The bottom line: The LG Optimus U is a wonderful entry-level smartphone that combines great features with a bargain price.Review:
Editors' note: Since the Optimus U is so similar to the Optimus S, we'll focus on what sets the Optimus U apart in this review. For more design details, please read our LG Optimus S review.
Just when we thought we had reviewed the last of the LG Optimus line of phones (see the LG Optimus T, the Optimus S, the Vortex, and the Optimus M), we get the LG Optimus U. While the Optimus handsets share similar specifications with each other, the Optimus U is most like Sprint's Optimus S. Indeed, aside from a few minor differences, ... Expand full review
Just when we thought we had reviewed the last of the LG Optimus line of phones (see the LG Optimus T, the Optimus S, the Vortex, and the Optimus M), we get the LG Optimus U. While the Optimus handsets share similar specifications with each other, the Optimus U is most like Sprint's Optimus S. Indeed, aside from a few minor differences, ... Expand full review
Editors' note: Since the Optimus U is so similar to the Optimus S, we'll focus on what sets the Optimus U apart in this review. For more design details, please read our LG Optimus S review.
Just when we thought we had reviewed the last of the LG Optimus line of phones (see the LG Optimus T, the Optimus S, the Vortex, and the Optimus M), we get the LG Optimus U. While the Optimus handsets share similar specifications with each other, the Optimus U is most like Sprint's Optimus S. Indeed, aside from a few minor differences, they're virtually identical. As the letter U is attempting to suggest, the Optimus U is available from U.S. Cellular. The phone is free after an $80 mail-in rebate. New customers will have to sign up for a two-year contract, but existing customers can get the phone for the same price without having to sign up for a new agreement as part of U.S. Cellular's new Belief Project.
Design
If you place the Optimus U and the Optimus S side by side, you probably won't be able to tell them apart at first glance. Both are 4.47 inches long by 2.32 inches wide by 0.52 inch thick, and have a soft-touch finish that gives them a comfortable feel in the hand. Even the 3.2-inch 16.7 million-color (320x480 pixel) LCD is the same
Yet, there are only a few differences between the phones. One of them is the placement of the Android hot keys beneath the display. The Optimus S puts them with the Home key first and the pop-up menu key second, whereas the Optimus U has the menu key first and the Home key second. The positions of the Back and Search keys are the same.
The second difference is the home screen. Unlike the Optimus S, which has the Sprint ID profile pack system, the Optimus U has a fairly stock Android interface. On the bottom row of the Optimus U's home screen are shortcuts to the phone dialer, the contacts list, the main menu, the messaging menu, and the browser. This arrangement is similar to the interface on the Vortex and the Optimus M, but the Optimus U comes with only the default multitouch Android keyboard. Like with the Optimus S, if you want Swype, you'll have to download it on your own.
Features
The LG Optimus U ships with Android 2.2. Even though it does not have the most recent 2.3 firmware update (which it should get at some point), we think it's still a great operating system. Features of 2.2 Froyo include voice dialing over Bluetooth, app sharing, and integration with Facebook and Twitter contacts. However, we were not able to play Flash video in the browser due to hardware limitations, even though the OS technically supports it. You can still play Flash video, but only with YouTube or third-party apps.
Even though the Optimus U is billed as an entry-level phone, we were pleased with its connectivity and media features. They include Wi-Fi with hot-spot capabilities for up to five devices; 3G in the form of EV-DO Rev. A; and stereo Bluetooth. It has GPS, too, which comes in handy with location-based apps like Google Maps, Latitude, U.S. Cellular's own navigation app called Your Navigator Deluxe.
Like most Android phones, the Optimus U comes with a slew of Google apps and features, such as a handy Google search bar, Google Voice search, Google Talk, Gmail, Google Calendar, and YouTube. LG and U.S. Cellular threw in a few other apps, like Facebook, Twitter, MyContacts Backup, City ID, and Tone Room Deluxe. The Optimus U also has ThinkFree Office, a productivity suite that lets you create and edit Office documents.
Aside from Gmail, you can enter your own POP3/IMAP account information into a separate e-mail app. If you want to get corporate e-mail, the phone supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for syncing e-mail, contacts, and calendar information. Other basic features include a speakerphone, a vibrate mode, a calculator, conference calling, voice dialing, visual voice mail, a calendar, and text and multimedia messaging
Just when we thought we had reviewed the last of the LG Optimus line of phones (see the LG Optimus T, the Optimus S, the Vortex, and the Optimus M), we get the LG Optimus U. While the Optimus handsets share similar specifications with each other, the Optimus U is most like Sprint's Optimus S. Indeed, aside from a few minor differences, they're virtually identical. As the letter U is attempting to suggest, the Optimus U is available from U.S. Cellular. The phone is free after an $80 mail-in rebate. New customers will have to sign up for a two-year contract, but existing customers can get the phone for the same price without having to sign up for a new agreement as part of U.S. Cellular's new Belief Project.
Design
If you place the Optimus U and the Optimus S side by side, you probably won't be able to tell them apart at first glance. Both are 4.47 inches long by 2.32 inches wide by 0.52 inch thick, and have a soft-touch finish that gives them a comfortable feel in the hand. Even the 3.2-inch 16.7 million-color (320x480 pixel) LCD is the same
Yet, there are only a few differences between the phones. One of them is the placement of the Android hot keys beneath the display. The Optimus S puts them with the Home key first and the pop-up menu key second, whereas the Optimus U has the menu key first and the Home key second. The positions of the Back and Search keys are the same.
The second difference is the home screen. Unlike the Optimus S, which has the Sprint ID profile pack system, the Optimus U has a fairly stock Android interface. On the bottom row of the Optimus U's home screen are shortcuts to the phone dialer, the contacts list, the main menu, the messaging menu, and the browser. This arrangement is similar to the interface on the Vortex and the Optimus M, but the Optimus U comes with only the default multitouch Android keyboard. Like with the Optimus S, if you want Swype, you'll have to download it on your own.
Features
The LG Optimus U ships with Android 2.2. Even though it does not have the most recent 2.3 firmware update (which it should get at some point), we think it's still a great operating system. Features of 2.2 Froyo include voice dialing over Bluetooth, app sharing, and integration with Facebook and Twitter contacts. However, we were not able to play Flash video in the browser due to hardware limitations, even though the OS technically supports it. You can still play Flash video, but only with YouTube or third-party apps.
Even though the Optimus U is billed as an entry-level phone, we were pleased with its connectivity and media features. They include Wi-Fi with hot-spot capabilities for up to five devices; 3G in the form of EV-DO Rev. A; and stereo Bluetooth. It has GPS, too, which comes in handy with location-based apps like Google Maps, Latitude, U.S. Cellular's own navigation app called Your Navigator Deluxe.
Like most Android phones, the Optimus U comes with a slew of Google apps and features, such as a handy Google search bar, Google Voice search, Google Talk, Gmail, Google Calendar, and YouTube. LG and U.S. Cellular threw in a few other apps, like Facebook, Twitter, MyContacts Backup, City ID, and Tone Room Deluxe. The Optimus U also has ThinkFree Office, a productivity suite that lets you create and edit Office documents.
Aside from Gmail, you can enter your own POP3/IMAP account information into a separate e-mail app. If you want to get corporate e-mail, the phone supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for syncing e-mail, contacts, and calendar information. Other basic features include a speakerphone, a vibrate mode, a calculator, conference calling, voice dialing, visual voice mail, a calendar, and text and multimedia messaging
Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/lg-optimus-u-u/4505-6452_7-34432046.html#ixzz18V1bQVWu
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