Review: LG Optimus G for Sprint
Screen
The G's display is fantastic. It measures 4.7 inches across the diagonal and packs an impressive 1280 x 768 pixels. You can't see the individual pixels, even when you hold the phone up close to your eyes. The display is an LCD panel with LG's in-plane switching technology. It's simply one of the best displays I've seen on an LG device. It is crisp, sharp, bright, and colorful. It's perfectly usable outside, and I had no trouble using the camera to take pictures of my kids playing soccer on a bright and sunny afternoon.
Signal
The G delivers the best signal performance I've seen on a 3G device from Sprint. Sprint devices often exhibit weak performance on Sprint's network in my neck of the woods. Not the G. Not only did it show a full signal most of the time, but it performed like it was connected to the network at full strength every where I took it. It showed good 3G data speeds everywhere I went (even in weak coverage areas) and always connected calls on the first dial. It never dropped a call during my tests.
Due to the limited coverage provided by Sprint's LTE 4G network, we were unable to test the G on LTE 4G. If/when we have a chance to use the G on Sprint's LTE 4G network, we'll update this section of the review. Given the small footprint of Sprint's LTE network at the time this review was published, we feel it's fair to rate its experience on 3G alone, as that is how most Sprint subscribers will initially experience the G.
Sound
The G is a solid voice device thanks to clear calls and a loud earpiece speaker. Most of the calls I made with the G were free from static and other noises. The earpiece packs a painful punch when set up all the way. I was easily able to hear callers in a loud, crowded bar on a Saturday night. In quieter environs, you can turn the volume down to 50% for a really nice experience. The speakerphone offers similarly clear and crisp calls, but the volume doesn't quite compare to the earpiece. It's acceptable to use in a low-key home or office, but not so much in a noisy coffee shop. Ringers and alerts are acceptably loud, but could be better. You probably won't miss most calls, but that one time you leave the volume at 50% is when you'll miss like 10 in a row. The vibrate alert is good, though.
Battery
Ah, our first real complaint about the Optimus G. Both the Sprint and AT&T versions of the device gave me a hard time. With the Sprint one in particular, it never lasted more than 24 hours in total from a single charge. It would make it from 7AM to 11PM, but just barely. Use it heavily, and you can be scrambling for a charger at dinner time, and that's without the often battery-hungry 4G LTE! You'll need to pay attention to the battery with this device and have back-up chargers or other power supply available at all times.
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