AT&T's LG PHOENIX - SMARTPHONE REVIEW

It seems every day there's a new smartphone on the market. Choices are narrowed somewhat by what carrier subscriptions, especially for those looking for any deals. With a commitment of one to two years and little to no cost for the device itself, incredibly powerful smartphones can be had. These devices are a quantum leap forward from feature phones. Almost anybody can now move from text and telephone technology to carrying around a miniaturized powerhouse computer with fast access to the internet. And like everything else in electronic gadgetry, it just keep getting better.

Among all of those models knowing which one is just right takes a little research. The best source of information is from both professional and user smartphone reviews. Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses and a good review looks at both. One suggestion for those who plan to be (or already are) AT&T wireless customers is the LG Phoenix or its fraternal twin the LG Thrive.

For subscribers of AT&T's two-year data plan, the Phoenix is free, an amazing incentive. At $150 the LG Thrive is AT&T's first prepaid Android smartphones. What set the Thrive apart are only a few minor tweaks and cosmetic touches. For example, the color was changed from the blue of the Phoenix to the black of the Thrive, although coated with the same matte material, and the Thrive cannot serve as a mobile hotspot where the Phoenix can. Otherwise a review of the Thrive is a review of the Phoenix and vice-versa.

Closely related to the very successful Optimus line, the LG Phoenix is a lot of phone in a lightweight frame. It weighs only 3.2 ounces and is 4.5 inches x (a slim) half-inch. Dominating the phone's face is a 320 x 480-pixel resolution capacitive touchscreen. Although the screen measures only 3.2–inches it is bright and clear. At the bottom are four function buttons. The sides of the phone are rendered a sleek look because not all external controls are bunched-up on one side, as is so often the case. 

Well stocked on Android apps, the Phoenix is an excellent starter phone for those wanting to get a look at what all this Android smartphone fuss is about. Boy, are they in for a pleasant surprise. These are the type of devices that once somebody uses one it’s a wonder how they lived without them. Powered by a 600MHz processor, the Android operating system is only 2.2. But even with these limitations the Phoenix is hard to beat.

It ships with a 2GB microSD card but has the capacity for up to 32GB. There's nothing special about the camera, although videos look good on the small screen. Especially disappointing is the lack of a flash for the camera, thus low light images are predictably grainy. As a phone the Phoenix sounds very good and has all the expected necessities on-board. However, many smartphone reviews caution that AT&T's 3G is a bit "spotty," so you may want to check that out before signing up. The bottom line is the LG Phoenix (or the Thrive for that matter) is an excellent phone for the money, especially for those just starting out on a smartphone.   

Author' Bio : Charles Hooper is a freelance writer and author of The Next American Revolution: How to Demand Congressional Reform NOW


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