LG Just announced their follow-up to the LG Optimus Q from last year.  Called the LG Optimus Q2, the new handset is a good-looking QWERTY slider that fosters multiple improvements from the original both inside and out.

While it has larger overall dimensions, the device is actually slimmer and lighter than its 3.5-inch predecessor.  A tenth of an inch thinner and 0.35 ounces lighter, it measures 12.3mm thick and weighs 147g.  It also gets a wider-profile slide-out keyboard with a more spacious layout for better convenience when typing.

Details of the LG Optimus Q2 include a 4-inch IPS-based display (with 700 nits of brightness and 480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module, a front-facing VGA webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G and all the usual smartphone niceties.  It will be powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Tegra 2 processor.

The smartphone will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with the usual suite of Google apps.   Two colors will be available -- black and white.

For now, the LG Optimus Q2 has only been announced for Korea, with the release date scheduled for next week.  No word on plans for worldwide release and pricing, though, but it sounds like a good enough phone to get some international interest.

[via TheKoreaHerald]

It's far from the prettiest touchscreen candybar around, but the Samsung Vitality is a solid release from Cricket Wireless.  While the mid-range Android smartphone doesn't set itself all that differently from the growing field of mobile devices, Cricket's offerings and add-ons handily play the value-added part.

Physically, it's a rather standard smartphone design.  I, personally, don't like the button arrangement or the overall shape, but I can imagine some people appreciating the aesthetics.   Body is almost entirely plastic, so it doesn't feel all that sturdy.  Display is a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen, although resolution is low at only 480 x 320 pixels.  While not the sharpest, it is ample bright and colorful, with good touch response to boot.

As a phone, the Samsung Vitality makes for decent calls with little distortion, although it's notably lacking in volume, making for a tough time holding a conversation while in a noisy environment.  Speakerphone is almost unusable anywhere but in a closed room.  The battery is rated at 6.5 hours of talk time.

The main selling point here is the inclusion of Muve Music, which even gets a dedicated button on the right spine (well, it uses the same one as the shutter control).  The Muve Music offerings are the same as when Cricket first offered them via the Samsung Suede, coming with plenty of tools, playback options and a solid library.  Do note that you don't buy any music with the service -- you pay to use it via an included monthly subscription.  A Muve-formatted microSD card needs to be inserted in order to use the  service.

Actual phone features are standard Android 2.3 smartphone fare: robust messaging, wireless connectivity (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS) and a host of preloaded software.  A modest 800MHz processor muscles the thing, but its speedy enough to not be an issue (no lags when launching apps or switching to Muve Music).  The 3.2 megapixel camera manages average-looking shots for both outdoors and indoors.

The Samsung Vitality makes its case with one very pronounced selling point: Muve Music.  For folks who spend loads of time listening to tunes on their mobiles, this could very well be a solid purchase.  Price is $199.99 for the phone, with a non-binding  $65 per month contract (includes unlimited text, talk, internet and Muve Music).

Remember the Sharp FX feature phone?  Well, it's big brother has rolled up to AT&T.  Called the Sharp FX Plus, it's grown up to be a full-fledged Android smartphone aimed at first-time users.

Physically, it's actually prettier than the price tag will suggest.  It's a tad heavy (5.3 ounces), but we do appreciate the curvy shape, soft touch finish and matte black appearance.  Based on Sharp's old Sidekick phones, the screen can be slide up to expose the four-row QWERTY keyboard.  Keys feel a little flat, though, so expect some getting used to for typing.  Display is a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen (480 x 320 resolution), which is bright and colorful enough to be plenty usable.  It's a little small, though, especially when you're used to today's larger mobile screen.

As a phone, the Sharp FX Plus delivered great calls, with strong volume and excellent quality on both ends of the line.  Occasionally, some slight muffling occurs, but it's insignificant enough to ignore.  The speakerphone worked well, although, voices sounded hollow on both ends.  Battery is disappointing, though, lasting for only around 3 hours of talk time.

Running Android 2.2 Froyo, you get all the usual smartphone amenities, including unlimited contacts, multiple inbox support, voice search and all that.  Wireless connectivity is amply serviced, too, with 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS all onboard.  There's no wireless hotspot, though, but it does tether over USB.

All the usual Google services are onboard, along with preloaded apps like Polaris Office, Facebook, Twitter and AT&T's various services.  Music player is stock, so better find a better one from the Market.  The 3.2 megapixel camera comes with no flash, so indoor shots aren't the most idea.  Outdoor ones are serviceable, although the shutter lag is quite pronounced.

Priced at only  $28.88 with a new two year AT&T contract, the Sharp FX Plus is quite a value.  The camera's poor performance was a bit expected, although the short battery life could be worrisome for the kinds of things smartphones get used for.  If you're fine with carrying a charger in your bag, it should be a good deal.

We have a bunch of leaked new smartphones making their rounds in the blogosphere, namely the HTC Rhyme, the LG LU6200 and the HTC Vigor.

HTC Rhyme

Previously rumored as the HTC Bliss and aimed at the female demographic, we're guessing HTC had a change of heart with this one.  According to HTC Inside, the handset will now be called HTC Rhyme, likely for marketing to a younger, music-lovin' crowd.  Details are sparse, but it will have a 3.7-inch display, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread and HTC Sense 3.5 running on top.

[HTC Inside]

LG LU6200

Rumored to be a South Korean exclusive at launch, the LG LU6200 is likely ending up as the company's next flagship handset.  Like many new top-end smartphones, it has an XL-sized display, measuring in at 4.5 inches with an HD 1280 x 720 resolution.  Running Android Gingerbread, it  holds a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM and Adreno 220 GPU inside the 10.5mm-thick candybar frame.  Other details include an 8.0 megapixel camera module, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing videocam, aGPS, LTE radio, NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and DMB.

[MovePlayer]

HTC Vigor

HTC has a major event scheduled for next week, where the previously-leaked HTC Runnymede is expected to be part of the announcements.  Maybe this just-leaked HTC Vigor (which some people say might be HTC Thunderbolt 2) will show up, too.  Details include a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, a 4.3-inch SuperLCD display with HD resolution (1280 x 720 pixels).  Like the Runnymede, it will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread and come plastered with Beats Audio branding

[PocketNow]

We guess we speculated too soon about HTC Runnymede being the first smartphone from the company sporting their newly-acquired Beats Audio inside.  That honor actually belongs to the just-announced HTC Sensation XE, a music-friendlier version of the HTC Sensation 4G.

What magical additions will this tweaked handset get?  According to HTC, it now integrates Beats Audio technology, which should deliver "fuller bass, crisper vocals, and a new level of clarity and range."  To enjoy that, of course, they're throwing in a bundled pair of  Beats by Dr. Dre headphones which will be automatically detected by the phone once plugged in, switching the settings to a custom Beats sound profile.

Details of the HTC Sensation XE doesn't veer far from the Sensation 4G.  You get a 4.3-inch Super LCD capacitive touchscreen (540 x 960 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera (with dual LED flash and 1080p video recording), a front-facing VGA webcam, aGPS, WiFi with mobile hotspot, 3G, 4G, DLNA, Bluetooth 3.0, 1GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), a TV out, and a larger 1,730mAh battery (rated at up to over 7 hours of talk time).  Muscle is provided by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (an upgrade from the Sensation 4G's 1.2GHz), paired with 768MB of RAM.

It runs Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, along with HTC Sense UI and the usual Google suite of apps.  Appearance remains largely the same (with the addition of new Beats Audio branding), as well as the dimensions (126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm).

The HTC Sensation XE will be available in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa beginning late September.  No pricing has been announced, though.

[via UnwiredView]

Sprint has officially announced a new Android smartphone.  Called the LG Marquee, it's a carrier-branded version of the Optimus Black that's currently in stores at many European and Asian markets.

Billed as "thin, light and bright," Sprint appears to be marketing this as a fashion phone, launching it with design collective MADE during New York Fashion Week.  The "bright" part of that, by the way, refers to the handset's NOVA display, which boasts better-than-normal brightness that allows it to be plenty usable even under sunlight.  Based on the product images, it does look quite the stylish device, with the curved corners and clean black lines giving the entire 122 x 64 x 9.2 mm a very elegant appearance.

Details of the LG Marquee include a 4-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 800 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera module (with LED flash), a 2.0 megapixel front-facing webcam, aGPS, WiFi with mobile hotspot capabilities, 3G with HSPA, DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1, 1GB of available onboard storage and microSD card expansion.  Muscle is provided by a 1GHz Cortex-A8 CPU, paired with 512MB of RAM.

Unlike the current Optimus Black, this one won't be running Froyo but the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread.   Expect the usual load of Google apps, LG SNS integration, and additional preloaded software from both LG and the carrier.

The LG Marquee will be launched on Sept. 15, right in the thick of the New York Fashion Week.  Along with the phone, Sprint will be unveiling a series of special designer cases created specifically for the device.

[Sprint]

The rumored HTC Runnymede just got some official-looking product shots, courtesy of the Chinese website ePrice.  As you can tell from the image, this is no shabby render buy a blogger -- it looks like the same thing that will come with press releases when HTC does announce the phone.

The most notable part of all this is the Beats Audio branding in the back, which likely makes this the first recipient of that $309 million purchase from last month.  We're not sure if having the logo means this will deliver a highly-improved audio experience, be ridiculously expensive (like those similarly-branded headphones) or both, however.

Leaked details of the HTC Runnymede include a 4.7-inch capacitive display (480 x 800 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera module with dual LED flash, a front-facing 1.3 megapixel video cam, a 1.5Ghz single-core processor,768MB of RAM and either 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage. Of course, you can expect the usual wireless connectivity features, along with other modern smartphone standards.

If this sounds like the HTC Titan, it probably is -- except with Android (instead of Windows Phone 7.5 Mango) and HTC Beats onboard.  Hopefully, the Beats integration means something that's more than just a cosmetic addition, though.

The ePrice post seems to suggest that the HTC Runnymede will be announced on September 20 during an HTC event in the US (the big media outfits have already gotten their invites).  We're guessing it will get a name change, too, since Runnymede just sounds like a word a four year old will make up.

[via ePrice China]

LG has announced the successor to the highly-successful LG Optimus One.  Dubbed as the LG Optimus Hub, the new handset improves on key aspects of its predecessor's hardware, all while maintaining an affordable price point.

While slightly bigger than the Optimus One, the new phone is still "compact" by today's larger smartphone standards, measuring 113.4 x 60.8 x 11.9 mm and weighing 123 grams.  Design is pretty standard for an entry-level smartphone, so it's decent, although you can see the plastic-heavy materials even in the pictures.

Details of the LG Optimus Hub include a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display (320x480 resolution), a 5.0 megapixel camera (only VGA video, though), aGPS, WiFi, 3G with HSPA, Bluetooth 3.0, DLNA, microSD card support (up to 32GB) and a 1,500 mAh battery (rated at up to 4 hours of talk time).  Muscle is provided by a modest 800 MHz CPU, aided by an Adreno 200 GPU and 512MB of RAM.

It runs the latest Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, along with the usual Google apps, LG's custom applications (like Social+) and the menu-compressed Optimus Interface 2.0 (which compensates for the low resolution).  Unfortunately, the processor won't be able to handle Flash content in the browser.

The LG Optimus Hub announcement was made in Italy, with availability in the region set beginning October at a suggested retail price of €199 off-contract.  No word on dates or pricing for other markets, but we do expect this to hit multiple carriers under different names (like the Optimus One did).

[Android HDBlog]

AT&T just announced three new 4G smartphones coming into their fold that make them the primary source for Windows Phone devices.  Comprised of the HTC Titan, the Samsung Focus S and the Samsung Focus Flash, the trio of handsets all run the latest Windows Phone 7.5 Mango.

HTC Titan

First announced last week, the Titan is one premium-looking smartphone, with its brushed aluminum shell, clean slim lines and  large frame (5.18 x 2.78 x 0.39 inches).  Specs include a 4.7-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 800 resolution), an 8.0 megapixel camera with dual LED flash, a 1.3 megapixel webcam in front, aGPS, 3G with HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, 16GB of built-in storage and a 1,600 mAh battery module. Processing is handled by a single-core 1.5Ghz CPU, paired with 512MB of RAM.

Samsung Focus S

No pictures were released for this one, but it should be on the large-sized end of the scale, too, with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen (480 x 800 resolution) out front.  Details include an 8.0 megapixel camera module, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, a 1.4GHz processor and a slim frame measuring 8.5mm in thickness.

Samsung Focus Flash

Like the Focus S, no press images were released for the Samsung Focus Flash.  It's the smallest of the trio, with a 3.7-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen out in front.  Details include a5.0 megapixel camera, a front-facing webcam and a 1.4Ghz processor.

Release Details

All three Windows Phone Mango devices will join AT&T's range of 4G offerings in the fourth quarter.  No exact dates or pricing details, though.

[AT&T]

Cricket just got another low-end Android into their roster.  Called the Samsung Vitality, the main selling point here isn't the phone itself -- it's the fact it comes with Muve Music, Cricket's "all you can eat" music service.

Previously with the Samsung Suede feature phone, the service is open again to customers who fork over for the new candybar smartphone.  According to Cricket, the Muve Music service will be in full force this last quarter, coming to a few more releases before the year is through.

Details of the Samsung Vitality include a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen display (480 x 320 resolution), a 3.5 megapixel camera module, WiFi, 3G with HSPA, Bluetooth, microSD card expansion (up to 32GB) and a 1600 mAh battery module (up to 6.5 hours of talk time).  Don't expect much in terms of raw power, though, since muscle is provided by a measly 800MHz processor.

Phone dimensions are 4.6 x 2.4 x 0.06 inches, with a weight of 4.16 ounces.  It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with the usual Android mobile software and a selection of preloaded apps.

Monthly plans for the Samsung Vitality with Muve Music is $65 per month (unlimited data, voice and music), with the phone costing another $199 (there's no lock-in contract, though).

[Cricket]