Reviews icon LG Voyager Review

LG Voyager Review

Large touch screen on the front, QWERTY inside

Large touch screen on the front, QWERTY inside

Published on: 22 November, 2007 by PhoneArena Team

Performance:

Click to see a large image.
Regardless of how nice a phone looks, or how many features are packed into it, the most important thing to consider is the Reception and Call Quality. During out tests, we had excellent reception, not only while we were in good coverage areas, but also when traveling into fringe areas where no signal bars were shown on Voyager’s display. This makes the Voyager equal in reception to the enV and Maxx Ve. However, the call quality is a mixed bag. There are 8 volume levels for the earpiece speaker, but going above level 5 can start to cause distortion to be heard. Level 8 is the worst, since there is a lot of distortion, and the speaker sounds like it is rattling around from the volume being too high, but keeping it at level 5 or lower eliminates this problem. The same is true when using the speakerphone; if it’s too loud it will cause distortion. Also, during calls we could hear a slight “hiss” sound in the background, almost like “white noise”. We have noticed this on other phones, such as the Blackberry Pearl. The “hiss” isn’t very pronounced, and as long as we kept the volume down around medium the voice quality itself was adequate and equal to that of the enV. We called several people on a landline using the Voyager, enV, and V9m. Everyone that we spoke to while we were on the Voyager and enV said our voice sounded identical, that it was somewhat hollow sounding; almost like we were using a hands-free speakerphone. Once we switched over and used the V9m, everyone could tell a difference and said the voice quality on their end sounded clearer and more natural. It is unfortunate that the Voyager’s voice quality is still equal to that of the enV, which is a step below the V9m, but it is still better than other phones, such as the Juke.

The included 950mAh battery is rated at 4 hours of talk time or 20 days of standby time on a full charge. Our tests revealed a more realistic 3.5 hours of talk time or 4 days of standby time. Charging time is 3 hours.


Conclusion:

Overall we are quite pleased with the new Voyager, and it shows a step in the right direction. It combines almost every feature you could want integrated into one device. The external touch screen can be tricky to use some times, however after a while it becomes easier. The web browser correctly renders and displays HTML site properly, but is not compatible with any type of plug-in, and is easier to navigate with a stylus than your finger. The microSD slot can accept an 8GB card, which is equivalent to the iPhone’s internal memory, and can be used for storing music, pictures, and videos. Images taken with the 2MP Autofocus camera are equal to that of the enV, though not quite as good as the Maxx Ve. Music Playback sounds good with the built in stereo speakers, as long as the phone is flipped open, or you are using a Bluetooth stereo headset. V Cast Video and Mobile TV are best used as a time consuming distraction, since their content is limited, and the TV service only available in a handful of areas. Reception and call quality are both equal to that of the enV, but is somewhat less than the V9m. The only problem we encountered here was if we raised the speaker volume to the highest level that it would cause distortion to be heard during a call.

The Voyager is truly for the consumer that is looking for the ultimate showstopper without making the leap to a smartphone. Some people have referred to the Voyager as the “iPhone killer”, but we don’t believe that’s the case. Even though it is quality device, it is lacking the caché that surrounds the iPhone. We doubt that many iPhone users will leave that behind for the Voyager, but it will keep current Verizon customers from looking around.

Pros

  • Large 2.81” internal and external displays
  • Front display is touch-sensitive with interactive user interface
  • HTML browser
  • QWERTY keyboard
  • Can use 8GB microSDHC cards
  • Mobile TV service

Cons

  • A few bugs when using the touch-screen
  • Distortion in earpiece at high volumes
  • Limited Email functionality
  • Stereo speakers face the inside when closed
  • No Flash for the camera, and the image quality is lower than the Maxx Ve

PAppeal

Christian Dior:
1 of 10
Very low

Despite the numerous features, the design is dull and not as attractive as the iPhone or Razr2.

Average Joe:
4 of 10
Low

The average consumer in the market for a basic phone will probably consider the Voyager to be over the top. However, some may be purchase it, due to the many features that are integrated into one device.

Corporate US:
1 of 10
Very low

The Voyager is not a smartphone and lacks an advanced E-Mail program.

High-Tech junkie
9 of 10
Very high

The Voyager is as high-tech as you can get, without going to the iPhone or a smartphone.

expand ratings

PA phone rating

  • Design 8.5
    • Keyboard 10
    • Build Quality 8.5
    • Look 7
  • Display 9
    • Additional Display 10
    • Quality 7.5
    • Resolution 10
    • Size 10
  • Camera 7
    • Resolution 7
    • Quality 6
    • Features, Comfort 7
  • Sound Quality 7
    • Incoming 7.5
    • Outgoing 7.5
    • Ringing 6
    • Signal Reception 8
  • Battery 6
    • Talk time 5
    • Stand-by time 6
  • Connectivity 7
    • Local 6
    • Internet 7.5
    • Data 7
  • Multimedia 7
    • Interface Comfort, Options 7
    • Quality 7
    • Supported formats 6
    • Connectors (3.5/A2DP) 7.5
  • Organizer 7
    • PIM 6
    • Phonebook 8
    • Messaging 7
Good
8
out of 10
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Model Carrier Price Today Price after rebate
LG Voyager VX10000
 $199.99 $199.99 Buy
 
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User comments

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0 Spam Report
1.
For me the the biggest conns are:

The speakerphone only works with the phone flipped open and is disabled when the phone is closed. This is not mentioned anywhere in the review and it really should be unless your audience is only LG afficionados or enV users.

Or am I wrong? Is there a way to use the speakerphone with the phone closed?

I was very disappointed with the volume and qaulity of the speakerphone.

Your review mentions that the speakerphone sounds better at a lower volume and I did not try that... because I found it almost impossible to adjust the volume of the speakerphone. The only controls I could find are on the side and they are almost unreachable when the phone is open.

Am I missing something?

How do you adjust the volume of the speakerphone while in a call? Did I miss an accessible volume control when the Voyager is open?

Given that at max volume the phone is fairly soft compared to the competition, I'm not sure lowering the volume is an option but I do want to try it at the lower volume when I check it out again tomorow.

Also I could not figure out how to listen to music while doing something else such as texting. I believe that feature is available on less featureful phones such as the venus/chocalate. This fact is burried in the 9 pages of the review but I believe it deserves a "CON" as it's a big disappointment not to include such basic functionality in this flagship phone.

You cover the touchpad and says using it gets better. I sure hope it does because at first touch it is simply horrible. The best way to explain it is that it feels like the screen is not touch sensitive but that something behind the screen is. It feels like you have to push through the screen (which squishes) to get to the touch pad.

Thanks for the extensive review. I really wanted to like the voyager but my first impression of the things that count (touch screen, speakerphone, usability, speed etc) was a big blech. I'm honestly suprised of the almost universal love given to the voyager in the initial cnet and phonearena reviews.

Given the buzz and the cost I expected the phone to wow me at first touch. Perhaps I need to spend more time with the device to appreciate it.
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2.
Error in article
The Mobile E-mail program does automatically check for new messages, and alert you when you have received them, with no interaction required. The article incorrectly states that you must manually check for messages. The update is not instantaneous, but usually reports new messages within 5 minutes of receipt.
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3.
Outlook Calendar Sync
Will there ever be a MightyPhone like app for this phone?

It's a great phone, but there is no mention of any syncing capabilities with Microsoft Outlook.
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4.
wireless sync
This phone does have wireless sync available as well for 19.99 a month. You can use the pc monitor option to be able to sync your outlook with this phone-the only downfall to that would be that the computer you want it to sync with would have to be on to get the updates.
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5.
Voyager
I'm a Verizon employee and as far as the scrolling i have had that issue. but as far as the youtube mobile website i've seen the whole chocolate rain video (which btw is hilarious). Going back to the touch screen though. Using a stylus is def better then using you finger. I've tried both and the stylus def worked way better! The Mobile email i can't say much about becuase i use the 8830 world edition for that. So theres no comparison to Blackberries in that aspect. But yea i find it to be an overall good phone.
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6.
Voyager
i love my voyager! im obsessed with the mobile tv function, i would agree that the speaker phone option should be available while the phone is closed but other than that I haven't had problems with this phone at all, I wish they came out with this sooner
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7.
nice
as an employee in a store they furnish us with a phone that the employees can mess with. i got it for about 4 days and was very happy and impressed with it. the touch screen responsiveness does leave something to be desired (ie scrolling) but overall is great. this is an env on steroids(if tested has a better chance of passing than barry bonds or roger clemens) as an employee i still cannot order this phone which sucks. we knos nothing in advance of more than a month of launch but there is a samsung that looks like it may be their answer to the voyager for us which i like more
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8.
YouTube on Voyager
YouTube has a mobile verison of the site that can found at m.youtube.com. Videos can be played on the Voyager from this site.
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9.
Horrible
I have worked for Verizon for 9 years now and have had over 100 differant phones in the last few years. My oppinion on the Voyager isnt a very good one. I went through 4 of them in less than a month. Main problem being the touch screen shorting out. I would not recommend this phone to anyone. Hopefully the 9700 and U940 coming soon will be better phones and have the bugs worked out!
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14.
I am getting a new phone soon and I was thinking about getting the voyager and I want to know what
the problems are exactly.
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10.
FanF'nTastic
I love this phone. I have 3 different emails forwarded to this phone and regularly check facebook. I am a fulltime student and vzw employee and I utilize almost every function of this phone and have not been let down yet. The only problem is the sounds quality when a full volume. But who cares, Im over it. I also bought this phone for my mother. She is typically computer illiterate, but she cannot get enough of the html optimized browser, song ID, and VZ Nav. this phone is unstoppable! also, txting compared to the iPhone, o wow, there is no contest, the Voyager spanks it. I would honestly recommend this phone to all. =)
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11.
Volume
I recently purchased the voyager as an upgrage from the palm treo, I have to say what a big mistake. The volume not audible when the case is closed so 90% of the time I miss my calls. Also when you listening to the music that's all you can do you cannot access any other features on the phone.
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12.
yeah, it sucks
the thing VZW has enjoyed deceiving people about is that the voyager is at all a competitor with the iPhone. And what is supposed to make it comparable? Because it has a touch screen. I'm sorry, but the sole impressive feature of the iPhone is not that it has a touch screen. The Voyager is a phone, not a smart phone, or a PDA, or any of the other devices that actually should be compared to the iPhone (or that the iPhone should be compared to) I work for VZW and I like the network, but it seems pretty obvious that people are mostly right about VZW's phone selection. I personally own an enV and (shhhh!) an iPod Touch. The Voyager is trash. Oh, and so is the xv6900.
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13.
I am considering the Voyager when I am due for an upgrade this Summer. I heard when the Voyager
first came out that you could not use the music player and receive calls at the same time. Is that
still true? What happens if you are listening to music and then receive a call? Thanks!
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  Total: 14 posts

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