LG VX-4400
Average Ratings
Whoa
I decided to replace the old battle ax today. When I told my wife I replaced our only phone she gave me a look like, "what was wrong with the old one?" I told her the peeling paint was unprofessional and I was embarrassed to carry it into meetings.
The ice started to melt once she saw it, the design is quite good looking. But once she found the custom ringers she was hooked. I had a hard time getting it away from her after that.
The battery lasted through about 40 minutes of talk and data downloads (I immediately started downloading demos of games and ring tunes.) before I even charged it. With my $10 dollar headset that I couldn't hear anybody on on my old phone, I could actually carry on a conversation without the that again" phrase. I did have my wife comment that I was not quite as loud, but once I unplugged the headset, she said I sounded even better than on the old phone.
The only downside is that I can actually understand my boss when he calls me on his cell now. Oh well.
The size is perfect and I can actually wear it on my hip. My old phone (kyocera 2035) didn't quite work out on that deal.
The better things get, the worse they get
This is an old model, but the two even older digitals I had were better thought out. That, and Radio Shack's incomplete repair are why I'm shopping for a new phone. And why I should probably avoid my local Radio Shack as well.
Design:
The button for ring modes is on the outside, with no lock. Press up against something in your pocket and you've gone from normal to vibrate or even no-ring mode!
Who can always answer a phone in 15-20 seconds? I did find one tune that lasts about 25 seconds. There are NO long ringers that actually sound like a phone. I don't know if anything saner can be downloaded at extra cost, but apparently Verizon charges us just to find out. (I understand providers want to get dump unanswered calls off their facilities as quickly as possible, but most ring lengths are ridiculous. Especially when driving. Even hands-free, how can you safely always answer in 15 seconds?)
Memo recording. The phone doesn't record your memo -- it leaves it on Verizon's server. Costs you minutes and retrieval is inconvenient at best (and if you're outside a reception area...?).
I have limited experience with the Wireless Web, but in one attempt to navigate menus to a popular information service, I met with dead-end menus.
Outside window cracked. Obviously I stopped stuffing other things into my pocket.
Using car accessory power killed the phone, requiring battery to be momentarily removed in order to resurrect it. Radio Shack repaired the window but forgot to repair this.
One good thing, and the reason I got it: It includes analog. Yes, analog cells rare, and it sounds like AM radio in a thunderstorm, but what good is a mobile phone you can't travel with? It's good enough to retrieve your land-line messages or make an emergency call. Unfortunately, my former first choice of replacement, another highly rated phone by another mfr and recommended by a Radio Shack salesperson as having analog... doesn't.
style and substance
Review is for VX4400B (Verizon)
As others have mentioned, this is a great flip-phone for those who don't want/need a built-in camera.
The model is on its way out, and discounts should be available (got mine for $29 with activation).
Call quality is very good, tri-mode capability is nice - especially if you venture off the beaten path (say, to go camping, hiking, climbing in Maine or Vermont).
The only things that disappoint me about this phone are (1) its battery performance: You pay a price for the pretty internal screen and multicolor backlit external display, and (2) its lack of a 'normal' ringtone. Yes, it comes with 6 'standard' rings. But they're all sort of on the weird side.
Bottom line: at this moment in time (May 2004), it's a great choice for the price.
Take back what i said
After I got mine, my mom liked it so much she upgraded to the same phone.
I've never been graceful, and had an accident; my vx4400 was crushed, then dropped in 2 ins of H20. ASSurion's worthless, & tried to send Moto T720. Refused it; went back to VW.
On the web, the VX4400 is discontinued, but was available in the VX4400b at one of the outlets. Got that . . . you do get used to these phones.
-ringtones still horrible, but some dldble ones sound ok, and can be previewed; still love ringer id (my favorite feature)
-desktop charger is great; get the ext-life battery; can go a week w/o recharging if necessary; exceptional bttry life.
-weak vibrate in pocket, but on a flat surface, it makes subtle noise . . . I still ususally go silent, w/the flashing outer lcd
-the getitnow and browser key still seem like a waste
-u get used to no speakerphone, and one less thing to break (I read sevl reviews where phones w/them had blown speakers)
-user-friendly voicemail (easy for my mother to check; older phones were complicated for her)
If i want to take pictures, I'll buy a digital camera. If i want to surf, I'll use a pc. My major complaint is the fragility of the phone. Granted, I really did a no. on mine, and i'm getting a pouch for the new one, but i think LG should use heavier materials: before the "incident" i dented the front cover pretty well. The back of the phone got scratched. The screens were always pristine though.
My suggestions are as follows:
1. Buy this phone, but be careful with it. Can't beat the features, even a year after the phone was released.
2. Don't get the ASSurion ins.; instead, but money aside for that fateful day . . .
3. Keep a list of contacts somewhere, cause if something happens, you'll need the info. I'm buying the pc-sync software now.
VW offers phones that make them money, and they often do us a disservice with their offerings. I happily reccommend this phone to US cingular customers, and feel bad for the VW customers than can no longer get it.
good eough to buy a 2nd
i bought this phone a year ago due to the huge external cid.did not know it had all the features till i got it home.not even color.this thing has been thru a hurricane, many storms,1 toilet drop and countless drops on concrete or pavement.the talk time is as advertised(actually a little more)and i live in a poor reception area yet this phone does not drop calls when other phones ive had did.only drawbacks are LG makes lousy batteries and the voicedial has a hard time understanding names spoken.reception is great,quality is great on both ends except for echo on my end from 1 too many drops,talk time is great,color is great ,bells and whistles are great,volume is great on ringers too.you name it except for what i already stated id give it a 5 or more.id buy another if this ever breaks
Overall, the best phone I've used
I got two VX4400 phones, one as a replacement for a VX3100 and the other to replace a VX4500, which I will review separately.
I live in an area that has quirky reception and changed from Cingular to Verizon in the hope of getting better service. My VX4500 dropped calls within my house, which is near downtown Chicago, but, as mentioned "quirky".
As another user mentioned, reception was fine outside and anywhere else. This wasn't acceptable, so I called Verizon tech support. They recommended a trimode phone. The phone I got for myself works very well everywhere, and does work in my house. The only problem I have had is that I can't change the banner. The second phone worked well for a while, but after a day or two started dropping in volume during calls. The person at the receiving end could hear fine, but the originator could not. The banner change works on that one. Due to the drop in call volume, I'm exchanging that one. I'll keep the one that refuses to say anything but "Verizon Wireless".
Pros: Better reception than any other model I've tried (including Nokia and Motorola).
Voice dial is a nice feature.
Cons: One out of two phones was defective and no store in the Chicago area had a replacement in stock. I'm getting one sent out.
The Verizon people have been very helpful both on the phone and in person.
Worth every penny
While a bit on the expensive side I would spend every cent all over again for this phone. Great clarity and functionability, the phone is solid and blows every other phone that comes close to comparing to it out of the water! I actually just switched phone companies due to my employment with the new company and its a perk to get a free phone...but we dont offer LG's... and our network will not support the type of network this phone uses...I sold it off to a friend that uses verizon still...I about cried when I handed it over! (not really, but you get the point I REALLY liked it) I would recommend this phone to everyone who was willing to shell out a few bucks to purchase a good solid quality product
Excellent phone
Excellent phone with lots of features, from calculator ro world clock.
Very good battery life for a color phone.
Speaker volume is an issue as it is way too loud even on the lowest setting and often lead to distortion. SOme issue with the reminder. Apparently this phone does not remind every 2 minutes as most phones do when there is a voicemail or txt message.
Best Color Phone!!!
Traded in my AU 9500 for the LG 4400- better quality- great picture and better battery life than the other color phones. $99 After Rebate right now is a great deal!
