By 
Mobile World Congress is just around the corner, and LG could not wait some days to show its newest high-end smartphone to the world. LG has just unveiled its Optimus Vu, and it is the company’s introduction into the phone/tablet smartphones.
The device has a huge 5″ IPS 1024x768p display, making it as big as the just released Samsung Galaxy Note. But this one is a bit different in its form factor. Not only to the Note, but to all smartphones. It has a 4:3 screen ratio, making the device oddly wide.
But if there is anything special about this device is its sleek and sexy aesthetics. When the Lumia 900 was revealed, many Android enthusiasts were upset that the device didn’t come to the Android team. IF you were one of those, this might be the smartphone for you, as it is very similar.
LG Optimus Vu Specifications
- Android 2.3 (will be upgrated to Android 4.0 soon)
- 1.5GHz dual-core processor
- 1 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of internal storage
- 8 MP with AF LED rear-facing camera / 1.3 MP front-facing camera
- 2,080 mAh battery
- Dimensions: 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
The other specs are good, but nothing out of this world. The battery is larger than many devices, but not by much. And 32 GB of internal storage are quite tempting. We wonder how the device will feel in the hands, though, with its wider form-factor. It will probably be much harder to use the device single-handed.
The device is also only 8.5 mm thick, making it the slimmest LTE device around. This adds to its good looks, which is something very luring about the LG Optimus Vu. But tell us what you think. Do you like this smartphone? Do you think you will be waiting for it, or will you go for one of those quad-core beasts to be announced at MWC?
LG UNVEILS UNIQUE 4:3 RATIO, 5-INCH OPTIMUS VU: AT MWC 2012
With Productivity in Mind, LG Demonstrates its LTE and Display
Leadership with Device that Does, Well, EverythingSEOUL, Feb. 19, 2012 – LG today unveiled one of the most anticipated LTE devices, the Optimus Vu:. Equipped with LG’s advanced LTE and IPS display technology, the Optimus Vu: offers a unique combination of tablet-like viewing with smartphone portability. Running on a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GM internal memory and a large 2,080 mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: is a multimedia lover’s dream device.
“The Optimus Vu: was designed to maximize what customers could do with a smart-phone,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “By offering an optimal 4:3 ratio viewing experience, 5-inch display combined with superfast LTE technology, Optimus Vu: is just one example of what we can achieve when we combine our best technology with customer needs.”
The large 5-inch display with bright 4:3 aspect ratio makes viewing documents, books, internet and multimedia contents easier and more comfortable. The 4:3 aspect ratio is optimized for viewing to grasp more at a glance and note taking to increase productivity in everyday life. Moreover, IPS display realizes every color in its natural state for the best viewing experience even under bright sunlight.
Backed by unparalleled speed and performance from LG’s advanced LTE technology, the Optimus Vu: boasts unmatched productivity. Its unique built-in QuickClip™ hotkey allows users to conveniently capture screenshots and memos with a single push. Jotting notes is also possible with a finger or with the dedicated Rubberdium™ pen. Among many productive apps installed in the Optimus Vu:, the included Polaris Office allows users to open any document, spreadsheet or presentation while on the go.
At only 8.5mm, the Optimus Vu: is the slimmest among all LTE phones currently on the market and is perfectly suited for a hand and fits comfortably in a jacket pocket. Despite the large 2,080mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: adopts LG’s exclusive floating mass technology to appear slimmer than its actual dimensions.
In addition to HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), Optimus Vu: comes with 32GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera. While it will initially launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works.
The Optimus Vu: will be introduced in Korea in March. Additional information on the unique Optimus Vu: can be found at the LG Stand (Hall 8) at MWC 2012 from February 27 to March 1.
Key Specifications:
oChipset: 1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
oDisplay: 5-inch (1024×768) IPS Display
oMemory: 32GB eMMC and 1GB DDR2
oCamera: 8MP with AF LED Flash (rear) and 1.3MP (front)
oOS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
oBattery: 2,080mAh
oDimension (L x W x D): 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
No thanks..
So did LG even do any QA on this or just assume people would be fine with their phone being unbelievably uncomfortable to hold?
its more of a small tablet that is easy to type on and to carry.
Whoever thought a 4:3 ratio would be a good idea is an idiot.
i know somone who would buy one of these just because of this. Its one of my co workes. Said he wants a smrtphone but screen sizes were the problem with his ageing vision this formfactor would be perfect.
Why not the Note? The 4:3 ratio makes it wider and in turn more difficult to hold.
The note would work to
anything beyond 2.5″ wide is hard for most people to hold, putting the note and vu in the same category of unholdability.
The Epic Touch is over 2.5″ wide and it isn’t a problem to hold, at all..
Explain why?
Most media today is 16:9 so viewing on the 4:3 it will be smaller. It makes the phone very wide.
Considering the number of people watching their movies and TV shows on their iPads, I think we can safely assume that would never be a problem for most people.
And since this phone has a stylus, writing stuff on a 4:3 screen would definitely be more comfortable than a 16:9 or 16:10 screen. Also, web browsing definitely becomes more comfortable on a screen like that.
Except for the people who do use their phone for media and don’t have a tablet. It’s 7mm wider than the Note and people already say how big it is to hold. I would love the Note, but this one, just from the looks looks uncomfortable.
We can’t judge something until we use it. :/
i think i’d rather use my portrait mode applications on this than on the note cuz the keyboard is easier to type on, plus 16:9 is only good for movies, games, and apps work better and give a better ability to focus/concentrate on a 4:3 screen. 16:9 is really just a gimmick even for movies cuz everything you want to see is directed to be in the center of the screen anyway – 16:9 is really for theaters where having 4:3 would mean lost seating space or super-long halls.
How do you figure the keyboard would be easier on the Vu? It’s going to be wider, which doesn’t make it easier. That could very well make it harder. And the thought on 16:9 being a gimmick is absolutely stupid. with 4:3 a lot is cut off. The director shoots in widescreen for a reason. If you think they don’t take into account the surroundings and everything happening in the background you have no clue. It has nothing to do with more seating in theaters lol.
2.3? Really? LG is failing again. I wonder who manages these companies?
Everybody is still releasing new phones with 2.3. It’s stupid! This phone and the Galaxy Note should have 4.0.
It’s been mentioned before, even by LG I believe. Phones are in development for months and months. Most likely long before ICS was released. They can’t simply slap ICS on and continue on.
Good for web browsing and gps navigation I guess.
yeah, and everything else thats not off-centered/badly-directed movies.
I’ll take the girl holding it shes hot.
That little girl could put straps on this thing and wear it like a backpack.
It looks like a nice device, too bad it has LG’s UI on it, that UI sucks so bad.
wait, did LG liscence touchwiz or something? o_O i thought those were pics of a samgsung phone for a moment.
hehe, chain-infringement : samsung copied apple, lg copied samsung. hehe
“Android 2.3 (will be upgraded to Android 4.0 soon)”
Ahh, my dear G2x and I remember the days of “Soon” from the mouths of LG. :-D
same here bro.
it looks almost square! what a horrible idea to release this as a phone,, media on it may be good but day to day use as a phone would be awkward
The note looks and feels big in a good way, I’ve tested it and I want it really bad. This, on the other hand. This. Looks. Horrible! The worst idea I’ve ever seen that resembles a phone or anything like that, I mean, seriously, take a look at it. If you like what you see, I won’t blame you, it’s just that in my opinion it seems like a joke of some kind lol :)
For comparison’s sake I checked dimensions of the Sony Reader Pocket Edition/350, and that is only slighly bigger at 145x104x8.4 mm (almost same thickness), but only 800×600 resolution. My recollection of holding ones at store displays was that it was a nice “1-handful”, although the 5.6 oz weight should be lighter than a phone with radios, cameras, and color screen, and all their supporting circuitry.
By contrast, my Dell Streak 5 is 153x79x10, so a bit longer and narrower than the LG or the Reader, and I find it fairly easy to handle (carefully). I am thinking the screen resolution of the LG in between the Streak and the Note might be a “sweet spot” for some of us – I would certainly like to get eyes and hands on it alongside my Streak to find out for myself.
BTW, isn’t it odd to see (diagonal) screen size always in terms of inches, but any other dimensions in metric (when the info source is outside the US)?
The “sweet young (and petite) thing” of a lass holding the LG in the pictures above does not seem too challenged in gripping it.
YMMV
Um… that’s not a phone.
it can call. so its a fone. just not a single-hand operation one that one can slap to one’s face.
Keep in mind where communication is going. Video. I can see this being a good thing if you use a bluetooth headset. Im a big guy, 6 foot 4 260 lbs and i for one would appreciate a better device like this especially since the majority of communication is going the route of video.
You know, I won’t knock this 4:3 ratio, seems like they’re stepping outside of the box… Can’t wait to see it in action
I love the idea of large screen phones. I’m always happy to see more choice in this product category, but this one holds no interest for me. Among other problems (Android version), the size doesn’t work. 90 mm is beyond my breaking point for width to hold comfortably. Even the Note at 83 mm is pushing it, but I can handle it. I’d prefer something in the range from 75-80 mm. For length, it becomes a matter of what is pocketable (ideally front pants pocket, but even jacket pockets are tight beyond 150 mm. For me, the perfect size is 130×75 mm with a 5″ 1280×800 screen. A bit smaller screen than the note, but at 300 DPI, I think it is a better size. So for me the aspect ratio of 16:10 works very well.
I kind of like it, I’ve never really liked the 16:9 or 16:10 ratio.