Look, Design, Feel (7/10)
LG GT540 Optimus could be the default benchmark for entry level smartphones. It has a slim rectangular unit and curved edges that speak of sophistication. Its glossy black frame dominates the elegance, which also comes in light colors: white and pink. This plastic phone weighs only 115.5 grams, with dimensions of 109 x 54.5 x 12.7 mm. The size is enough for an easy grab or a dip inside the side pockets.
The front panel is mostly covered with the 3″ resistive touchscreen. At the top center is the earpiece. Below the screen is a combination of hardware keys (Home, Call, End call) and touch sensitive keys. resistive touch (Back, Menu ).
The volume keys are located on the left side, while the search key, the microUSB port (hidden behind a plastic strip), and the camera key are located on the right side of the phone.
At the top is the standard 3.5mm audio jack. The barely exciting 3-megapixel camera located on the back has no lens cover, but is recessed and framed for protection. Removing the battery cover reveals the microSD card. A great feature of the LG GT540 Optimus is that it supports microSD and microSDHC cards, even up to 16 GB.
Features (8/10)
LG GT540 Optimus comes with 3 home screens, plus an additional one for widgets. It runs on Android 1.6, which is a bit outdated, but quite compatible for an entry-level smartphone. The cool notification area is upgraded to 4 features: Sound, Bluetooth, GPS and WiFi. Some preloaded widgets allow real-time updates from social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
The agenda is designed with a focus on social media profiles. Each contact can be viewed with complete information, including name, photo, number, address, social network profile status, last greeting, a call button, etc. A limited feature of importing contacts from Twitter, Facebook, and Bebo just makes the unit a bit outdated. However, it is better than nothing.
The messaging system of the LG GT540 Optimus, which includes SMS, MMS and emails/Gmail, is very up to par. The virtual keyboard can be tapped to compose messages, which comes in two options: the phone’s keyboard/numpad and the horizontal QWERTY keyword, which is the default. The phone also has an accelerometer for automatic screen rotation.
The Media Player accommodates music and video files. It supports DivX, XviD and mp3 formats. The music file browser allows users to sort them by playlists, songs, artists, albums. FM Radio with RDS offers a simple user interface, which allows you to save approximately 50 stations.
These days, a 3-megapixel camera doesn’t stand out at all. For the price that the LG GT540 Optimus dictates, the lower camera version is disappointing. It has autofocus, but no flash. The photos are expected to be of entry-level quality as well, not much to talk about. The video/camcorder recording function manages up to 17 fps. The quality is in the same ‘good enough’ category.
Although it does not support Flash web pages, it still has the basic navigation features like Back, Bookmarks, and New Tab, among others, and extended features like Search, Select Text, Settings, etc. As if to make up for the lack of Flash support, the LG GT540 Optimus offers a pre-installed YouTube app.
Other common features included are the calendar, alarm clock, voice recorder, and calculator. Google Maps is identical to the Android packages, and the LG GT540 Optimus gets the voice-directed navigation version (US and UK models only).
Browsing the Android Market will reveal a list of apps available for download, including arcade games, finance apps, etc. It can be classified into Games, Downloads and Applications.
connectivity (9/10)
This is where the LG GT540 Optimus shines. It gives excellent connection options. It locks onto WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, quad-band GSM/EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, and HSUPA.
Performance (8/10)
Aside from a few feature glitches, the LG GT540 Optimus offers top-notch performance with what it has. Calls turn out to be crisp and clear. Internet browsing is fluid. The battery can last about 4 days in a row with full phone tinkering, including calling, browsing, taking photos, texting. As with most devices, when your storage is overloaded (or you save too many photos or files), there are a few lags here and there. However, when everything is within limits, the LG GT540 Optimus doesn’t lag at all, instead delivering exceptional performance. Except when used outdoors, screen readability is poor.
Value for money (5/10)
Phone manufacturers tend to mix and match select features to raise or lower the price of a phone. For an entry-level smartphone, the LG GT540 Optimus commands a high price for what it offers. You sure have plenty of connectivity options, a camera, video, web browsing, and more. However, missing essentials like a higher-megapixel camera and Flash-enabled navigation could have made it that much more worthwhile.
advantage
– Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, quad-band GSM/EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA
– Support for microSD / microSDHC cards
– FM radio with RDS
– Automatic integration of Facebook, Twitter, Bebo accounts
Cons
– 3 megapixel camera without flash
– runs on Android version 1.6
– no Flash support for web browser