LG GS170 Review

Introduction:

We've been fortunate enough to check out two of LG's devices that commenced the manufacturer's inaugural partnership with T-Mobile – the touchscreen packing LG Sentio and the eye-catching LG dLite clamshell. Both devices attacked the mid-range feature phone market, however, the LG GS170 aims to cover the entry-level category with its basic set of features. For those who don't fancy the glitzy features found on most cell phones, the LG GS170 might prove to be a relevant solution that won't burden your pockets with its free on-contract pricing.

The package contains:

• LG GS170
• Wall Charger
• Hands-free Headset
• Start Guide
• Terms & Conditions

Design:

This compact flip handset harkens to the type of devices you'd imagine to dominate T-Mobile's prepaid lineup with its flimsy feeling construction and equally cheap plastic housing. However, we do like how the soft touch material coats the entire handset – which does well to repel scratches and dirt. At the same time, the handset is extremely light weight (2.8 oz) to give off the illusion that you're not holding it in your hand. Overall, the design of the LG GS170 exudes the typical reputation that's generally associated with other basic clamshells – it's cheap, so don't expect this one to turn heads.



You can compare the LG GS170 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

Even before opening up the handset, we could sense the GS170 wouldn't boast anything too impressive, but our inclinations were naturally confirmed upon gazing at the display. You're greeted to a ho-hum 1.8” TFT display with a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels and support for 262k colors. There's nothing nice to say about the washed out looking colors it displays, plus add in the fact that the optimal viewing angle is limited to a perfect 90-degree angle – straying anything more than that will produce distortions. The same applies to the 1.04” external display with its 96 x 64 pixels resolution which will show the time, date, notifications, and caller ID.


Thankfully, we were presented with a well-sized numeric keypad that offered a tactile response – despite being flush with the surrounding surface. Navigating can be accomplished via the directional pad that's easy to touch while offering the same responsive feel when pressed. Additionally, it's surrounded on both sides by the soft keys, SMS button, and a dedicated camera key. Even though the volume rocker is slightly raised from the surface, we were content to see it retain that firm push feel. On the right edge, you'll find the microUSB port used for charging, PC connection, and input for the included headphones. Directly above the external display is the VGA camera, while removing the rear cover will give you access to the battery and SIM card slot.