Two new LG smartphones get a formal announcement today.  Both targeted at the entry-level smartphone market, the duo consists of the LG Optimus Pro and the LG Optimus Net.

LG Optimus Pro

LG's take on the QWERTY candybar form factor features a four-row QWERTY keyboard, a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (240 x 320 resolution), a 3.1 megapixel camera, WiFi, aGPS, Bluetooth, a 1,500 mAh battery and microSD card expansion.  The Optimus Pro runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with muscle provided by an 800 MHz processor.    The appearance looks neat and tidy for what could have been a busy front panel, although build looks decidedly plastic from the product photos.

LG Optimus Net

The Optimus Net takes on a traditional touchscreen slab form factor (113.5 x 59 x 12.1 mm), with rounded corners and a compact profile.  Details include a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen display (320 x 480 resolution), a 3.1 megapixel camera, WiFi, 3G with HSPA, aGPS, Bluetooth 3.0, a 1,500 mAh battery and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).   It packs the same 800 MHz processor as the Optimus Pro, aided by 512MB of RAM.  OS is Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a special social networking widget available right on the homescreen.

Availability

Both the LG Optimus Pro and the LG Optimus Net will hit stores before the end of the summer, although pricing is yet to be announced.  They will be available in both black and white versions, as well as a third color (called Titan) for the Pro (we're not sure what kind of color Titan is, though).

[via TechCrunch]

Eurodroid just got their hands on details and press photos for an upcoming QWERTY candybar from LG.  Called the LG Optimus Pro, the handset should be the company's first ever Android smartphone in this form factor.

While unannounced, the handset is supposedly being readied for selling in Italy (some sources say it's already selling -- not likely), which explains the official-looking images.  No pictures from retail shelves, though, nor an online link to the sales page, so we really can't be sure.

Leaked details include a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (240 x 320), a four-row QWERTY keyboard, a 3.0 megapixel camera, WiFi, aGPS, Bluetooth, a 1,500 mAh battery and microSD card expansion.  While it doesn't appear to have 3G support, it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the mobile platform's latest build.  Chances are, this is running a fairly low-speed processor inside, so it won't be a likely competitor to the Droid Pro.  The HTC Cha Cha, on the other hand, is likely within arms' length.

Price is being pegged at €180 (around $250) contract-free, which should make it a decent proposition for budget users who'd like the QWERTY candybar style.  No word yet on likely release dates, but expect it to be sooner rather than later.

[via EuroDroid]

You're LG.  And you're releasing a new phone in the Optimus line that's pretty big.  And you can't decide on a creative name.  So you call it this: the LG Optimus Big (model LU6800).

Announced for release in South Korea, the handset comes in as one of the bigger smartphones in the market today.  We don't have exact dimensions, but we're guessing it's pretty beefy with the straight-up candybar profile and 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen.

Details of the LG Optimus Big include an 800 x 480 pixel resolution for the display, a 5.0 megapixel camera module and a dual core 1GHz processor.  We're pretty sure something this big packs in all the usual favors, too, like a GPS radio, WiFi, Bluetooth and microSD card expansion, but we guess that's something to find out when the actual product page goes up.  It's going to run Android 2.2, with a likely upgrade path to Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

South Korea's third largest wireless carrier, LG U+, will get the honors of debuting the Optimus Big.  We don't have details on pricing, but it will be available to consumers beginning April 28.  No word on whether this will hit shores outside LG's home turf, although we'll probably get something very similar with some slight tweaks (as has been the norm for both the Optimus and Galaxy series).

[via UnwiredView]

All the other US carriers have an LG Optimus One phone in their roster, so why not Cricket?  And now they do with the LG Optimus C, which is the exact same thing with a very slightly tweaked design and a very slightly tweaked model name.

The first LG smartphone peddled by Cricket, the entry-level Android packs the exact same features as the numerous versions released by other operators.  Clad in a silver body, it measures 4.57 x 2.22 x 0.625 inches and weighs 5.39 ounces.

Details of the LG Optimus C include a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen (320 x 480 resolution), a 3.2 megapixel camera module, aGPS, stereo Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G with HSPA and microSD card expansion (up to 32GB).  The onboard 1,500 mAh battery should keep it running for up to 14 days on standby (rated at 7 hours of talk time).

Handset runs Android 2.2 Froyo, along with the usual ensemble of Google apps and Android Market access.  A 600MHz processor controls the action, which, based on run-ins with versions of the same phone  on other carriers, brings enough muscle to handle the OS nicely.

The LG Optimus C continues with the Optimus One's bottom-rung pricing.  Cricket has it for $130 (with a $20 web discount and a $50 mail-in rebate) without a contract.

[MyCricket]

LG has announced a new budget Android smartphone.  Called the LG Optimus Me, it's a small touchscreen slate bearing a youth-oriented design.

Set to be released in a variety of colors (the product photos show it in black, blue, gray, pink and red), the handset is supposed to be even cheaper than the already budget-friendly LG Optimus One.  Compact and styled with rounded corners, it sports 113.5 x 59 x13.3 mm dimensions, with a weight of 130 g.

Like many low-end Android devices, the LG Optimus Me comes with a smallish display of unspecified size (most likely, this is between 2.8 and 3.0 inches, though).  Instead of the usual 320 x 240 pixel resolution, though, this one gets a bump up at 480 x 320 pixels.  Other details include a 3.0 megapixel camera module, aGPS, WiFi, 3G with HSPA, Bluetooth 2.1, 140MB of internal storage and microSD card expansion.

No word on the Android version, but sources gander it will likely ship with Android 2.2 Froyo.  The phone will come with a 1,500 mAh battery, rated at five hours of talk time and a little under 19 days of standby.

There's no specific release date or pricing, as of now, for the LG Optimus Me.  With the MWC fast coming up, though, we're sure the rest of the details should be filled in soon enough.

[via FoneArena]

With smartphones dominating the mobile landscape, it's easy to look past the ever-improving range of feature phones out there.  For those who don't need a smartphone, but could use a touchscreen in their lives, the LG Cosmos Touch should provide quite an attractive option.

Physically, it's a very compact messaging device for a handset that pairs both a touchscreen and a sliding QWERTY keyboard.  We like the soft feel of the primary material, as well as the rounded corners that make for a stylish design.  Display is a 2.8-inch resistive touchscreen (400 x 240 resolution) that, unfortunately, lacks the responsiveness we're used to with most modern phones.  Brightness and colors are all nice, though.  The four-row sliding horizontal keyboard is comfortable to use and plenty roomy, which is a surprise for such a small device.

As a phone, the LG Cosmos Touch made for average calls.  Voices came through loud and discernible, although there is noticeable static that creeps up on occasion.  Those on the other end reported a rather poor experience, claiming that our voices sounded hollow.  Speakerphone experience was similarly average.  Battery is rated at 6 hours of talk time.

All the usual phone features are onboard, including a variety of calling options, PIM tools, Bluetooth, voice recording and basic messaging.  Since this is a messaging-focused phone, more advanced communication features are offered, too, including mobile email (for POP3 accounts), IM (AIM, Yahoo and Windows Live) and SocialBeat (a social networking app).  There's no 3G or WiFi, though, so data is slow, even when working with light text transmissions.

There's onboard GPS with VZ Navigator, a wireless web browser and a rather basic music player.  Camera is a similarly basic 1.3 megapixels.  As expected, pictures are one of the weaker points, so forget using this for any involved image capture endeavors.

Overall, the LG Cosmos Touch is a strictly midrange messaging phone for casual use.  While we love the touchscreen and keyboard combo, it's quite lacking in features for more involved business use.  Plus, we think the price is a bit too much at $79.99 with a two-year agreement.

When searching for smartphones on contract, you rarely seek out US Cellular.  Last year, though, the carrier beefed up its smartphone lineup, bringing a number of Android-running hardware into the fold.  The LG Apex is one of them.

Physically, it's not the most striking design from LG.  It has solid construction, though, with a nice soft-touch finish and a sturdy feel in hand.  Display is a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480 resolution), with a narrow profile.  It's crisp and bright, with good touch responsiveness.  While the QWERTY keyboard looks odd with the D-pad on the side, it surprisingly works.  In fact, this is one of the better keyboards out there among budget Android handsets.

As a phone, the LG Apex makes for usable calls.  Voices went through clear with no background noise, but sound quality isn't the best.   Those on the other end appeared to have a better experience.  Battery is rated at 7.5 hours, but it seems to drain faster than we expected (could be a bum battery, though).

You get the usual smartphone favors here -- a variety of voice calling options, basic messaging, Bluetooth, 3G with HSPA, aGPS and WiFi.  Email and IM are also supported, along with a bunch of apps for social networking.

Hardware is strictly midrange.  It has a 600MHz CPU running Android 2.1, so it can get sluggish once you have a lot of programs open.  Keep it to a moderate amount, however, and the speed is actually pretty good.

Media playback uses Android's default player, so it's nothing exciting.  The 3.0 megapixel camera offers the standard editing options and takes rather average shots.

Overall, the LG Apex has two main strengths: a great keyboard and an attractive $49.99 price on contract with US Cellular.  Entry-level Android users hankering for a physical keyboard should find it a very good choice.

LG just announced its new flagship Android handset and it's one sexy slab.  Billed as the LG Optimus Black, it comes bearing two unique traits: a super slim frame and an impressive-sounding NOVA display.

Sporting a slender 9.2-mm body, the device is supposedly "the world's slimmest smartphone."  Just to accentuate the slimness even more, they gave it a subtle back arch that tapers down to 6-mm at the bottom.  It also weighs a light 109 grams.

A first for the Optimus Black is the 4-inch NOVA display, which LG claims to be "the brightest, clearest and most readable among mobile screens," measuring in at 700 nits of brightness.  It's supposed to be energy efficient, too, using only 50% of the power consumed by regular LCDs during indoor use.

Unveiled details of the phone include a 2 megapixel front-facing camera (which is supposed to be another first), an unspecified camera in the rear, Wi-Fi and a 1,500 mAh battery (yep, they managed to fit that somewhere in there).  Given that this is a flagship handset, you can expect the full roster of hardware niceties to be on board, as well, including 3G with HSPA, aGPS and Bluetooth.  It will have Android 2.2 Froyo at the helm (an eventual upgrade to 2.3 Gingerbread is promised), with the homebrewed Optimus UI 2.0 running on top.  LG is also touting a feature called Wi-Fi Direct, which enables "quick and high-quality data transfer between mobile devices."

No pricing, but the LG Optimus Black is slated for release globally during the first half of 2011.

[via Engadget]

Dual SIM devices normally come in a predictable package: candybar with T9-style keys and a host of basic features.  The LG C310 veers slightly from the norm, bringing a full QWERTY keypad to go with its dual network support.

If you're wondering where you've seen this phone before, you're probably thinking of the LG C300 Town. The specs list are, pretty much, the same, so that is obviously where they based this new handset from.  Phone dimensions are 116 x 66 x 14 mm., with a weight of 115 grams.

The feature set is, like most dual SIM devices, rather basic.  Details of the LG C310 include a 2.4-inch LCD (320 x 240 resolution), a 2.0 megapixel camera module, tri-band GSM connectivity (900/ 1800/ 1900 MHz), WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm headset jack, 200MB of internal storage and microSD card expansion.

We do commend the decision to equip a QWERTY-packing phone with dual SIM bays, since heavy messaging types could occasionally use double SIMs, too, especially during travel.  It's only been announced in New Zealand for now, but will likely be made available in other markets as well.

[via UnwiredView]



LG has two new dual SIM phones just announced for some of their markets.  Called the LG A155 and the LG A120, both handsets sport a traditional candy bar form factor, along with a typical set of entry-level features.

The LG A155 sports a more business-like appearance with a metallic-looking finish and slightly angled corners.  Details include a 2-inch TFT display (144 x 176 resolution), Bluetooth 2.0 and microSD card expansion (up to 2GB).  There is no camera on board, but they did throw in a music player and an FM tuner.

The LG A120, on the other hand, takes on a more plasticky, albeit youthful, styling.   Details include a 1.77-inch TFT display (128 x 160 resolution), integrated torch light, an FM tuner and, surprisingly enough, dual speakers.    There's no microSD card support, though, and no way to load music onto the thing, so you can only play whatever's coming through on the radio.    Battery is 950mAh, rated at 13 hours of talk time.

I'm not entirely sure why almost every single dual SIM phone I've seen packs low-end hardware.  Could be people use it  as a spare in case they need to be available on two networks or something.  At any rate, pricing for the LG A155 isn't known, but the LG A120 is supposed to retail for around $55 unlocked.

[via UnwiredView]