May 31, 2011 – 12:20 pm
Product: LG Optimus One
Specifications: 600MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 170MB internal storage, 3.2-inch HVGA 320×480 display, 3MP camera, microSD 32GB supported, 1,500mAh battery, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, micro USB, FM radio, GPS, Android 2.2 Froyo OS, 129g
Price From: £130 for unlocked or £18 a month for 24-month Three contract
The LG Optimus One is a handset that simply feels distinctly average. With a very uninteresting look about it, which includes its matte black finish with simple silver trim, the handset simply feels cheap.
But, the handset’s saving grace is of course, Google’s Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system.
With a quick boot up time (around 30 seconds) and capacitive screen allowing a very fluid motion when swiping between screens, scrolling through the app menus, or finding that exciting new app available on Google’s Android Market, Froyo gives the handset a lease of life.
Unfortunately, the screen’s overall responsiveness was a slight issue as it occasionally took a few presses of the screen to select something, such as opening an app.
As with all Android handsets, the multiple homepages (default of five, but you can have up to seven) give you space to set up widgets giving you quick live information, such as your latest feed from Facebook.
Although the Optimus One benefits from the Froyo integration of services like Flash support, you now have additional services such as voice control, which lets you search the internet and navigation.
Unfortunately the biggest disappointment’s about this handset were the internet and navigation. The navigation struggled to locate itself when indoors or large urban environments (such as being stood between large buildings in Manchester City Centre). The handset also struggled with downloading web pages at any fast rate, with scrolling not always acknowledging what was being intended, and pinch-to-zoom having a life of its own. Unfortunately, lack of a decent processor and large enough display is what lets the handset down, in this case.
Using LG’s provided drivers, connecting the handset to the PC was east enough, allowing pictures, video and music to be quickly loaded onto the handset. Upon browsing through the content, I found Android doesnt natively support AVI video files (only supporting WMV, DivX and Xvid). However images and mp3 audio files played with ease.
Surprisingly, the battery life of this handset (with its 1,500mAh battery size) left little to be desired. Even with average use (which included calls, email and web browsing) and little use of on-screen widgets, the handset still needed to be charged every night, for use the next day.
In Conclusion Save your £130, and get the HTC Wildfire for £99.
Advantages: This is a cheap way of getting access to Android.
Disadvantages: The 3.2-inch display and 600MHz chip lets the handset down with problematic pinch to zoom, and inadequate mobile Internet and navigation.
Tags: 3, 3G, Android, Android 2.2, LG, LG Optimus One, P500, Review, Smartphones, Three
Posted in 3 / Three, 3G, Android, LG, Reviews, Smartphones |
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