Review: LG Spirit 4G for MetroPCS
Feb 18, 2013, 9:34 PM by Eric M. Zeman
The LG Spirit offers a flagship experience at a mid-range price on MetroPCS's network. This Android smartphone, which boasts LTE 4G and a 4.5-inch display, is a solid piece of hardware for the prepaid network.
Is It Your Type
The LG Spirit is a mid-range smartphone for MetroPCS. It has a big screen, decent camera, and an affordable price point. If you want something with an impressive display and solid performance, the Spirit could be what you're looking for.
Body
The LG Spirit might trick people into believing it is a high-end smartphone. Rather than stick with boring blacks, LG gave the Spirit a wee bit of personality with silver and gray hues. Coupled with an impressive screen and good build quality, it delivers a good first impression.
The Spirit is a monoblock slab with average dimensions. It isn't too big, nor too small; it lands about in the middle. The front face is black, of course, but it is surrounded by a silvery plastic frame that helps define its size and shape. This frame encompasses both sides of the Spirit, but the top and bottom edges are capped off with a polished chrome surface that is reflective. It's a nice touch. The back surface is a darker gray material that has a dimpled pattern. The camera module protrudes a few hair-widths from the back surface. It has a silver ring around it that makes it stand out.
The Spirit isn't an ultra high-end device, but neither does it come off as a cheap piece of garbage. In fact, I was quite pleased with the feel of the materials and overall build quality. The Spirit feels solid, but is not too heavy. About the only thing I don't like is the thickness. At 9.4mm, it is hardly chubby, but dropping 0.5mm would make this thing awesome. It'll slip into any pocket you've got with ease.
As noted, the front is all black and the display panel itself is hidden in the larger black frame. There are three capacitive buttons below the screen (back, home, menu), which offer pleasing haptic feedback when pressed. About the only thing you can see on the front from a distance of more than 2 feet is the LG logo, which is emblazoned above the display, near the earpiece speaker.
As for the controls, the volume toggle is located on the left edge. It's an excellent button. Not only is it easy to find, but the up and down are easy to tell apart and both have the perfect amount of travel and feedback. I can't give the vital screen lock key the same level of praise. It is much smaller and more difficult to locate (hint: right edge). The travel and feedback aren't as good, either. There is no dedicated camera button on the Spirit.
The headphone jack is positioned on the top of the Spirit, and the microUSB port is on the bottom.
The battery cover is a snap to remove with some help from your thumbnail. It forms the entire back panel of the Spirit. The battery, which rates 2,150mAh, can be plucked out if you so wish. It needs to be removed if you want to yank the micro SIM card. The slot for microSD memory cards is accessible without removing the battery.
In all, the LG Spirit 4G is a good piece of hardware, and one of the better devices available from MetroPCS at the moment.
About the author, Eric M. Zeman:Eric has been covering the mobile telecommunications industry for 17 years at various print and online publications. He studied at Rutgers Newark and University of Kentucky, and has a degree in writing. He likes playing guitar, attending concerts, listening to music, and driving sports cars.
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