Reviews icon LG Secret Review

LG Secret Review

Published on: 20 June, 2008 by PhoneArena Team

Performance:
Click to see a large image.

No matter how many functions a phone has, it has to be adequate when used and to offer good sound quality during a talk. First off, this is not so with Secret. Although not a smartphone the phone is sluggish (typical for the smart devices) and you’ll often have to wait when opening the menus. The delay is even longer if you open the multimedia menus (picture, video, audio). Combined with the slow reaction time of the touch buttons, operating the phone is not fast at all and this helps its grade take a big hit.

At least we were happy with the sound quality when talking, which although not excellent is satisfactory. The biggest remark we have to make concerns the incoming sound, which is weak. However, the voices are heard relatively clear even though muffled. On the other end of the line, the sound is very loud, good quality and with the voices clear, but sharp.

According to LG, the battery should provide almost 4 hours of talk-time, which is definitely not a record, but is OK for such a phone. When not heavily used, it lasted 3 days, but if you use it regularly, you’ll probably have to recharge it on the second day at the most.


Conclusion:

Since Secret performs average in all aspects and is very uncomfortable to use, because of the capacitive buttons and the slow software, it is far from being our favorite. As a phone, which is supposed to attract attention with its appearance, we give a low grade to the Korean designers. We hope that next time they will avoid combining materials that do not go together. In theory, all its key characteristics sound good, but the reality is different. Even the touch sensitive display is pointless with this software. The only thing Secret does well is recording and visualizing video files, but having in mind all the other drawbacks, we don’t think those features can save its reputation.

Pros

  • Scratchproof glass on the front
  • Capability of reproducing quality videos

Cons

  • Problematic navigational keys
  • Sluggish and old-fashioned software

PAppeal

Christian Dior:
1 of 10
Very low

Such combination of materials can attract the eyes of the average Joe, but for you it is disgusting.

Average Joe:
10 of 10
Very high

The phone targets the fashion wannabes with materials such as “leather” and carbon fiber.

Corporate US:
1 of 10
Very low

This is not a business phone

High-Tech junkie
1 of 10
Very low

The video player is the only attractive feature.

expand ratings

PA phone rating

  • Design 6.5
    • Keyboard 5
    • Build Quality 8
    • Look 6.5
  • Display 7
    • Quality 6
    • Resolution 8
    • Size 7
  • Camera 6.5
    • Resolution 7
    • Quality 6
    • Features, Comfort 7
  • Sound Quality 6.5
    • Incoming 6.5
    • Outgoing 8.5
    • Ringing 5
  • Battery 7
    • Talk time 6
    • Stand-by time 8
  • Connectivity 6.5
    • Local 5
    • Internet 7
    • Data 8
  • Multimedia 6
    • Interface Comfort, Options 6
    • Quality 5
    • Supported formats 8
    • Connectors (3.5/A2DP) 6
  • Organizer 7
    • PIM 8
    • Phonebook 7.5
    • Messaging 5
Average
5
out of 10
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Comments icon User comments

User comments

Show only comments with rating Display mode
-1
1.
hmm...sounds a bit biased review since all the other media has reviewed this phone pretty highly..gsmarena for example..
Something against LG maybe...I'll see soon enough.
-1
2.
that's exactly what i was thinking while i was reading this review
every other phone site has put this phone up in a pedestal, which trully doesnt surprise me, this phone rocks!

and what about the average rating? 5 out of 10??
please, get a life and don't review phone if you guys are mad or didnt have a good day...

oh, and please saying that 2.4 inches display is not good...haha, samsung soul is bigger and still has a 2.2 inches, thats just plain shameless
Reply to this comment
0
3.
I'm not saying that the reviewer is biased...it just sounded like that.
The phone is just released here in Finland, and I haven't had a chance to test it out yet, so I can't judge yet.
The phone can totally suck as the reviewer is implying, but by reading other reviews I got the impression that this phone could be quite good.
- The interface seems a bit slow to response (what I've seen from the video reviews)
- But the materials seems really good and the phone looks really good
The reviewer is complaining about everything, but doesn't give any real reason for his opinions. It's not enough to say that this sucks and this aswell..
Obviously he didn't like the phone..ok...
but he should give the phone some credit at some extent..the camera is good, at least all the pics I've seen.
Of course it doesn't take good pics in low light conditions, since there is no Xenon, but did Samsung Soul have that? no...
But still supprisingly it's not that big of a deal anymore...

But yet again...I might be wrong and this phone really is that bad, but I doubt it...
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #2 ( Show )
Reply to anonymous Hide 2 replies to this comment
0
4.
To tel you the truth, in my opinion this review is a terrible, biased opinion. I'm pretty sure LG would know more than you guys at PhoneArena at what kind of phones are targeted at the fashin crowd, especially since this phone is part of the Black Label series. There are so many things you underlook, such as Touch Media. Also really don't understand the under appreciation for the camera, this is a fashion phone yet has one of the highest quality cameras. May it's something against LG, I don't know (I'm expecting a Viewty reference). This single review has changed my whole outlook on PA, and this site will never have my trust ever again.
Reply to this comment
-1
5.
I think maybe phone arena requested a review unit to LG but LG refused, and phone arena was offended, and decided to use someone's secret phone to make up a review that bashes the phone. Look at the vodafone branding on the phone, this unit is not from LG. manufacturers refuse to provide you review units because you write such biased reviews like this, and such reviews are not welcomed by neither readers nor the manufacturers! come on phone arena!
0
6.
i agree 100%
Reply to this comment
Reply to anonymous Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
16.
What is with all this companies coming out with slider phones? Haven't they figured out that this design is full of flaws? Look at the Chocolate phones from Verizon as well as the Venus. I heard the shine has a truck load of issues too. Ive been in the cell phone industry for years and ive seen tons of slider phones come out, all of which have flopped big time......
0
20.
Well, LG is probably very comfortable making this form factor. After all, it is what made them in the top 5 cell phone manufacturers.
Reply to this comment
Reply to Ben Dover Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
17.
what i cannot understand is that they rate average 5 out of 10, when none of any parts are below 6..how on earth can that be? any reason?
0
21.
It explains some in the LG Vu review.
Reply to this comment
Reply to metoo Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
18.
Hello to all,

We've deleted nothing but the flood comments made from one person.

Our LG Secret review is based on a final sample unit provided by LG.

We are proud that our reviews are not biased, unlike many others, which don't show the negative sides of the phones.

About the rating: as it is explained in the review, the Secret does most things just 'average'. This is not enough for its high price tag and when we add its very slow menu, unresponsive keys, unusable in direct sunlight display and so-so design we give it 5/10 total.

P.S. We appreciate your comments and respect your opinion.


Regards,
PhoneArena Team
-1
19.
I respect your opinion, but I'm not 100% convinced that your review is not affected by something that has nothing to do about the phone itself. Is it something to do with your relationship with LG, biased to some other manufacturer or just simply the reviewer had a bad day when writing the review...I don't know and that's not the point.

I just can't understand certain parts of the review:
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. The critisism toward the design/materials used on the phone. The phone looks great, feels a lot more solid than for example it's direct competitor Samsung Soul...so from my point of view the the materials are not incompatible at all. And if you think the phone is "ugly" it's still a matter of opinion and shouldn't really affect on the review (Did you lower the score of Nokia N95 because it's shit ugly?..I don't think so..It's a great phone, ugly or not)

2. 2,4" screen is not small...it's relatively standard to big enough size..you haven't been complaining about that with your other reviews I've read. I understand the critizism toward the direct sunlight readability, tho..

3. The camera, what I've seen so far, is as good if not better than in Soul, N95 or SE K850. Only N82 is clearly better. And it's obvious that it doesn't take good photos in low light conditions. And considering the relatively good video capabilities it should be on the top with N95 and N82. This is based only on the pics I've seen and they look really good (only the small details are not so clear, but that's irrelevant for most people, when the colors and overal image looks great).

4. The menus look good enough (and this phone is clearly not made for 10-15 year old kids) so it's not big of a deal if you can't download new themes. So I don't understand the constant nagging about the not so fancy menu design...

5. This phone is mainly used with the normal navigation method and you don't ever have to use the touch media side of the phone if you don't like it. So everything that LG offers through touch media should be considered a plus. Even if you think it's sluggish and the menus are even uglier it shouldn't be considered a minus to the phone's review. I think the touch media looks good and fun to play with a bit, but if I would have wanted a full touchscreen phone, I wouldn't be looking at LG Secret at all...

6. Considering your points, the average should be around 6,5/10, not 5/10...Why this?

All in all, I can't understand your review, if it's truly made honestly...I think the phone deserves at least 7-8 and maybe even 9, if I find the menus more responsive than it seems now.
Reply to this comment
0
22.
1. Yeah, usually a complaint about fashion phones (or phone in general) is that they scratch or break too easily, yet this phone uses highly durable materials. Also, the phone indeed looks great.

2. A 2.4" screen on a highly minuscule body has never been a complaint until now. The Soul, U700, G600 even Shine and others have larger bodies, yet smaller screens. Also the sunlight readability has never brought down the score to a 5 before, as I remember.

3. Image noise highly brings down image quality, yet the only thing that puts it below other cameras is detail, yet you claim the camera quality is low. How is that? And the point about low light situations, most if not all phones these days have poor images quality in the dark.

4. Really don't get the point about the ugly menus. At the same time you question the fact that is doesn't have a full-touchscreen, yet you also complain about how when using the touchscreen the controls get ugly. Doesn't really make much sense. Also, the fact that it doesn't have downloadable themes isn't a big deal, so many other phones can't do that, even the ones with high marks. Also you complain about how the materials don't match, well the menu matches do how is that bad?

5. Touchscreen is not the base of the phone, it's not why you would buy it. Navigation is normal and many other phones also have touch-sensitive keys, many of whidch don't have animated controls or haptic feedback. Touch media is also optional, and like games, is for fun.

6. PhoneArena doesn't score the phone as an average, they give it a reviewer's final score judgement sort of thing.

Also the acceleromter doesn't get mentioned much even tough it is highly praised such as in the iPhone? Agoing, it is just an extra and it is an optional use and again, shouldn't bring down the score. The End.

Thank you.

Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #19 ( Show )
0
25.
Your review totally sucks. It's biased and the rating is illogic, especially at the PAppeal.
Reply to this comment
Reply to PhoneArena Team Hide 3 replies to this comment
0
23.
I cannot agree or disagree with phone arena's opinion on performance of the phone because I've never used one, but it's really hard to agree with the design part. I think at least 90 out of 100 people will say the phone looks very nice and fashionable.
Reply to this comment
0
24.
LG uses celebrities to advertise their phones, just like many other phone companies. This has already been done with the LG Secret, so I don't get what you're saying about the Christian Dior PAppeal....
Reply to this comment
0
26.
this is such a biased review.... Its obvious the reviewer has a score to settle.. However if its his/her opinion then he knows nothing about stylish fashion phones..
Reply to this comment
0
27.
Guys im using LG Secret for over a week now. The phone rocks! Its pretty, syncs with my pc with ease, menus are working just fine. Camera is much more better than i need. I dont know why the review in Phone Arena is so "away" than my experience. In comparison with Samsung U900 is way better but Phone Arena doesnt come close to this opinion.Administrators of Phone Arena : This review is ugly and makes you look ugly too. PLEASE make another review of the LG Secret. Ask another guy to review the device and post it again. Do that if you want ppl to still read your reviews
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