LG Optimus G review: a quad-core powerhouse with Nexus aspirations

Posted on 19/10/2012 by Myriam Joire

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You've heard it before: the more things change the more they stay the same. It wasn't that long ago that we reviewed LG's flagship Optimus 4X HD, the world's first quad-core HSPA+ handset. Despite representing the company's best engineering and design effort to date, it wasn't quite able to match the competition's global offerings -- Samsung's mighty Galaxy S III and HTC's lovely One X. Today, just a few months later, quad-core LTE superphones are the state of the art. Samsung's selling the global Galaxy Note II, HTC's just announced the One X+ and LG's betting everything on the Optimus G -- the first handset to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro together with an LTE radio.

The Optimus G is a pivotal device for the Korean manufacturer, especially in the US, where rival Samsung is massively popular and LG's success has been hampered by a series of forgettable products (hello, Intuition) and a lackluster track record for software updates. It's so critical that LG even invited us to spend some quality time with the Optimus G at the launch event in Seoul last month. In the US, LG's partnering with Sprint and AT&T and there's strong evidence that Google's upcoming Nexus will be based on the Optimus G. So, does the company's latest powerhouse measure up to the competition? How different are the US versions from the Korean model? Does LG finally have a winning formula with the Optimus G? Find out in our review after the break.

Gallery: LG Optimus G review (Korean model)

Gallery: LG Optimus G review (Sprint model)

Gallery: LG Optimus G review (AT&T model)

Gallery: LG Optimus G review (comparisons)

Continue reading LG Optimus G review: a quad-core powerhouse with Nexus aspirations

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, LG

LG Optimus G review: a quad-core powerhouse with Nexus aspirations originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boost Mobile announces the LG Venice: a $220, 4.3-inch handset with Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted on 26/09/2012 by Edgar Alvarez

It's only been a few days since we saw those leaked shots of what was rumored to be Boost Mobile's own variant of that Optimus L7 -- and, well, today the LG handset sees its official debut on the prepaid carrier. The LG Venice, as it'll be more commonly known around these parts, boasts a 4.3-inch, WVGA screen alongside a 1GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera on the rear (VGA quality on the front) and a video mode capable of shooting up to 720p recordings -- of course, this is all running LG's UI 3.0 flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich. As we've become accustomed to, Boost Mobile is pricing its new Android handset at a decent price ($220), with the device expected to start hitting "exclusive" shelves on October 10th and other "select" retail shops later the same month.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Boost Mobile announces the LG Venice: a $220, 4.3-inch handset with Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: LG’s Optimus L7, 4X HD, Vu and 3D Max pose for family album

Posted on 05/08/2012 by Myriam Joire

A few weeks ago we had the chance to line up some of LG's current handsets -- the Optimus L7, Optimus 4X HD, Optimus Vu and Optimus 3D Max -- for a little photo shoot. While we only had access the the 3D Max for a short time, we ended up reviewing the other three. There's a bit a of something for everyone here -- some Ice Cream Sandwich and some Gingerbread, some mid-range hardware and some hi-end style, some phablet and some 3D. Check out the ~~pr0n~~ family album in the gallery below.

Gallery: LG Optimus family

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs

Visualized: LG's Optimus L7, 4X HD, Vu and 3D Max pose for family album originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visualized: LG’s Optimus L7, 4X HD, Vu and 3D Max pose for family album

Posted on 05/08/2012 by Myriam Joire

A few weeks ago we had the chance to line up some of LG's current handsets -- the Optimus L7, Optimus 4X HD, Optimus Vu and Optimus 3D Max -- for a little photo shoot. While we only had access to the 3D Max for a short time, we ended up reviewing the other three. There's a bit of something for everyone here -- some Ice Cream Sandwich and some Gingerbread, some mid-range hardware and some hi-end style, some phablet and some 3D. Check out the ~~pr0n~~ family album in the gallery below.

Gallery: LG Optimus family

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs

Visualized: LG's Optimus L7, 4X HD, Vu and 3D Max pose for family album originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

Posted on 09/07/2012 by Myriam Joire

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LG has an ongoing smartphone problem: despite a few valiant efforts (the G2x comes to mind) the company continues to live in the shadow of rival Samsung. Most of this malaise can be attributed to hit-and-miss hardware combined with lackluster software (we're looking at you, Spectrum). Last February, at Mobile World Congress, LG spiced things up with an attractive collection of devices including the Optimus L7, Optimus Vu and Optimus 4X HD -- the latter being one of the first quad-core handsets announced. Now, six months later, we live in a world where the global versions of HTC's One X and Samsung's Galaxy S III dominate the superphone market and share the quad-core crown. With me-too features like a Tegra 3 processor, 4.7-inch HD display, 8-megapixel camera and Ice Cream Sandwich on board, the Optimus 4X HD appears ready to play in the big leagues. Does it succeed or is it just a flash in the pan? Is it all style over substance or does it bring something unique and meaningful to the table? Hit the break for our full review.

Gallery: LG Optimus 4X HD review

Continue reading LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

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LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus Vu ‘Value Pack’ Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade on the way in Korea

Posted on 28/06/2012 by Richard Lawler

LG's Optimus Vu still has yet to debut in the US, but Korean fans of the extra-wide 5-inch phablet can soon enjoy a new "Value Pack" upgrade. It brings the phone to yesterday's-news Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich along with LG-specific tweaks to its note taking features, UI 3.0 and Quick Voice search. There's a quick demo video of the update (embedded after the break) and promotional mini site with more details, although the ability to understand Korean -- or muddle through machine translated closed captions -- will come in handy.

Continue reading LG Optimus Vu 'Value Pack' Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade on the way in Korea

LG Optimus Vu 'Value Pack' Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade on the way in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG starts Optimus LTE Ice Cream Sandwich rollout on two Korean carriers

Posted on 07/06/2012 by Richard Lawler

LG said it would start delivering Android 4.0 upgrades to its Optimus LTE (SU640) phones this month (as part of a wider upgrade plan) and now it has officially begun. Assuming you're a Korean customer on LG U+ or SKT obtaining the update should be a simple affair of downloading it from the site or via LG's support tool, however other regions and flavors have yet to be confirmed. There's also no word yet on the other Optimus phones but now that new UI 3.0 has started to flow their arrival shouldn't be far off.

LG starts Optimus LTE Ice Cream Sandwich rollout on two Korean carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG starts Optimus LTE Ice Cream Sandwich rollout on two Korean carriers

Posted on 07/06/2012 by Richard Lawler

LG starts Optimus LTE Ice Cream Sandwich rollout on two Korean carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it’s ‘unobtrusive and simple’

Posted on 16/05/2012 by Edgar Alvarez

Love them or hate them, those ubiquitous Android skins aren't going anywhere any time soon. Now the latest one to make an entrance to the overlay game is LG's UI 3.0, which the Korean outfits says will make the overall experience of its handsets easier, speedier and "more convenient." The new UI brings features such as a novel drag anywhere-style lock screen, an Icon Customizer for setting your own photos as icons / shortcuts, a revamped Pattern Lock that lets you preset apps for quicker launch and a Voice Shutter trait for taking snaps via voice commands -- à la Sammy S Voice. UI 3.0 is set to make its debut next week with the launch of LG's Optimus LTE II in Korea, while the Optimus 4X HD will also come sporting the fresh skin once it launches in June.

Gallery: LG UI 3.0