LG Vu

May 19, 2008 11:13

4.0/5
You know, its funny sometimes. I was looking for a new cellphone as I had my last one for 2 years (Sony Ericsson w810i) and I wanted a smart phone - or at least a smarter one....

So I get the info that the LG Vu is available and I run out to put one in my hand and check it out. Most of the reviews were very good and although my opinion of LG is lukewarm at best, I decided to strongly consider buying one. But when I got to the store and started playing with the phone and features I wasn't crazy about it. My wife has the iphone and I thought the VU was too light and I started to doubt the functionality. So I did one of those "store browsing things" and picked up the Tilt (but it has like 1 hour of battery life before it needs a charge) so I left the store. But before I totally left the mall, I went back into the AT&T store and gave it "one more chance". The guy at the store told me that there is a 30 day return policy, so I figured what the heck and bought it. I figured either great phone or return it. At $299 after rebates, it better be. And don't forget that you probably need a new memory card, phone case, and car charger (it comes with a wall charger). You may also want to get a data cable at Walmart or something. And also remember that before you leave the store you have to sign up for 2 years and add a data plan to you cellphone bill that will probably be between $15-$40 a month extra - depending on what extras you want to have.

All that being said, I've had the phone for about 5 days now and I think I am really starting to like it. Every day I find something else that it can do. So here's the scoop:

First off, the screen is beautiful. And even though the phone is lighter than you would expect, in this case its a good thing. It is solid without being heavy (plastic instead of metal). But if you're rough on your phones, buy a case or screen protectors. Into the phone usage, its very cool. The touch screen will be calibrated to your touch (in setup you adjust where you touch and how hard) and there is that vibrating feedback when keys are touched - also adjustable how hard it vibrates back to you.

Call clarity, volume, speakerphone, signal strength are all excellent. The menus are different from every one I've seen and do take a little while to get used to - and I consider myself to be very good with electronics and technology. But once you do, its smart and very easy to remember. The 3G for internet is MUCH faster than the 2G on my wife's iphone but there is no WIFI. If you're an iphone person, you have to push a button to get to landscape mode and there is no pinching (zoom button). You can access real web pages - still no flash.

I used the phone for Yahoo! email and it was excellent and easy. Texting messages on instant messenger and in regular texts takes some practice but gets easy in a hurry. The touchscreen keyboard is as good or better than the one on the iphone.

The camera and video camera are decent. If you are basing this phone on its picture taking capabilities - don't by the phone. Its ok. I wished it was more than 2MP. There is no flash or light. There are a bunch of options though - night vision (for still subjects only) is good, picture effects, editing etc. Not bad at all but could have been better.

The music player is much better than I thought it was going to be. I thought the Sony Ericsson phone I had before was very good. The music on the VU are loud and clear - as good or better than both the W810i and the iphone (which I think is overrated playing music). The headphones that come with the phone are pretty decent - which is a good thing because you can't plug in a regular headphone into the unit. The port for charging is the same for headphones and data transfer and is located just above the volume toggle. Its protected with a flimsy little plastic cover that I'm being very careful with because I'm afraid it will break - even though I haven't had a reason to worry yet.

Battery life is one thing I'm still debating over. The VU charges amazingly quick. Its around 1 1/2 hours for a full charge and the standby time is probably pretty accurate (I wouldn't know - I keep playing with everything). You can probably expect to get around 8 hours of just playing the MP3 player and about 4-5 hours of playing with everything else. Buy the car charger. 20 minutes in the car and you have enough standby for all day.

This review does not come with an opinion of the TV option. My area does not have that service yet but its supposed to come out later this year - we'll see. And for a extra cost. But from what I have seen, the reviews on that are that the picture is excellent and the tv is live. And as far as the antenna goes, its solid. You can bend it all over the place and it doesn't kink or anything - just don't get crazy.

Lastly, there are only 4 themes that come with the phone and some crappy ringtones. I did some checking out for some free ones and you can go to www.myxer.com and find whatever you need and even make them for yourself. The themes are weird - a butterfly that flies around and jumps when you push the screen around it and another with a fish that swims around - same thing. And the time and date on the main screen is moveable just by pushing it around with your finger. Side volume controls are easy on the side.

So the question is, am I going to keep this phone or return it? I am a little disappointed that there is not a bunch of applications available for it yet - but its so new that I'm not crying over that just yet. The website fixed my ringtone issue and there are things that I have just not used yet like the TV or voice dialing. I am happy to report that my Jawbone headset paired up very easily.

By the way, in your settings there is a 'connection' setting where you can adjust from music transfer to USB to data - when you hook up your phone to your computer it will work based on that setting for transferring data or music. There is no way to use your computer for your contacts or your calendar. Oh well.

Another bad thing is that in sunlight the screen can wash out - you may need to use your hand to cover the screen to see it.

Wow, this is a long review - sorry about that. I think I'm keeping this phone. Its really cool. Light in a good way. Its just the right size (iphone is too big). And it does everything!! I may update the review in another few weeks but I would recommend this phone to everyone. Pricetag is a little high and there is a bunch of new phones coming out - but for right now, this may be the coolest phone that you can buy right now. Try it for 30 days anyway to be sure - you'll probably go from feeling its ok, to pretty good to good to great to awesome - just like I did.

- all-in2007

May 27, 2008 01:52
Excellent
2.0/5
Well, I lost my iPhone , and found myself struggling to find something comparable.While the iPhone was great, I felt somewhat limited by the inability to send MMS on a multimedia phone.

No FRILLS.
Everything is trial or costs extra for this phone, its pretty ridiculous. 2.95 a month to use myspace mobile, another 2.95 a month to get weather forecast, and the list goes on. its really just sad, (all options free on the iPhone). when you pay 549 retail for a phone you expect something. This phone comes with 120MB internal memory, expandable up to 8GB with a micro SD Card. Wait I pay 600 bucks for a phone and have to buy memory!? (Yes, yes you do).

The FloTV doesn't make up for anything, with its repetitive programing, and lack of channel options. (close captioning would be nice).

If you have an iPhone hold out for something better the phone is nice, lightweight, and has great potential. But the programmers at LG aren't offering anything applet wise. For all the iPhone's limitations, there is a lot to say for everything they make available to you, not to mention the built in storage.

- iamthewindrider

May 27, 2008 06:13

4.5/5
I am a high tech person. I came from using a Blackberry 8820 and Razor v3i.This phone beats both as long as you don't need "office" type functions. I did quite a bit of research before buying the LG Vu CU920.

The ability to switch from portrait view to landscape is a big bonus. And using landscape, you can then use the qwrty keyboard, which is much easier to type on than my Blackberry ever was.

While it's not an iphone...to me, it's better. It's smaller and lighter and personally I'd like to keep my ipod seperate from my phone. The only thing I do wish is that it had GPS. The addition of GPS would make it the ultimate phone.

- techgirl63

May 3, 2008 12:25

4.5/5
Ive had a few days to try out the Vu and i have to say that i like it. its no iphone but the touch screen is really responsive, the phone has little details that make it stand out.the ability to use the qwerty keyboard in landscape makes things easier, battery life is so-so definitely recomend the car charger.

- surfing_dragon

August 4, 2008 06:42

4.5/5
I had been agonizing for a few weeks since the iphone came out in early july. The iphone is awesome there is no question. BUT i wasn't 100% sure i wanted it to be my PHONE. and thats what i wanted was a PHONE. Iphone no MMS??? come on that is basic, basic, basic. landscape querty?? not a deal breaker BUT def a deal maker for the VU. $30 dollar data package for the iphone? 15 for the VU. Which is smokin on 3g. The size is perfect. Oh and don't get fooled by the prototype pics. There is no clunky antenna. That was just in the very early models. now to the touch screen. Its not the iphone BUT its great just the same. The gentle vibrate response to touches is a nice "touch". I really like having the feedback when i press buttons on the screen. Again the iphone is missing that as well. Now i looked at the iphone first at the store and i just couldn't do it. it didn't floor me. its a novelty. THE LG VU is a PHONE. If you want your phone and ipod to be one device then thats really the only reason to get an iphone. If you want a awesome affordable and functioning touch screen phone then THE VU IS FOR YOU.

- johnnyphive

May 6, 2008 08:46

3.0/5
I did not think the Vu was that great. I went to my local AT&T store on Saturday to check it out and was sorely disappointed. It took a little while for the phone to boot up, but it automatically started a tutorial after loading. I found the tutorial somewhat helpful, but thought they could have made the phone a little more intuitive based, instead of having to learn how to use it. I was not really impressed with the browser, and it was rather difficult to use the touch screen. I found myself tapping the screen 2 and 3 times to use a function or type a web address. I think Apple stil l has the market cornered when it comes to the iPhone. I guess next up is the Instinct and the HTC Diamond which was announced today. I don't know which provider will carry the Diamond, but at first glance it seems like the all in one phone I've been waiting for. Now they just need to get it to market. Happy browsing!

- chrisfromsamhouston

May 28, 2008 05:42

5.0/5
I've owned some of the best rated phones out there. The Razor, the Blackberry to name a few. I chose NOT to get the Ipod because I like having my ipod seperate from my phone.

ALong came the LG Vu. This phone is only slighty longer than my razor was and a lot smller than my Blackberry. It's extremely light weight.

The qwerty keyboard is far easier to type on than my Blackberry and easier than any other phone I have ever tried. Very much a plus.

The phone sound is just as good as my Razor was. The ability to use voice commands for dialing, hearing messages, etc is extremely eas to access and works very well.

The extras.......video/camera/recording, tv, calendar, tip calculatioin, IM, accessing mail are ALL easyto access and I am using these features way more than I ever had used them on my other phones.

Quality of the phone, overall is superb. Visually it's a beautful, clean and sleek phone.

If you want a phone for social use and not for office/work use, I HIGHLY recommend it. It is one of the EASIEST phones I have ever used.

I rate this phone a 10plus. The poly thing that would make this phone better would be teh addition of GPS.

Buy it!

- lovethevu

May 23, 2008 08:38

4.5/5
I have played with the IPhone and I have many dislikes about it, non stereo Bluetooth, poor reception, etc...
This LG-Vu seems to have one up'ed the IPhone. Most of what I didn't like about that one has been resolved in this LG offering. The ringer is loud if need be. The speaker is plenty loud, was using it today in car with windows down, and no officer I was able to keep it on my lap while talking. It could have a more plesent scrolling feature, the display does have minor quirks and the zoom in/out feature as on the IPhone is missing. However I being a large guy with large fingers have no problems dialing or texting with this keypad. All in all a very nice little phone.

- timduggins

August 9, 2008 06:36

4.5/5
I got the Vu about 2 weeks ago, and i'm definitly a fan. I am 15 years old and consider myself pretty technolgy savy, so i picked up how to use the phone within about 3 days. Someone that doesn't do well with technology (i.e my mom) might take a little bit longer to get adjusted. The one thing im still getting used to is the texting. With my old phone (samsung sync) i could use t9word and fly through texts. On the Vu, while there is still the option of using t9, the keyboard is very easy to hit the wrong key. I think it might just take me a little more time. Another good thing for woman with long nails (My aunt told me this, I'm a regular dude, don't judge me) The Vu's touchscreen is touch activated rather than heat activated, so you can use your nails rather than being forced to use your fingers. My brother has an iphone and i have used quite a bit of it, and it definitely stands above the vu as far as capabilitys go, you get what you pay for i guess. If you don't want to spend the 30 dollars a month for the iphone but you still want a cool touchscreen phone, defintitly consider the Vu.

- moparfan93

June 20, 2008 08:42

3.0/5
I bought the LG Vu to replace my Sony w810i and returned it. The phone is very attractive, though I expected the quality of the materials to be better. The touch screen works well, and the landscape QWERTY keyboard is great for text messages.

Five problems though: 1) The screen is barely visable in the sun, 2) The camera is better than most phones at 2MP and Auto Focus, but there is no flash and the Sony's 2MP camera took better pictures, 3) I'm on a MAC and I don't want an iPhone because of the monthly service plan cost, but the LG Vu does not sync with my MAC and the Sony did, 4) It does not work as well with my Acura's HandsFreeLink in car bluetooth, it does not show the battery life or signal strength, 5) The contacts does not provide a space for birthdays or addresses.

If these issues don't matter to you then I'm sure you'll like the phone. I, however, was trying to upgrade phones, and a touch screen does not a great phone make.

- carguy622