ounces, the Viper feels strong and matches in fairly a lot any hand, though it isn't super-slim.  It's principally plastic, however tightly constructed and stylish feeling, with a slate-gray again.  The 800-by-480 liquid crystal display is bright, and on this 4-inch type issue it packs a nice, dense 233 pixels per inch, which isn't as much as "Retina display" standards, however appears to be like good nonetheless.  the usual Android contact buttons sit under the screen, and there's a three. 5-mm headset jack and energy button up prime.  There's no devoted digital camera button, although.




The Viper wins our GreenTech Approval by fulfilling six of our seven standards.  The phone's casing is 50 % recycled plastic and the package deal is produced from 87 % recycled material, and it comes with an "energy-efficient" charger that basically turns itself off when not in use.  LG is a member of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation, and dash takes again telephones to recycle.  The Viper is lacking power Star certification, however it is each RoHS and ULE Platinum Certified, which means in part, that it is free from a spread of hazardous supplies.

An average-high quality voice phone, sign reception on the Viper is fine, however voice high quality is simply okay; it's a bit harsh, and there are some acquire issues with very high-volume inputs.  Transmissions via the mic are acceptable, if a bit nasal.  Noise cancellation is spectacular; I couldn't hear a bus roaring by.  The speakerphone is loud sufficient for indoor and out of doors use, and transmissions via the speakerphone sounded surprisingly good thanks halfly to that aggressive noise cancellation.  The Viper didn't have any downside with our Jawbone period Bluetooth headset ($129, four stars) or our Altec Lansing BackBeat stereo Bluetooth headset ($99. 99, three. 5 stars), both.

We're nonetheless testing the Viper's battery, however on the second it seems to be to offer acceptable, however not extraordinary efficiency.

The Viper connects to Sprint's 3G EVDO Rev A network, alongside with Wi-Fi 802. eleven b/g/n and Sprint's upcoming, however nonetheless nascent LTE community.  The dash 3G community doesn't supply nice pace: in final year's quickest cellular Networks assessments we discovered dash's community to be the slowest of the nationwide communitys, with obtain pace averages round 500Kbps.  That's balanced out, to some extent, by dash being the one provider to nonetheless provide limitless data, and dash advised us that these plans will proceed with LTE.  The cellphone additionally features as a hotspot for as much as 5 devices, however you don't get limitless information for that. 

dash is within the midst of transitioning between two 4G networks.  WiMAX is on its means out; LTE is on its means in.  dash has stated that it'll flip on LTE in Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Kansas metropolis and San Antonio by "mid-year," which most individuals take to intend June.  They've additionally launched a map of what LTE protection will seem like in 2014.

Between six cities and 2014 all is shadows, though, which makes it tough to inform when dash LTE is coming to you.  the corporate has stated it'll cowl 123 million individuals by the tip of 2012, however not the place.  So shopping for a dash LTE telephone proper now is a bet.  If the cube fall your way, you'll have blazing-fast efficiency on a contemporary new community that'll solely get larger with time.  in the event that they don't, you have a 3G telephone.

the choice is far simpler for individuals who dwell in a single of the six listed cities.  however we might suggest the Viper to many extra individuals if dash would simply be extra simple with its rollout plans.  on the identical time, it's additionally laborious to suggest WiMAX telephones with a lot enthusiasm, figuring out that dash is shifting away from the know-how.

LG Viper 4G LTE Android and Apps

The Viper's dual-core, 1. 2GHz processor runs the 400,000 apps for Android 2. three "Gingerbread" superbly.  It carried out inside the highest rank of Android 2. three telephones on our benchmarks.  And it'll keep on Android 2. three for the foreseeable future: dash hasn't stated something about an Android four. 0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" improve.  no less than Gingerbread is usually unskinned here, besides for dash's typical bloatware and its dash ID packs.  dash ID allows you to routinely load a set of wallpapers, ringtones, and apps round a theme like NASCAR or MTV, however you don't must use it when you don't need to.

The phone's huge differentiator is Google pockets.  The built-in NFC chip, alongside with the Google pockets app, permits you to "tap and pay" (with a PIN code) at outlets that settle for MasterCard PayPass, which incorporates lots of small and enormous outlets (major chains embrace CVS,  Walgreens, Macy's and Gap).  Filling your Google pockets is slightly awkward, though: until you're a Citibank Mastercard holder, you need so as to add cash to a pay as you go Google card periodically, which is an annoying additional step.  I sadly couldn't check Google pockets on this cellphone as a result of Google hadn't activated the system for Viper celltelephones but.

LG Viper 4G LTE Multimedia and Conclusions

You get about 1. 5GB of free onboard reminiscence and a 4GB MicroSD card in a slot underneath the again cover; the cellphone had no downside with our 64GB SanDisk card.  Its highly effective processor simply handles most music and video files, together with 1080p HD video.  There's no HDMI out, though, so you'll be watching these movies on the four-inch display screen.

The Viper has a superb 5-megapixel digicam.  i used to be very impressed by its speed, sharpness, and dynamic vary.  Low-light photographs present dramatic contrast, however aren't blurry.  out of doors pictures managed to seize each a dim foreground and a shiny blue sky in my checks.  The video mode captures 1080p HD movies at 30 frames per second, each indoors and out, though the autofocus took too lengthy (more than a second) to regulate to a change in goal.  There's additionally a VGA front-facing camera, which is about pretty much as good as these items normally are.

With or with out 4G, the LG Viper is a fresh, fun, quick little Android smartphone, and it'll fly of the cabinets at $99.  whereas the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic fourG contact ($199, four stars) and the Motorola Photon fourG ($199, four. 5 stars) have greater screens and WiMAX, the Viper's clear design, quick efficiency and forward-looking LTE put it amongst the perfect. 

For now, our Editors' alternative on dash stays the Apple iPhone fourS ($199, four. 5 stars), which has a greater camera, world-phone functionality and sooner net looking (even although the 4S is strictly a 3G phone).  That advice might change after we hear about extra dash cities getting LTE.  Higher-end LTE teletelephones are coming, too: dash has introduced each the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the HTC EVO 4G LTE, which can attraction to telephone consumers wanting for greater screens.

The LG Viper 4G LTE is on the market for preorder now; in accordance to Sprint, it will likely be in shops by the tip of April.

Dejavu for LG Lucid from Verizon Wireless?!

LG Lucid Design and name Quality

LG Lucid Hardware, Android, and Apps

LG Lucid Multimedia, Camera, and Conclusions

Benchmarks

LG Lucid price when launched is $79.99