LG Optimus 7 Review

Introduction:

The LG Quantum for AT&T isn't the only Windows Phone 7 handset prepared by the South Korean manufacturer to introduce the new Microsoft mobile OS to the world. Across the pond, customers are being treated to the LG Optimus 7 – a candybar smartphone with a 3.8-inch TFT touchscreen, 5MP camera and 1GHz Snapdragon chipset.

Obviously, the LG Optimus 7 is yet another strict WP7 Chassis 1 offering, so hardware alone would not be enough to distinguish this device, having in mind the already strong competition from Samsung and HTC. So, what can possibly make the Optimus 7 that special handset stealing your sleep? Stay with us as we embark on a journey to find out!

The box includes:

• LG Optimus 7
• USB to microUSB cable
• Wall charger
• Wired handsfree
• User guide

Design:

We have rarely been impressed with the design of LG smartphones. However, it turns out that these guys do know how to craft a good-looking and solid device. We especially enjoy the large metal battery cover, which makes the phone feel extremely slick and gives it a sense of luxury.



You can compare the LG Optimus 7 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

The LG Optimus 7 is one of the smaller Windows Phone 7 handsets for the European market, compared to powerhouses like the HTC HD7 and the Samsung Omnia 7. Still, its screen can by no means be called small at 3.8 inches. The capacitive display uses traditional TFT technology and sports a resolution of 480x800 pixels – standard for WP7 phones thus far. Neither the contrast, nor the color saturation are as spectacular as seen on a Super AMOLED display (present in the Omnia 7), but still, the TFT of the LG Optimus 7 has its advantage too, found with its higher pixel density, making smaller text look clearer and easier to read. The overall image quality is perfectly fine for today's standards though, although viewing angles could be better. Touch sensitivity is just fine, as we did not observe any issues.


Below the screen we find the three mandatory Windows Phone 7 keys – Back, Home and Search (apparently, Microsoft acknowledges the need of the modern user to find lots of information quickly). These are all physical keys, though we wish the travel of the Back and Search ones to have been a bit more pronounced. Anyway, they didn't pose to be much of an issue, and with the ingeniously-designed Home button, we think LG has done a tolerable job with the keys. What's interesting about the Home button is that it has the form of the Windows logo, so you actually push the Windows logo in. Not something to lose your breath over, but still a nice touch.


The Left side of the LG Optimus 7 is where the small and clicky volume rocker is located, while the top has the Power/Lock key and the 3.5mm headset jack. Although easy to find, the Lock key is incredibly small to the point where it can become a bit uncomfortable to use. Charging the device gets done through the microUSB port on the right. In the case of the LG Optimus 7, the port is protected by a plastic flap, which is a worse design decision than the Omnia 7's sliding cover. The phone also has a two-stop camera shutter, which is very comfortable.


On the back side of course awaits the 5MP camera that sits in a distinct circular area, along with the LED flash, a very small self-portrait mirror and a label that proudly says “HD Camcorder”. As we said, the large battery cover is made of firm metal and is simply awesome to have. It is elegantly removed with the press of a special button, giving you access to the 1500mAh battery and SIM card slot.


All in all we are pleased with the design of the LG Optimus 7. As we said, it feels pretty solid in the hand, and is also fairly thin. It will probably appeal more to smartphone users who want a functional, but still pocketable device.