LG Optimus 4X HD Review

Introduction:

The LG Optimus 4X HD can brag to be the first phone announced with a quad-core chipset, although the HTC One X beat it as first to market. LG has loaded the full monty with it - a quad-core processor, large “True HD” display fit in a fairly compact for it body, and the latest Android version out of the box. 

In the Box:

• Wall Charger
• NFC Tags
• microUSB cable
• In-ear headphones
• Warranty and information leaflets

Design:

The LG Optimus 4X HD lies pretty well in the hand for a slab with a 4.7” screen, thanks to the very narrow side bezel, and the compact chassis. In fact, it is as thin and light as the polycarbonate HTC One X with the same size screen, but is shorter and less wide, making it more suited for one-hand operation. The same goes if we size the Optimus 4X HD with the Galaxy S III, which is only marginally thinner, but much taller and wider.



You can compare the LG Optimus 4X HD with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

Such a compact design is a commendable achievement on LG’s part, especially considering that the 4X HD has a slot that will take your existing regular SIM card, and you can easily expand its memory via microSD, or swap the battery with a recharged one if needed.

It doesn’t look as slick as the competing One X or the Galaxy S III at first glance, because of the plain rectangular shape, but it does have two chrome-like side trims, which infuse some excitement in the design, and make it easier to grab and pick up from the table.

The patterned back cover has slightly tapered edges, making the phone comfy to hold. Moreover, the sides are also patterned with prism shapes, helping your grip, and the corners are slightly “bumped”, bringing a bit of an understated elegance to the whole exterior. Yet when you look at the front, without the futuristic capacitive keys underneath the screen lit up, the Optimus 4X HD is simply a rectangular slab

The lock/power key at the top is easy to feel and press, but the thin volume rocker on the left in the chassis color takes some getting used to, for the sake of looking stylish. There is no protective flap or sliding lid over the MHL port at the bottom, taking one extra movement out from the procedure of plugging a cable in.


Display:

LG makes some of the best mobile screens around, and the 4.7-incher on the Optimus 4X HD is no exception. It is an IPS-LCD HD display with 1280x720 pixels of resolution, good viewing angles and eye-pleasing colors. Outside visibility is above average, too, if you rev up brightness to the max when battling direct sunlight.

Unfortunately automatic brightness only works from the percentage you’ve put it on in Settings up/down a preset range, so if you start from 0% it won’t go all the way up under direct sunlight, or if you set it at 50%, the screen will still be too bright when it’s dark around - hopefully LG will fix that with an update.

It is also a “True HD” display, as LG categorizes its high-def screens with a regular RGB pixel matrix arrangement, to set them apart from the PenTile AMOLED displays Samsung uses. With 313ppi pixel density, text appears crisp and HD media is a joy to watch.