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LG Optimus 3D review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £459.99
inc VAT

Terrible battery life spoils what is otherwise a fast Android smartphone with fun 3D capabilities

Specifications

Android 2.2 (Froyo), 4.3in 480×800 display

http://www.mobiles.co.uk

Not even mobile phones are immune to the march of 3D, the technology fad of the moment. LG’s Optimus 3D handset is the first smartphone we’ve seen with a 3D display. Like its chief rival, HTC’s Evo 3D, you don’t need a pair of glasses to view 3D images on the screen, as it uses Nintendo 3DS-style parallax barrier technology.

Optimus 3D Space

Compared to the last LG Android handset we saw, the Optimus 2X, the Optimus 3D looks and feels much more like a polished premium handset. It’s very large, though, measuring 129x68x12mm and weighing a huge 168g. That’s 20g heavier than the HTC Sensation, which was one of the biggest phones we’d seen when we reviewed it in What’s New, Shopper 283. It’s still 2g lighter than the Evo 3D, though, which we’ve yet to review.

The Optimus 3D’s 4.3-inch, 480×800-pixel display takes up almost the entire front of the device, with just a hint of brushed faux-metal plastic above and below the display to finish off the look. The four touch-sensitive Android navigation keys sit neatly below the display. The back panel is composed entirely of matte black plastic – it all adds up to a subtle and stylish handset.

Optimus 3D side

As you’d expect, LG is keen to help you experience the display’s 3D capabilities, so it has included a range of applications under the title ‘3D Space’. These work well, giving you direct access to YouTube 3D, 3D Games, 3D Guide and 3D Camera mode all from a single click of the ‘3D’ hardware key on the bottom-right of the phone. 3D Space has a spinning 3D user interface popping out of the screen. From here, you have the option to play and download 3D games (Asphalt 6, Nova, Let’s Golf! 2 and Gulliver’s Travels are included, and are great fun in three dimensions), read tutorials on how to use your 3D camera, view 3D images and watch content on YouTube 3D.

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Details

Price £460
Rating ***

Hardware

Main display size 4.3in
Native resolution 480×800
Second Display No
CCD effective megapixels 2x 5-megapixel
Video recording format MP4/DivX/XviD/H.264/H.263/WMV player
Connectivity Bluetooth, HDMI, microUSB
GPS yes
Internal memory 8192MB
Operating frequencies GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G 900/2100
Wireless data GPRS, EDGE, 3G
Size 68x12x129mm
Weight 178g

Features

Operating system Android 2.2 (Froyo)
Microsoft Office compatibility Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Email client POP3/IMAP/Exchange
Audio format support MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+
Video playback formats MP4, DivX, Xvid, H.264, H.263, WMV
FM Radio no
Web Browser Webkit
Accessories USB Charger, headphones
Talk time 4 hours
Standby time 4 days
Tested battery life (MP3 playback) 19h 15m

Buying Information

SIM-free price £460
Price on contract 0
Prepay price £450
SIM-free supplier www.amazon.co.uk
Contract/prepay supplier www.mobiles.co.uk
Details www.lg.com

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