LG enV3 VX9200 Review

Software / Features:

There has been very little software changes from the enV2, and the internal Main Menu is still categorized into my ringtones, messaging, recent calls, contacts, media center, email, VZ Navigator, mobile IM, and settings & tools.  The external Menu can access the contacts, messaging, recent calls, my pictures, my music, Bluetooth, and key guard.  Four themes are included for the internal display: Slick Black, White, Blue Sky, and Spotlight (with the Slate Blue model) or Wine (with the Maroon Model); with two themes for the external display: Sapphire and Snow.  You can change their layout on the internal screen between tab, list, and grid view, as well as replace certain menu items and change their locations on the grid.  What we find peculiar is that the LG enV3 VX9200 actually has more themes and menu customizations than the higher-end enV Touch.



The phonebook is almost identical to the one used by the enV2, allowing up to 1000 contacts to be stored with their name, 5 numbers, 2 email addresses, picture and ringtone, but it now allows you to enter a person’s street address.  After a contact is saved, you can assign them to one of 999 speed-dial locations.



As with most phones today, the LG enV3 VX9200 can send and receive text, picture, and video messages.  Composing a text message is pretty straightforward and can be done using T9 predictive entry with the front dial pad, or by using the internal QWERTY keyboard.  When you receive a message you can view it on either screen and can reply to it directly just by typing on the QWERTY keyboard, without having to select “reply”.  Other messaging options include Mobile Email, which will allow you to send and receive email through your standard POP or IMAP accounts, and Mobile IM for connecting to people in you AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo buddy lists.

The LG enV3 VX9200 comes with an HTML browser, similar to the one found on the enV Touch, except this one can only be used on the internal display.  Because of this, you have to use the d-pad for zooming in and out, panning around pages and selecting links, which isn’t as simple as using the touchscreen interface on the enV Touch.  Also, due to the enV3’s smaller screen, it makes viewing pages more difficult.  Since it only comes with EVDO Rev 0, large sites will take 15-25 seconds longer to load than the enV Touch with Rev A.  Flash is also not supported, so you can’t view embedded YouTube videos in web pages, but can watch videos directly on the m.youtube.com mobile site.  Since the browsing experience on the enV3 isn’t that impressive, we’d rather it was still limited to WAP instead of being HTML.  That way people with the original enV or enV2 could keep their older calling plans and not be forced to change to a Nationwide plan which charges for data usage instead of just using your plan minutes.




There is 120MB of internal memory (twice the amount of the env2) and 30MB is used out of the box.  You can use microSDHC cards up to 16GB in size for storing music, pictures, and videos.

Other features include the VCast video player, VZ Navigator for detailed driving directions, and the ability to download games, ringtones and other applications.


Multimedia:

Once nice improvement with the enV3 is that it now comes with a 3MP camera and flash.  Images taken outside look almost identical to ones taken by the enV Touch, with good detail and accurate colors, despite it not having autofocus or a Schneider-Kreuznach lens.  We’re sure having an autofocus system on the enV3 would help, especially with Macro shots, but as long as your subject is at least 6 feet away, they will look just fine.  Pictures taken indoors still suffer from a lot of gain in the image and a slight blurriness due to slow shutter speeds.  The built in flash does help, but only has a range of about 10 feet.  Unfortunately videos can only be recorded at 320x240 resolution, which is only good enough for playing them back on the phone, as viewing them on a PC will show how bad they look.




The music player has a few improvements, including the ability to multitask.  Due to the internal stereo speakers, it is recommended to flip open the device for the sound not to be muffled.  Files are still categorized by playlists, artists, genres and albums, and will shows the album art and track information on the screen when being played.  It also comes with the same music equalizer settings used by the enV Touch and Chocolate 3.  We were surprised by how good the music quality was, and that volume was noticeably louder than when using the enV Touch.  You can also use a Stereo Bluetooth headset or connect wired earbuds to the 2.5mm headset jack, though we wish it were 3.5mm instead.