New LG Cell Phone

LG Connect 4G scorching on the heels of the LG Esteem ($319, four stars), LG has upped the ante even additional with the join fourG.  It's nonetheless pricey, at $319, and 4G LTE on MetroPCS doesn't equate to fairly the identical speeds you'll see on different LTE networks, however the LG join 4G nonetheless has a lot to supply.  In fact, with its lovely display, comfy design, and quick dual-core processor, it's the most effective contract-free smartphone accessible proper now, and properly worthy of our Editors' selection award. Here's more about LG Connect 4G.

The LG join 4G appears prefer it was designed for everybody who thought the LG Esteem was simply too huge.  so far as smartphones (and my hands) are concerned, the join 4G feels simply proper.  It measures four. 6 by 2. 5 by . 5 inches and weighs four. eight ounces, which ought to match into most palms and pockets completely.  The Connect's 4-inch, 800-by-480-pixel NOVA capacitive contact show seems to be incredible.  It makes use of IPS liquid crystal show technology, a lot just like the show on the iPhone 4S, although the join is even brighter.  LG claims the telephone is succesful of seven-hundred nits of brightness, whereas the iPhone has been measured at 541 nits.  The 4S remains to be sharper, however the Esteem seems to be loads brilliant.  Viewing angles are good, and with the brightness turned up, the join is extra readable than most telephones in daylight.

manufactured from plastic with a textured, darkish grey again panel, the join appears and appears like a top high quality machine.  The entrance is all glass, surrounded by a thin, shiny black plastic ring.  Unfortunately, this telephone lacks an HDMI out port, which might permit you to simply join to a tv or monitor just like the LG Esteem can.  however then again, the join is a heck of so much smaller and extra transportable than the Esteem, so it appears like a good commerce.

The join works on MetroPCS's LTE community the place it could discover it, and on the a lot slower 2G CDMA community the place it could't.  MetroPCS has no 3G information community.  There's additionally 802. eleven b/g/n Wi-Fi, which related to my WPA2-encrypted Wi-Fi community with out an issue.  Reception was fine, and name high quality was common.  Voices sound clear wiskinny the phone's earpiece, however skinny and a contact robotic.  Calls made with the join are additionally clear and have respectable noise cancellation, however voices can sound a contact grainy.  Calls sounded wonderful via a Jawbone period Bluetooth headset ($129, four. 5 stars) and voice dialing labored fantastic over Bluetooth with out coaching.  The speakerphone sounds fine, however it's simply barely too quiet to make use of outdoors.  Battery life was common at 5 hours eleven minutes of speak time.

4G LTE on MetroPCS is not the identical as 4G LTE on AT&T or Verizon.  As we found in our quickest cellular Networks testing, MetroPCS is aiming to supply stable speeds at low prices, somewhat than spectacular speeds for a hefty premium.  The carrier's common 4G speeds are extra like a really good 3G network, although I pulled in increased speeds on the join than I even have on andifferent MetroPCS system to date.  Speeds averaged four. 5Mbps down and four. 2Mbps up on the Connect, which ought to be quick sufficient for many anybody.

MetroPCS's greatest promoting level is its cheap month-to-month plans.  For $60 per month, you get limitless talk, text, and data, alongside with limitless music from Rhapsody or video on demand from MetroStudio.  A $50 plan will get you limitless talk, text, and net with 1GB of streaming knowledge, whereas a brand new $40 plan presents limitless talk, text, and net with 100MB of streaming knowledge. 

The join runs Android 2. three. 6 (Gingerbread).  There's no phrase but on whether or not it will obtain an replace to Android four. 0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), however judging from the glacial progress being made on bringing it to different phones, I wouldn't depend on it anytime quickly.  LG hasn't accomplished a lot to the UI, so it's a comparatively straight Android construct with some good graphical enhancements.  There are seven customizable dwelling screens you are able to swipe between, which come preloaded with some commonplace apps and widgets.  just like the Esteem, MetroPCS has loaded the join with a bunch of bloatware, none of which is deletable.

The LG join is powered by a 1. 2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 MSM8660 processor.  That makes this the primary dual-core cellphone on a contract-free provider that we've tested, which is a reasonably massive deal.  The join turned in some glorious benchmark scores, and completely blows away all the single-core units out there, together with the Esteem.

Google Maps Navigation and MetroNavigator are each readily available to supply free, voice-enabled, turn-by-turn GPS instructions.  MetroPCS consists of an IM and Social app, which bundles apps for AIM, Facebook, Google Talk, and Twitter, amongst others, multi function place for fast entry.  The phone's dual-core processor means it won't have bother operating any of the 450,000+ apps in Google Play.