LG Optimus One Review
The LG Optimus One is yet another low-end Android device released by LG. For a budget phone the Optimus One is actually quite aesthetically pleasing. Sure, the front facia is just a standard black plastic, but on the sides and back it’s a different story. The snap-on back plate has a rubbery feel that greatly adds to comfort and grip when holding the phone. The sides, on the other hand, sport an attractive metal strip that encompasses the device. We’re big fans of manufacturers making budget phones look mid-range and the Optimus One is a great example of this.
The Device comes with Froyo (Android v2.2) pre-loaded. That’s a huge bonus for us Aussies as it can be a nightmare upgrading from 2.1 to 2.2 down-under. Froyo makes for faster web-browsing, wireless syncing with your computer and, most of all, moderate Flash support.
The 320x480 HVGA screen actually looks pretty good. Colours are bright, lines clear and movement doesn’t seem to be an issue. Web browsing also works seamlessly as well, despite the 600MHz processor.
At 3.15MP the camera does feel a little tacked-on. You won’t be taking many action shots with this low-res shooter but at least Optimus One owners will still be able to take photos of funny signs or number plates and MMS them to their friends. That’s really all we use our phone cameras for anyway.
The LG Optimus One does come with a measly on-board storage allowance of just 170MB. But what can you expect from a low-end phone? There’s expandable memory, of course, in the form of a MicroSD slot. So you’re not totally lost if you want to use this phone as a multimedia device.
All up the Optimus One won’t wow you. What it will do is provide you with a well-designed, friendly and cheap smartphone. If you’re in the market for a lower-end device definitely give the Optimus One a look-over. Don’t forget, having an Android phone means access to Android’s lovely app store. Just because you’re buying a cheaper device doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy all of the helpful and wacky apps that the rest of us do. So keep that in mind when comparing.