LG enV2 (VX-9100)
Phone Scoop Review
May 2, 2008 by Eric M. Zeman
Successor to the popular enV, the enV2 pares down on the size and makes improvements on the hardware. The only thing preventing it from being a superb phone is the software. read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
Very Satisfied so far...
I ordered my phone from Verizon customer service on April 24th, got it and started using it shortly after. I'm very much impressed with it, and think it's a good step up from my old VX-8100. With NE2 and upgrade discount, I paid $79.99 for my env2.
Pro:
-The newer and sleaker size.
-The simple but elegant color scheme - black with chrome accent.
-The inside screen is quite large, flanked by speakers.
-inside and outside keypads are logical and function well.
-great camera resolution
-can take an hour of video (compared to my old phone's limit of 15 seconds)
-expandable memory (microSD)
-Navigator capable
-very good battery life
-ease of operation
-it will recognize and read your txt messages by pressing the "space" key. (odd option, but entertaining as heck)
-flipped open, can operate on a tabletop with speaker phone
-no stub antenna (first for me)
Con:
-Camera lacks all the options of the original enV, such as flash and autofocus.
-No cover to protect the camera lense like the original enV. This is a concern for me, I'm often in unfriendly-to-cell locations for work.
-no speaker phone while closed
-coming from many traditional flip phones where you flip it closed to simply ensure the call has ended, I have to pay special attention to make sure I've correctly terminated the call before I speak again. Potential for unintended transfer is there to someone you might curse after talking to.
Overall, extremely happy with it. Lost a half point for what appears to LG skimping money on the camera options and lense protector.
Loving it!!
This phone is SOOOOO much better than the previous en-v. The ringer in louder, the inside keypad is closer, so it's easier to txt. I love the form factor and the bigger external keypad. The smaller external window isn't an issue for me because I'd rather have the bigger keys.
Great Phone
The enV had been my dream phone ever since it came out-i loved the look and feel, all the fun color choices, everything. The enV2 definitely doesnt have that same pebble-y look that i like so much, but its improvements won me over.
I've had my maroon enV2 almost a week now and i absolutely love it.
Pros:
-great speaker phone
-tons of memory
-vivid camera
-easy text messaging
-front screen is very convenient
-bigger front buttons
-long battery life
-smaller(it actually fits in my pocket!)
Cons:
-weak vibrate
-on the front screen, i can't figure out how to scroll left and right. so while I'm texting if i make a mistake i don't notice right off, i have to delete everything after the mistake to fix it. very annoying. help on that please??? email me!!!
-if you don't hit save for pics and videos, they are deleted! i got a really cute video of my 2 year old brother doing laundry but it was lost. grrr...
-if you hit the camera button while the phone is closed, it comes on as a video and you have to open the phone and change the settings. makes it difficult to snap a quick picture at the right moment.
other than those few things and its many funny quirks, awesome phone. i have been very pleased.
Got it before it came out.
Due to an error on a Verizon operator's part I was able to order this phone before the April 30th launch. I received it via fedex on Tuesday the 29th and only have a day of experience with it so my review is based on that limited use.
PROS************
Bigger numbers on the front of the phone makes dialing and texting easier than the ENV was.
Size does matter!!! This phone is smaller and thinner than the ENV and its form factor in your hand is pretty comfy.
Keyboard when opened is perfect! the size and feel are a perfect match for the big handed crowd.
Reception and call quality are good.
Battery life is excellent!!
More stylish than ENV. You wont look like your carrying a brick around anymore.
OTA capable! Meaning if they come out with software updates you can get them over the network.
CONS****************
Small screen on the outside. With the big number pad you had to figure that something was gonna be down sized and its the external screen. It is still very functional and it doesn't bother me however I wish they could have gone a little bigger.
No more cons because so far I'm completely happy. If you loved everything about the ENV except the size than this phone is for you because it packs the same punch in a more stylish form factor housing. Hope this review helps with your choice of which phone to purchase.
Ridiculously Awesome
Ok, so I had the FIRST Env, and while convenient with texting, it felt like I had a Zack Morris Saved by the Bell phone in my pocket. Thus, the first thing I noticed and appreciated was the smaller size. I held it up to my friend's Razr, and it is nearly as thin. That's hard to do when you have a full qwerty! Let me move on to the strengths.
PROS:
1. Texting, texting, texting! It is very fast, very responsive. The qwerty is magnificently spaced out, even for bigger thumbs. No accidental brushes of other letters, and the keys make a click.
2. The internal screen is flawless, bright, and resolute. They even include a few animated wallpapers with the phone
3. Sound and call quality are top notch. The first ENV had horrible call quality.
4. Battery life is unheard of. Out of the box, mine lasted 5 days without a charge, and I'm quite the user of my phone. I even played a few songs on it during that time, and was constantly checking my pictures to make sure they all transferred.
5. Size. As previously mentioned, the size is great. It fits well in your hand, and has that grippy-style paint on the back, so you don't feel like it will slip.
CONS:
1. Front of phone in general has horrible navigation. The menu is a dumbed down version of the internal menu, and limits what you can do. Also, if you go to your contacts, you cant hit right or left to select any of their different phone numbers (IE Work, home, etc.) Quite inconvenient.
2. It has the same annoying Verizon navigation menu. Enough said about that. When are they going to change that?
3. While open when trying to take a picture, your hand is naturally covering the camera lens. It takes some getting used to, to make sure your hand is out of the way.
4. You can't do anything else while it's in music mode. I'm pretty sure that's due to our friend, the Verizon navigation menu
Despite the cons, it's the best phone I've ever had. Great phone for general use.
EnV2- A Truly Remarkable Phone
I got this phone as an upgrade for a new two year contract and its by far the best phone i have ever used. This phone makes texting fast and fun. I put a 4GB micro SD card in it and have already put over 700 songs on it from my computer. It plays these songs amazingly through sterio-quality speakers, which can go very loud without loosing the clear, crisp sound. My favorite part about this phone is the great reception/voice clarity it provides. My old cell phone had no reception at my house, but with the enV2, i can hear people as if they were standing right in front of me! The speakerphone option is well done too (just open the phone and it automatically goes to speakerphone).
Pros: good battery life, amazing voice clarity/reception, great for texting, big 2.4 inch inner screen, MP3 player, looks very sleek (especially in a plastic case), great speaker quality, good price...
Cons: 2.5 mm headphone jack (you will need a 3.5mm adapter to use standard headphones just like the old iPhone), using the speakers frequently seems to run down battery life, speakers dont have good bass (which is to be expected for a cell phone),you cant listen to music while doing other things on the phone...
Overall, this phone is spectacular! The few cons it has are only minor inconveniences and the pros are extraordinary.
Not Bad for texters
I got this phone about a month ago to replace an LG VX8300 (which I hated). I got this because I am texting more and can't stand using regular phone keyboards for that.
Pros:
-Size
-Feel when open and closed
-It is much easier and quicker to add users to a text message from contacts than with my old phone.
-Decent call quality
-Using the OTA contacts backup feature I had my contacts transferred over from my old phone in seconds!!
Cons:
-2.5mm headset connector!!?? Come on!! Don't bother trying to use this as an MP3 player. That alone brought my rating down a whole notch.
-Annoying outer keyboard lock keeps resetting to 7 seconds even though I repeatedly set it to 30.
-Useless Music button on the outside KB. Should be programmable.
-When you click on Contacts on the outside menu, it defaults to New Contact!! How often to I put in a new contact?!?! It should default to display existing contacts!!
-Keyboard layout is going to take a long time to get used too. Especially for Blackberry users. I think they could have done better.
-Doesn't get as good reception as my VX8300 or my Blackberry, both Verizon.
ENV 2 is a sweet success!!
This phone is beyond the best! Everything about this phone is great. The keypad is easy to use, the internet connection is really fast, the BATTERY is amazing, the sound is very clear and the reception is great. The camera takes great pictures inside and outside. Overall this little phone is great and I am so happy to have it, will never trade it in for anything. I recommend this phone to anyone that wants a great phone.
Nice & Solid
I have had numerous phones and this rates way up there for several reasons:
Pros:
1.) call quality! Awesome
2.) texting Awesome!
3.) internal screen large and crisp!
4.) Sturdy construction.
5.) battery life is amazing! 4-days of above average use, text, calls, music still at 3/4 !!
Cons:
1.) No lens cover
2.) Same old Verizon UI
I would highly recommend this phone if you are a texter.
New env2
I recently moved into the env2 after having the original env for a year. My old env was good, but clunky and had the worst call quality of any phone I've ever had, even after I swapped it out for a new one. The new env2 does not have that problem at all! The calls are as clear as if I was on a land line phone. I love the fact that it is smaller and sleeker than the original env. so...
Pros:
small and sleek, much better for a back pocket
lots of pre-loaded ring tones, most of which aren't too bad!
large keys on outside
keypad on the inside are much more smooth and responsive for texting
feels comfortable against the ear
Takes great pics!
Cons:
as many people have said, the outside display is small, but not a huge problem
Zoom on camera is now on the volume keys, instead of the control panel around the OK button
Not as many options in the settings to change the phone look to customize it
So the pro's outweigh the cons, defiantly! I'd highly suggest it.
