
LG's much-awaited competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Note has been revealed well before its official MWC debut. Called the LG Optimus Vu, it's another obnoxiously large smartphone that further blurs the line between the mobile categories.
Measuring 5.5 x 3.56 x 0.33 inches, it's one unapologetically large phone. Aside from the size, it's the design that actually makes it a likely no-go for holding on most pockets: it takes on a screen-style that's more square than rectangular. We guess the extra width does make it more palatable for tablet-style uses, which I like, although you'll need to make room for it in a jacket pocket or a bag.
Details of the LG Optimus Vu include a 5-inch IPS display (1,024 x 768 resolution; 4:3 aspect ratio), an 8.0 megapixel camera module with AF LED flash, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing video cam, 4G LTE, 3G, aGPS, WiFi, 32GB of internal storage, microSD card expansion and a large 2,080mAh battery. Muscle is provided by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, which is paired with 1GB of DDR2 RAM.
Like the Galaxy Note, it can handle working with a stylus, making it a genuinely viable tablet replacement, especially for work- and school-related uses. It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with an Ice Cream Sandwich update promised within the three months after it first hits shelves.
The LG Optimus Vu will likely launch first in Korea this March, under carriers SK Telecom and LG+. Expect it to roll out across other markets shortly after, though. No word yet on pricing.









