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LG Optimus One review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £204
inc VAT

It's an improvement over the original Optimus GT540, but the small screen resolution and poor camera mean it doesn’t compare well with Motorola's excellent Defy.

Specifications

Android 2.2, 3.2in 320×480 display

http://www.handtec.co.uk

LG’s latest Android handset, the Optimus One, follows on from the original Optimus GT540, which at the time of review was far too expensive and ran an out-of-date version of Android. The Optimus One runs Android 2.2 and is available for half the price of the GT540, but otherwise has a similar specification – a 3.2in, 320×480-pixel screen and a 3-megapixel camera. It’s also available on contract as well as prepay.

LG Optimus One top

The One looks nothing like the GT540, and we found its rounded corners and buttons a bit bland. It feels well made, with a metal strip around the edge that houses the ports and a volume rocker, and a rubber finish on the plastic casing that makes it easy to grip. LG has opted for physical rather than touch-sensitive buttons, which are easier to feel for in the dark and you’re less likely to trigger them accidentally.

The screen is small by today’s standards, but despite the low resolution we found it sharper than other budget handsets’ displays, such as the HTC Wildfire or Motorola Flipout’s. It’s nowhere near as good as Motorola’s Defy, though, with its much larger 480×800 resolution. The 3-megapixel camera is also slightly disappointing, especially as it lacks a flash and so isn’t suitable for low-light conditions.

We found pictures suffered from a lot of smearing and colours were a bit flat. Videos too were blurry and the camera struggled to capture movement, while their low resolution makes then only suitable for posting on the web. We were disappointed to find that the One lacks the GT540’s clever video editing app.

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Details

Price £204
Rating ***

Hardware

Main display size 3.2in
Native resolution 320×480
Second Display No
CCD effective megapixels 3-megapixel
Video recording format 3GP
Connectivity Bluetooth, WiFi, USB
GPS yes
Internal memory 170MB
Memory card support microSD
Memory card included 2048MB
Operating frequencies GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G 900/2100
Wireless data EDGE, HSDPA
Size 114x59x13mm
Weight 129g

Features

Operating system Android 2.2
Microsoft Office compatibility Word/Excel/PowerPoint editors, PDF viewer
Email client POP3/IMAP/Exchange
Audio format support MP3, WAV, eAAC+, WMA
Video playback formats MP4, DivX, Xvid, H.264, H.263, WMV
FM Radio yes
Web Browser Webkit
Accessories headset, data cable, charger
Talk time 7.5 hours
Standby time 22.9 days
Tested battery life (MP3 playback) 28h 45m

Buying Information

SIM-free price £204
Price on contract £20-per-month, 18-month contract
Prepay price £180
SIM-free supplier www.handtec.co.uk
Contract/prepay supplier www.t-mobile.co.uk
Details www.lg.com

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