LG Optimus L3 Vs L7

LG Optimus L3 black deals

If you're looking for a mid-range or budget Android with Hollywood good-looks, then you'd be remiss if you didn't consider the LG Optimus L range of phones. There are actually three of them, but we're going to be reviewing the two extremes here: the least expensive L3 and the most expensive L7. You can find some good phone deals on both of them out there.

LG Optimus L3 v LG Optimus L7

So clearly these phones are not intended to be in direct competition. They're more like squabbling brothers. As with real siblings though, you get to know more about each of them by knowing them together (yes, we can get pretty deep here) so we think that the comparison is going to be useful. And we think you might be surprised by the results as well. If that's enough of an intro, let's get started.

• Display. With smart phones being such a visual experience as much as anything, we'll start off with the display. The L3 has a 3.2 in. screen with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels while the L7 has a 4.3 in. screen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. In both cases, the resolutions are a little low for the size of the screen. However with the L3 having a screen over an inch smaller, its resolution is not actually as bad as the L7's. Which is not to say that either are ugly, but actually it is the smaller screen which delivers better colours and crispness.

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  LG Optimus L7 black monthly contract deals

  Processing Power. One of the most important factors in making a screen work properly is a large enough processing chip. The L3 has a single-core 800MHz chip, while the L7 has a single-core 1GHz chip. So that makes the L7 the faster phone, right? Well, actually, no. Yes it has a more powerful processor, but it also has a much bigger screen and runs a later version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich to the L3's Gingerbread). The result is that the L3 feels nippy, whereas the L7 feels slow and unresponsive at times.
• Android. Both are Android phones of course, but as mentioned the L3 runs Gingerbread while the L7 runs Ice Cream Sandwich. Again this is a case of the latter looking better on paper, but the L3's Gingerbread OS works better with its processing power than the L7's works with Ice Cream Sandwich. That's despite the fact that the L7 doesn't come with all of ICS's features, such as face unlock, but that is promised in an update.
• Design. Both phones have a good build quality, and they are also both very handsome. Indeed that is one of the main selling points, and reasons for bringing this series of phones out. It is for those people who want a good looking phone without having to pay for all of the top of the range specs that can make smart phones so expensive.
• Camera. The LG Optimus L3 only has a 3 megapixel camera, which is pretty bad even for budget Androids these days. The L7 comes with a much more respectable 5MP camera and can record video with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.
• Storage. To store all of your pictures and videos (not to mention everything else) you're going to need some storage space. The L3 only comes with 1GB internal storage, to the L7's 4GB. However in both cases you can stick a microSD card in there and bump it up by an additional 32GB if you want to.

The full specs for the L3 and the L7 can be found on the LG website.

Summary

With the L7 being the top of this range of phones you would think that it would be the best of the bunch however, although it has the best specs, the L3 actually tends to perform better for what it is.

We wouldn't really recommend the L3 over the L7 though, they're not in the same league, but if you're looking for a good looking budget Android and you don't mind small screens, you should definitely check out LG Optimus L3 black monthlycontract deals.  Or LG Optimus L3 white deals of course.

On the other hand if you're looking for a mid range Android with a big screen, and you can tolerate a little bit of sluggishness getting around, then it's worth considering LGOptimus L7 black deals.  Or, again, LG Optimus L7 white monthly contract deals.

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3D Battle: LG Optimus 3D P920 Vs HTC Evo 3D

LG Optimus 3D P920 deals

If you're a fan of 3D then you're in luck because we're now going to compare the first two Android glasses-free 3D phones to enter the market. So get ready to find for a mind blowing experience, as we put the LG Optimus 3D P920 and the HTC Evo 3D in a battle to the death for the glory of being crowned king of 3D!

The 3D Effect

First of all, for those of you interested in how the 3D effect is created, you're not going to get much of an explanation here. Basically though when the 3D effect is in operation the screen is creating two images, directing one to each of your eyes. These two different images are combined in your brain to create a 3D image, the way it does with the images presented to it from your eyes in real life.

This has a few consequences. One is that the resolution of the screen is effectively cut in half any time the 3D effect is in use. It also means that it takes more processing power and it is going to drain the battery more quickly. Lastly, it means that you have to hold the phone at just the right angle to be able to make out the 3D effect, and that is a relatively narrow zone that you have to get to. These are issues with both of the phones under consideration.

Enough of the technical stuff though, let's get to the fun stuff! So what's on offer with these phones?

Well you might be a little bit disappointed to find out that not everything on the phone is in 3D. The menus, for instance, are still in 2D. Both phones come with dedicated features to use the 3D in though, games and videos mainly. And even though the HTC Evo came out later than the LG Optimus 3D, it is actually the LG phone which has the better effect. It can only be viewed in portrait mode but since, as we mentioned, it is only videos and games for the most part that use the effect anyway that's not a huge drawback. And it turns out that the 3D effect is simply more pronounced on the LG device. It's still decent on the HTC Evo, but we preferred the LG offering in that regard.

HTC Evo 3D contract deals

There is a problem in that there isn't a lot of 3D content available though. Other than what comes with the phone, YouTube will be the main port of call for other 3D videos. Although you can also create your own 3D content as well.

You'll notice, when you get the phone, that there are actually two cameras on the back. That's because, as we said, for the 3D effect to be created you actually need two images, one for each eye. So when you take a 3D photo or film in 3D, both cameras will be recording images at the same time, but from slightly different angles which is what produces the 3D effect.

Both phones also have a HDMI port so that you can watch your 3D videos directly on your television (so long as you have a 3D television of course) or if your TV supports DNLA technology then you can stream it wirelessly from your phone. Or of course you can upload your videos to YouTube, expanding the amount of content available for everyone.

Other Features

The 3D aspect is just one feature of each of the phones of course, how do the rest of them stand up? Well, as you would expect, with the HTC Evo coming out later, it does have better specs. For instance it has a 1.2GHz processor, to the LG Optimus 3D's 1GHz. It also comes equipped with the later version of Android, 2.3 Gingerbread, rather than the Froyo version which the LG comes with. The HTC Sense user interface is also generally accepted as one of the best additions to the Android OS.

Both phones are bulky, due to the 3D technology in use. The LG Optimus 3D comes in at 168g, while the HTC is a touch heavier even at 170g. They're also very cruel on their batteries, another consequence of using 3D. You'd be lucky to get a whole day out of either of them if you're using 3D very much. In this regard as well though, the LG is slightly superior because you have the option of turning off the 3D if you want to conserve battery, which isn't possible with the HTC Evo.

If you want to compare the two further for yourself, you can find the specs on the LG website and HTC website respectively.

Summary

Both the LG Optimus 3D and the HTC Evo are decent Android phones, although neither would probably be worth considering if you're not interested in the 3D aspect since that does make them rather bulky and power thirsty. If you are looking for a 3D phone, they're both worth considering but we'd probably have to crown the LG Optimus 3D king on the basis of the 3D effect alone. But then again, taking the 3D out of the equation the HTC is probably the better bet so it's hard to say.

If you're going to make a decision based on price though, check out the best LG Optimus 3DP920 monthly contract deals and HTC Evo deals available on the web.

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Is the "LG Prada Phone by LG 3.0" Precious or Pretentious?

LG Prada Phone by LG 3.0

 deals

The name is probably the worst thing about this phone. If LG and Prada were trying to avoid the appearance that they were producing a pretentious abomination of a phone, then they certainly didn't show it by calling it the LG Prada Phone by LG 3.0. From now on, it shall be known as the LG Prada Phone 3.0. Actually though, as we said, the name is probably the worst thing about it, overall it's good... but it comes with a rather high price tag. You may be able to find an acceptable price if you check out some phone deals though.

Prada Phone? Eh?

For any fashion troglodytes out there, Prada is an Italian fashion label and, yes, they make phones with LG as well. This is in fact the third phone that they've made together. And in all honesty, hard as this is to admit, it really isn't bad at all. First and foremost though, let's get to what you really want to know: the design.

One of the most striking things about this phone is how slim it is. We're not talking Size Zero though, at just 8.5mm thick we're getting in to negative numbers now. And the back curves inwards as well... which is perhaps a part of LG's “Floating Mass Technology” which is supposed to make the phone look even thinner than it is. Which presumably makes it the mobile-phone equivalent of airbrushing.

It's not just its super skinny appearance that makes it stand out though. The front and back are also highly distinctive. The back is textured, in a prickly sort of way... we wondered if it was supposed to stand in as an emergency nail file as well (don't worry, these jokes are going to end soon). In all honesty though it does give it character, although it might become uncomfortable to hold if you're having a long chat.

The home-screen of the LG Prada Phone 3.0 has been designed mono-chromatically, with only white and black allowed. This makes the already large screen (at 4.3 in.) seem to actually cover the whole front of the phone. It does give a classy look... and of course black and white are unlikely to ever go out of fashion. If you're concerned about downloading apps that will ruin the look, don't worry, you can replace the icon with one of their pre-installed options, and there are a fair few of them so you should be able to find something appropriate. The only problem is that you can't look for the iconic blue and white of a Facebook logo or the red and white of YouTube, so it can take a bit longer to actually pick out the app that you're looking for.

Performance

So is the LG Prada Phone 3.0 as impractical as wearing a shoe for a hat, or does it strut down the catwalk of high performance with consummate ease? Well... it's somewhere in-between, but closer to the latter. This is a good phone. It has a 1GHz dual core processor and 1GB or RAM as well, so it will be able to handle just about everything you can throw at it with good grace. There's only 8GB internal storage, but that can be enhanced up to 32GB with a microSD card.

The screen, as noted, is plenty large enough at 4.3 inches and has a resolution of 480 x 800 which isn't actually that high by modern standards but colours are still vibrant and images crisp. There can be very little complaint there.

Now, when it comes to Android, there's a little bit of an issue there. When it came out it had Gingerbread but was supposed to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich in the very near future. It is now several months later and still no upgrade. Well, to be fair the upgrade has been released, but only in Italy and Germany. So for the moment it's only Gingerbread, which works well enough. With Ice Cream Sandwich though it is going to run even more sumptuously.

The camera is pretty standard, capturing 8 megapixels. It also records video at 1080p so you will get excellent HD videos.

Find the full specs on the LG website.

Summary

If you're a Prada aficionado and you're looking for a phone that won't clash with your wardrobe, then you won't be disappointed with this phone, and we can recommend that you check out the best LG Prada Phone by LG 3.0 monthly contract deals. On the other hand if you're looking to get the best performing phone for your money, then it might be better to check out iPhone deals or the high end Androids (such as the Samsung Galaxy S II)

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Battle of the Touchscreens: LG Viewty Snap GM360 V Samsung Monte

Back in 2010, LG and Samsung each brought out a touchscreen phone directed towards the youth market. These were not Android phones but they did come with their own custom widgets which allowed the user to access sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The question is though, which one is better? The LG Viewty Snap GM360 or the Samsung Monte?

LG Viewty Snap GM360

LG Viewty Snap GM360

The best feature of this phone is its camera. If you are looking to decide between these two phones and the most important thing to you is the camera then you should go for the LG Viewty Snap. It has a 5 mega pixel camera (which is still good in 2012) and various controls for it, such as autofocus and white balance. Plus you've got a single flash for dark or night scenes. On the other hand, the Samsung Monte camera is not too shabby itself at 3.2 Mega Pixels, but it doesn't have quite the same quality or the amount of control.

However most people are going to be interested in more than just the camera. And the social networking features are good too, as is the music player. The sound quality is good, and the headphones that are supplied are effective too. So, for a youth-oriented phone, it seems to be hitting all of the bases, right?

Well, not quite because it's missing a couple of pretty essential things these days. The user-interface isn't great, it would take some time to get used to, but that is forgiveable in the final assessment. What is not going to be forgiveable for a lot of people is the fact that there is no GPS, wi-fi or 3G capability on this phone. So you have to be content with the slow, 2G Edge connection.

Other than that, it's got a nice design, it's easy to hold in your palm, it has good crisp call quality and it's inexpensive.Check out the full specs on the LG website.

But let's see if the Samsung Monte can improve on any of that.

Samsung Monte S5620

Samsung Monte

In this review we're considering the Samsung Monte S5620 (full specs from Samsung here) and Samsung Monte Slider E2250 (full specs from Samsung here) together because they are very similar fundamentally. Which one you prefer will come down to whether you prefer a sliding phone or not.

So, how does it compare to the LG Viewty Snap? Well, we've already noted that the camera is not quite as good. Other than that though, the Samsung Monte wins in just about every area. The user interface is easier and more intuitive, it has a wider array of widgets to choose from and you can download more from Samsung (although they are a little large, cluttering the screen), it has a nice slender design and it is sensitive to the touch.

Samsung Monte E2550

If these were the only things that we were considering then it would be pretty even though, and the LG Viewty Snap might beat the Samsung Monte on the basis of the superior camera. If the camera is what is most important to you, then perhaps it does.

However the Samsung Monte has fully functional wi-fi, 3G and GPS making it far superior for web-based applications. Which of course is pretty important when it comes to things like Twitter and Facebook so it's pretty crucial for a social-networking phone.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a cheap touchscreen phone and getting good pictures is the most important thing for you then definitely check out LG Viewty Snap GM360 deals (or LG Viewty Snap GM360 purple or LG Viewty Snap GM360 pink). However if you're more interested in the social-networking side and want to have fast internet access then it's got to be either the Samsung Monte S5620 or Samsung Monte SliderE2550 contract deals.

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