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also known as LG VX8560
LG Chocolate 3 ReviewsLG Chocolate 3 Reviews
24 Jul 2008
LG Chocolate 3 Review
For the past two years, summer has meant a new Chocolate phone coming out for Verizon Wireless. This year is no exception, with the introduction of the Chocolate 3. Unlike the previous two versions which were sliders, the new model is a clamshell style, but is still is targeted as a music-centric device. It is currently available in both Black and Light Blue color versions, with more choices expected in the upcoming months...
- Excellent
- out of 10
1.
31 Oct 2008 by Anonymous
73.3%7.3out of 10
I am on my second LG Chocolate 3 and will be taking it back tonight. Haven't decided what to try instead. I was very upset that I had to leave Nokia phones behind when I came to Verizon (the 6205 for Verizon got very bad reviews, the phone doesn't play nice with the Verizon software and it is rumored that it wasn't even made by Nokia, so it is not an option). I was especially upset when I found out that Verizon puts their own software on ALL of there phones. So no more Nokia OS!! BOOO Verizon!!!
Anyway...I was looking forward to being able to use the phone calendar and having the ability to change the themes (choice of only four colors) and I had heard the battery life was excellent and the call quality was great. What a Disappointment!!! The first phone's battery didn't even last eight hours and the call quality sucked! Add to that, the software had major glitches. The phone never died on me but it still had major issues.
This second phone has improved software, or so it seems for now, and the battery life lasts about a day if I don't talk on it much. But the call quality still sucks!! It is improved over the first phone, but many people have told me that they can't hear me and I definately can't catch all of their words. This will never do!!! I am so disappointed in the choices of the other verizon phones and upset that I may leave Verizon altogether...because right now it isn't the "BEST" wireless service you can get for the money!!!
1. NOT a fingerprint magnet like the black one.
2. Comfortable in the hand
3. Has newer version of Verizon software
4. Can use up to an 8GB memory card
5. Speaker and ring volume are loud (though distorted)1. Call quality SUCKS!!
2. Battery life
3. Limited personalization
4. Speaker distorts on loud volume
5. Microphone is on inside bottom flap, but speaker is on outside of top flap. If you want to use the speakerphone, you have to talk into the microphone and then turn the phone over to the back side of the top flap to hear the other person.
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2. Bad call quality
23 Sep 2008 by claun
66.7%6.7out of 10
It seems like I'm in the minority here but I had this phone for a few weeks before I returned it. I had several of my friends/family say they could not understand me over the phone and I had a few times where the person on the other end sounded garbled (sounded like an electronics issue, not in the same way as it does with a bad connection). Maybe I just got a bad phone but I returned it and have since gone back to my old phone (LG VX8300) and it's even more noticeable how calls sounded more muffled on the Chocolate 3.
My other complaint is that the front screen had several scratches after just carrying it around in my pocket for a few weeks. I may not handle my phones with kid gloves but it seemed to get scratched way too easily.
I'm still eligible for my "new every two" phone but I'm not sure what I'll try next.
Features
Overall look and feel of the phoneCall quality
Easily scratched
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3. Decent phone with a few minor issues
13 Sep 2008 by Kyle
80%8out of 10
Overall I like the new Chocolate. My Chocolate never switches off as I have heard other people say. There are a few other issues though, most of them minor but annoying none the less. For whatever reason, this phone has no reminder beep or vibrate if you miss a call. (If you get a voice mail or text message the phone will beep/vibrate every couple of minutes.) Also the vibrator on this phone is fairly weak. I put my phone in the pocket of my jeans usually, and if I am walking I don't feel the vibration.
The option to use the front screen for music, pics, texts etc is nice, but I rarely use it do to the fact that the turn wheel is too sensitive, and also you must unlock the keys. I understand the necessity of locking the keys, but you have to press a small button on the side (even if you get a new text), and its ultimately easier to just open the phone.
My final complaint is that the phone runs slow. When you get a call and open the phone, its easy to start talking before the phone clicks on. Also the music takes a few seconds to load.
Other than that I love the phone. The camera is decent, battery usually lasts me 3 days or so, and of course it has a GB of memory. It also has the regular size of jack for headphones. Not the best phone, but pretty good.
Looks
GB of memory
BatteryRuns a little slow
Not well thought out, as has been said
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4. OK phone, but with flaws (compare to VX8550)
11 Sep 2008 by SteveM
93.3%9.3out of 10
I got the new Chocolate 3 (8560), but my wife got previous generation Chocolate (8550). I am struggling to find the reason why I paid $100 for it (after rebates) and my wife got hers free after rebates. The only difference is 8560 is a flip and 8550 is a slide. Comparing the two yielded few advantages.
Sound quality and reception of 8260 is excellent. It feels solid and the keys have a good feel. They are large and easy to press. The wheel is relatively easy to operate. The previous generation Chocolate also has excellent sound and reception, but the keys are smaller and the wheel is a pain to use. Advantage: 8560
I got this phone mostly with an idea that I can use it with Bluetooth via my car's system and also be able to play MP3s. The 8560 pairs with my car fine, but has a flaw - it would not sync up the phone book. Interestingly enough the 8550 does sync up the phone book without any problems. Why did LG mess with the good system? The old Chocolate also sounds a little better via my cars Bluetooth. Advantage: 8550
Main idea was to be able to play MP3s through car's audio (my car has auxiliary jack). The MP3s do play fine, but the moment you plug anything in the output jack, your Bluetooth turns off automatically. This is the major flaw and should have been able to have a setting override. Basically now I have to choose if I want to listen to MP3s from my phone or have the phone connected via Bluetooth to my car and be able to receive and make phone calls. Tech support was of no help. The old Chocolate also has this major flaw. Advantage: neither phone - both are not well thought. So if you are planning to use your phone as MP3s player in your car, you should be prepared to lose Bluetooth functionality.
I am kind of disappointed due to that, but I realize that many people won't care for it. Most folks buy phones only because they look good anyway.
Looks
Reception
Sound qualityNot well thought out functionality
Crippled Bluetooth
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5. Great device
9 Sep 2008 by LG Fan
100%10out of 10
this device is just like the lg-vx8600 with some great updates. the fm transmitter is awesome. nothing like the other chocolates. camera is good. menue is new and cool. plays music and still can use the phone with out stoping.
size. color. design. featuresbattery life needs longer life
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6. Extremely Disappointing
3 Sep 2008 by Wyattyouknow
46.7%4.7out of 10
Since August 7, I have owned two new chocolate 3s one black one blue both with version 4 firmware and they both have had the same four identical issues.
1) During a call the phone will restart, soft reboot, power cycle; by this I mean the phone will actually power down to the black screen with the Verizon trademark logo and then power back up, of course dropping the call. This can happen within 30 seconds of the call being connected or it may happen 20 minutes into the call. It has happened while on the go or stationary, in town or out of town, it may not happen for two days then can happen for three calls back to back. So far I have been unable to find the cause or trigger for this and is happening now usually 3 to 4 times a day. BTW I previously had two LG VX8700 phones that did this exact same thing in addition they would power cycle during an email, text or instant message and sometimes during a V Cast session.
2) Usually two to three times a day the key pad tones will stop working even though the volume level for the key pad tone is set at the maximum setting. Powering the phone off and back on will restore the tones for several hours.
3) When using the VZ Navigator the key pad tones become muted and will not function till exiting VZ Navigator.
4) About 20% of the time the phone will display �This cable is not recommended for this phone� when plugging in the supplied AC charger. This message has never been displayed when using the cable plugged into a USB port or using an automotive charger.
I use my phone more as a phone than anything else, typically 3000+ minutes a month on the nationwide premium plan, email and text messages. No ring tones, music or third party software downloaded and all pictures are stored on a 1G or 2G SD card. Verizon's cure so far is to keep throwing phones at the problem rather than to try and diagnose the actual cause. LG does not have any customer service worth mentioning.
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7.
30 Aug 2008 by Anonymous
86.7%8.7out of 10
This phone is awsome! the sound quality is crystal clear even when you are using the FM transmitter. I have used other external FM transmitters for ipod's and phone's, and this one was by far the best! The features are perfect for people that love to have tons of different options: like the videos, music, email...etc.
Oh, and to the fool that said "THIS PHONE IS HUGE, it reminds me of how the old phones used to look..." Ok...the phone that you had previously (LG 8300) is a nice phone, however in total size its BIGGER than the chocolate! So you must be saying that the Razr's are huge, the w755's are huge, and the v750....Obviously you just have no clue about phones and and didn't like this phone because there was too much on it for you...but other people like having those features alot, if you don't need them then stick to your...tiny...LG 8300..
Great sound quality
Fm Transmitter works amazing!
Dashboard launched with it as well,
the overall quality of the phone is great!I wish it would come in more colors..
Its not as durable as i would like it to be
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8. 99% love it...
29 Aug 2008 by m
93.3%9.3out of 10
I've had this phone since DAY ONE and love it. I only have two MINOR issues with it....The lock button on the side should be able to be disabled. Everytime you close the phone, it locks. I would like to be able to unlock it when I know I'm going to be using the phone for a period of time. AND when I add items into the calendar, it automatically defaults to ABC mode (instead of Word) with no way to change that. Kinda ANNOYING when you are in mentally in WORD mode for everything else and then have to switch.
The sound quality is excellent. I've never had an issue with that at all.
Pictures great. Music mulittasking feature great.
OVERALL EXCELLENT PHONE!
Good screen size
excellent sound
solid phone
good music multitasking abilitylock button
calendar entry choices
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9. Good Phone!
16 Aug 2008 by com34x
100%10out of 10
This is a good phone! The front is actually a blue/black color. The FM Transmitter works pretty good. If you want to see the FM transmitter working go onto Youtube. I posted a quick video of me using it in the car.
I havn't had any problems with this phone one bit.
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10. Okay Phone
6 Aug 2008 by Christina
50%5out of 10
I had this phone for about a month. I'm a heavy user and the keypad got hot after only 20 minutes of use. The sound quality is not that great, I can hear my echo. It's a good size phone, larger than I thought. It has great features but, is not a phone for a heavy user. I switched back to the second generation Chocolate VX8550 and I'm very happy with that phone.
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Average User Rating
Based on 18 opinions