LG Optimus M+ For Metro PCS Announced

MetroPCS is getting ready to launch a new LG Optimus Android smartphone, after the Optimus M, launched at the end of 2010, and based on the popular Optimus One. Reportedly called LG Optimus M+, the new handset isn’t a high-end device. But that was expected, since the original Optimus M isn’t, either.

The Optimus M+ borrows some design elements from LG’s new L-Style smartphones, showcased in Barcelona at MWC 2012 last month . It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and features a 3.5 inch HVGA display, Bluetooth 3.0, 5MP rear camera with Flash, and an 800MHz processor.

There’s no word on exactly when MetroPCS will start selling the LG Optimus M+. The handset should be offered for a low price anyway (anything over $200 off-contract wouldn’t make sense). The Optimus M+ could become MetroPCS’ second LG device in 2012 – after the relatively high-end LG Connect 4G, introduced earlier this month.

How to root and Tether LG Optimus M:

LG Lucid For Verizon Leaked

Between a leaked product schedule and promotional image, we have a pretty good picture of two new devices headed to Verizon within the next month or so which should fit that bill fairly well.

The first is the LG Lucid 4G, also known as the LG Cayman, set for release on the 29th of this month. This is the smartphone you actually see pictured above, and some of you may have already noticed that it looks quite similar to LG's Spectrum. Its hardware includes a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 5MP 1080p video rear camera and VGA front camera, 4-inch 800 x 480 NOVA display, possibly 1GB of RAM, and LTE connectivity. In short, it appears to be a slightly lower-end Spectrum without the 720p display, which hopefully means it will be priced below $199.

The other is the Motorola Droid Fighter, about which we know much less. Presumably it would fit into Motorola's lineup somewhere between both RAZRs and the Droid 4, but we don't even know if it is aimed at a high-end or mid-range market. However, we will know for sure on the twelfth of April, when the device is slated for release.

LucidTouch: A See-Through Mobile Device:

LG Lucid 4G And Droid Fighter Headed To Verizon Wireless

Between a leaked product schedule and promotional image, we have a pretty good picture of two new devices headed to Verizon within the next month or so which should fit that bill fairly well.

The first is the LG Lucid 4G, also known as the LG Cayman, set for release on the 29th of this month. This is the smartphone you actually see pictured above, and some of you may have already noticed that it looks quite similar to LG's Spectrum. Its hardware includes a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 5MP 1080p video rear camera and VGA front camera, 4-inch 800 x 480 NOVA display, possibly 1GB of RAM, and LTE connectivity. In short, it appears to be a slightly lower-end Spectrum without the 720p display, which hopefully means it will be priced below $199.

The other is the Motorola Droid Fighter, about which we know much less. Presumably it would fit into Motorola's lineup somewhere between both RAZRs and the Droid 4, but we don't even know if it is aimed at a high-end or mid-range market. However, we will know for sure on the twelfth of April, when the device is slated for release.

I'm not really sure if Verizon really needs two more Android smartphones, as their lineup is already fairly full. There's nothing wrong with mid-range devices and plenty of choice, and these smartphones appear to be perfectly solid offerings, but I'm already having trouble keeping track of all of them and I follow smartphone news every day.

Street Fighter IV HD for Android on Verizon LG Spectrum - CES 2012:

LG Optimus Vu Launched In Korea

We saw the new LG Optimus Vu at MWC last month, and now the device has gone on sale in Korea for 990,00 won, which works out at around $890 SIM free, and the Korean version comes with a built in TV tuner. As a reminder, the LG Optimus Vu features a 5 inch display that has a 4:3 aspect ratio and comes with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, the device is powered by a dual core 1.5GHz processor and it will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The Vu will be available through SK Telecom and LG's own U+ service and will operate on LTE. It's currently running Android 2.3.6, but LG has promised an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade within three months. For everyone outside Korea, there's unfortunately no word yet on an international release, and we can only speculate on how much we'll be paying for the privilege of using that rubber stylus.

Other specifications on the LG Optimus Vu include an 8 megapixel rear facing camera and a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera, the device also features 32GB of storage and a 2080 mAh battery. We still don’t have any pricing or release date information for the US or Europe as yet.

Lg Optimus Vu official video:

LG Optimus L3 Lands In Europe This Month

LG recently announced the LG Optimus L3, which is a budget Android smartphone, and now LG has announced that the LG Optimus L3 will be available in Europe and Asia later this month.

The LG Optimus L3 will go on sale in Russia and Asia first and then it will be available at other countries around the world this month. As a reminder the LG Optimus L3 comes with a 3.2 inch QVGA touchscreen display and is powered by an 800MHz dual core processor, the device comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “We think the Optimus L3 offers all of basic smartphone-related benefits but in a more premium package that hasn’t been seen before on a smartphone in this category.” LG have yet to announce any pricing on the LG Optimus L3.

LG Optimus L3 LEAKED Smartphone:

LG Announces WCD-800 Wireless Smartphone Charger

LG has announced its latest wireless charging cradle, the LG WCD-800 at this years MWC, the device is designed to let your wirelessly charge your smartphone and also use your device vertically to make video calls horizontally to view movies and TV programs whilst your smartphone is charging.

As smartphones become the defacto medium for consuming multimedia content and communicating, it is not unusual to find oneself having to recharge a phone a couple times a day,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “It only made sense to turn that charging time into a positive user experience by making the smartphone useful while sitting in the cradle.”

The device is capable of charging your smartphone without any wires, all you need to do is place your device on the dock and it will automatically start charging. The LG WCD-800 will go on sale in Korea in the first half of 2012 and it will then be available in the US as well, there are no details on whether LG plans to launch the device in Europe.

LG Miracle Windows Phone Device Appears On Video

Some new photos have surfaced offering up another peek at the LG Fantasy/Miracle alongside a brief video of the handset in action. The device in question has been leaking for a while now, but this latest leak has afforded us the best look at the Miracle yet. As you can see in the shot of the unannounced handset's backside, the Miracle is packing 5-megapixel camera, and there's also a front-facing shooter on its face. You can find a clip demoing the Miracle embedded below.

Besides the aforementioned cameras, the LG Miracle is also said to feature a spec sheet that includes a 4-inch NOVA display, 1GHz processor, 8GB internal storage and NFC support. Sounds like a decent Windows Phone to me. The Miracle is said to be making the jump from rumor to reality at Mobile World Congress later this month, so it may not be long before we get to see if the phone is as good as its name makes it out to be. If you want even more Miracle in the mean time, hit up the Mobilissimo link below for a few more shots of the device.

One of the new Windows Phone devices we are expecting to see at this year MWC later this month is the LG Miracle or LG Fantasy, and now we have another photo of the device along with a video of it in action. The LG Miracle will come with Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, and it will feature a 4 inch multi-touch touchscreen display, and is rumored to come with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor.

The LG Miracle will also feature a 5 megapixel camera, plus 8GB of built in storage, and the device is also said to come with support for NFC (Near Field Communications), have a look at the video of it in action below. We should have full specifications on the new LG Miracle, when it is officially announced at MWC 2012 in Barcelona later this month.

G Miracle hands on video - Mobilissimo.ro:

More info about LG Fantasy / LG Miracle Windows Phone Mango:

More pictures of the LG Miracle/Fantasy E740

Few days ago, we showed you some leaked photographs of an unannounced handset called the LG Miracle. Recently, a Romanian website put up pictures of the same device, calling it the LG Fantasy E740, and then quickly took them down. It is not known which name will be used when the model is launched in the first quarter, but we would imagine that there is a good chance that LG will be displaying the Miracle/Fantasy later this month at MWC.

Last month we showed you some leaked pix of the LG Fantasy E740, calling the device a high-end unit that would be the Korean manufacturer's first smartphone to be powered by the second-gen Windows Phone OS. The user agent site showed that the device had IE9 aboard which confirmed that Mango was installed out of the box. Now that it appears that the LG Miracle and LG Fantasy E740 are one and the same device, we can look at the pictures below and hope that we get a Miracle or a Fantasy in Barcelona.

EXCLUSIVE : LG Miracle Specs & Pics LEAKED:

The state of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updates

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is a big update to Android for handsets. So big, that it's got some phone makers hesitant whether they'd even update their devices to the new version. First, it was LG which dropped the bomb on Facebook by saying it's not going to update its LG Optimus 2X flagship. The company quickly changed its position and is "currently in the process of planning the ICS OS update for the LG Optimus 2X as well as other LG high-end smartphones," according to a note which also appeared on the social network.

But it's not just LG – pretty much every other major phone maker has been vague about updating its handsets to ICS. HTC, which was recently ranked as the number one smartphone vendor in the States, judging by smartphone shipments, said it "has been looking closely at the new OS's features and functionality to determine our upgrade plans." The Taiwanese are likely to update their high-end handsets, but when it comes to exact models the company says it needs more time: "Our goal is to upgrade as many HTC devices as possible and we'll be sharing details on specific devices and timing in the coming weeks!"

Update HTC: HTC has announced that it's Sensation series will be the first to get ICS by the end of March. It has also added more handsets to its list of ICS-eligible devices, which will get updated later in 2012.

Samsung, which has gathered some negative PR after some of last year's Galaxy S models took a long while to get bumped up to new Android versions, has now said that its top-tier smartphones will get Android 4.0. The list includes all 9xxx models, so that means that last year's Samsung Galaxy S in all of its flavors should also be bumped up to the new Android.

Motorola, which is now closer to Google than any other phone manufacturer, seems to be the only company which has given us exact time frames. Moto has pledged to deliver ICS updates six weeks after Google pushes the public release.

Sony Ericsson has also given us a vague promise that it will bring ICS to its devices, but there it seems that the situation will depend a lot on Sony, which is taking over the company in the near future.

With so much uncertainty, we've decided to post a table of everything we know about Android Ice Cream Sandwich updates on various handsets and tablets. We'll update it as soon as we hear about a particular devices getting the update or being denied, so make sure to bookmark it and check back every once in a while.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Review & State of Mobile Discussion:

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX briefly out of stock on Verizon's website, now will ship February 9th

Verizon's website showed that the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX was out of stock. The LTE enabled smartphone with the massive 3300mAh battery has been a hit for Big Red and Motorola, showing that battery life is a very important feature that handset users look at. The model was just launched on January 26th and costs $299.99 with a signed 2 year pact, although starting this Friday a BOGO promotion on the unit will start.

Before you start getting upset, there is some good news for those who were hoping to soon experience an Android smartphone that doesn't require you to be a slave to the wall socket. Verizon apparently has replenished its inventory of the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX and shipments will start flowing again on February 9th. If you can't wait a few days for the phone, you can still check with the Verizon stores in your area, or third party retailers like Best Buy, to see if they have inventory of the device.

Other smartphones listed as out of stock on the carrier's online store include the LG Revolution (which has basically been replaced with the LG Spectrum) and the Motorola DROID X2.

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX Hands-On:

LG announces its first LTE powered tablet - LG Optimus Pad LTE, doesn't plan a U.S. release

We reached out to LG to see if we could get some more details regarding exactly where and when its latest tablet is to come out, and the company was kind enough to respond. The good news is that the Optimus Pad LTE will launch as soon as next week; however, the bad news is that it stays Korea-exclusive for now, as LG currently has no plans to release it on other markets. Still, they did mention that they'll be keeping an eye on how Korean customers receive the device.

LG has just announced its first LTE enabled tablet, the LG Optimus Pad LTE. Like the LG Optimus LTE smartphone, the tablet has 4G LTE connectivity and True HD IPS display. The LG Optimus Pad LTE will launch first in Korea equipped with that 8.9 inch HD display and resolution of 1280 x 720. On back is an 8MP camera for shooting high definition video while a 2MP camera up front takes self portraits and lets you video chat. Under the hood is a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor with Android 3.2 installed. The Optimus Pad LTE is also the world’s first tablet to support an microSD memory card expandable to 32GB.

Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company, said that since tablets generate five times the traffic of a smartphone, tablet users need LTE connectivity. He said, "The combination of LG’s LTE technology with the tablet form factor is a clear advantage for consumers who use a tablet as their primary consumption device when on the move."

LG did not release a specific launch date or pricing information, and there is no word on when or if this device will be making the long flight to the States.

LG Optimus Pad LTE:

LG X3 screams loudly with its quad-core CPU and ICS goodness - possible MWC debut

As we’ve seen, CES 2012 proved to be a dud for quad-core packing smartphones, but rather, we saw the love for quad-cores being showcased with tablets more than anything else. Well, knowing that MWC is going be here next month, you know that it’s the ripe time for manufacturers to debut all of their top-notch devices – including these elusive quad-core smartphones.

Already, HTC’s camp has been buzzing with the Edge/Endeavor, but now it seems that LG is about to gain some momentum as well in the upcoming battle. Today, we’re being treated to the first details surrounding LG’s first quad-core packing smartphone – the LG X3! Yes folks, you heard that right, the image to your right is the first glimpse into this magnificent device that will more than likely be making an appearance at MWC next month.

So far, it’s being reported that the LG X3 will feature that all too lovable quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, while a 4.7” 1280 x 720 display of some sort will accompany its larger than life status – and if that’s not enough, it’s packaged all within a 9mm casing! Sounds juicy, right?

Meanwhile, the LG X3 will be rocking out with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich right from the start, which is something that’s expected out of any smartphone nowadays. As for other specs, it’ll feature an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing snapper, 21Mbps HSPA, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 16GB of storage, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0. Worried about the pitfalls with battery drain with this one? Well, it’s being said that the handset will be packing a hefty 2,000 mAh battery to hopefully give it enough juice to get through a day. We know, it’s a drool worthy device in every way, but let’s cross our fingers and hope that it’ll indeed be making an appearance next month at MWC.

EXCLUSIVE : Quad-Core LG X3 Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.2 Revealed:

LG’s upcoming successor to the Optimus 3D might be sold as the LG 3D Max

Early in the week, the news spread quickly regarding LG’s successor to the Optimus 3D, the LG CX2, which is gearing up for an unveiling at Mobile World Congress next month. Still, the CX2 moniker seems like an unlikely candidate for its actual name, so it’s presumed to be none other than a codename in the meantime – though, it sounds better than the LG Optimus 3D 2.

Well, it might be named something entirely different according to GSM-Israel’s reliable source. Instead, it seems as though the second-generation 3D-enabled device is going to come to market bearing the name LG 3D Max. Indeed fitting, it’s still unknown at this point if it’ll include the Optimus branding, which as know, has been a common staple amongst LG’s portfolio.

Considering that MWC is nearing, we’ll surely know for sure what it’s going to be called. Looking at previous LG models, this isn’t the first time we’re seeing the “Max” moniker being attached to its devices. In fact, we heard about the LG Arena Max a few years ago, which was believed to be the successor to the LG Arena.

LG Optimus 3D Max Res Video TestL:

Technical specifications of a new entry level Android smartphone from LG has been published

The Optimus L3 specifications are a mixed bag. 3.2 inch display size and 240 x 320 pixels resolution belongs to the entry-level category, and so does the 3 megapixel camera. Seems like none of the major smartphone manufactures are ready to ship handset with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich quite yet.

What the LG Optimus L3 does have, is Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspot. And the supported network bands are also not something we often see in entry-level devices: Quad-band GSM and dual-band 3G coverage in addition to HSPA with 3.6Mbps download speed.

At 144 Euro, the LG is a very cheap handset. Very few competitors exists in that price segment. But should be able to pick up some older Galaxy's and some Huawei's with Android 2.3 priced below 144 Euro.

According to the web store Cdon, the expected release date for the Optimus L3 is on February 27 which happen to be the first day of Mobile World Congress. We might hear official words about this device from LG at that time.

LG Optimus L3 E400 highlights:
Size: 101.2 x 59.9 x ? mm
Networks: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS 900/2100, HSPA 3.6 Mbps
Wi-Fi b/g/n
Wi-fi hotspot
3.2 inch touch display, 240 x 320 pixel resolution
3 megapixel camera
Bluetooth
FM radio
USB 2.0
Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Talktime: 6.5 hours
Expandable memory up to 32 GB using microSD card

The LG Optimus L3 is available in white and black.

LG Optimus L3 E400:

LG to offer new triple-SIM featurephone

Looking around the mobile space, you don’t see a lot of news on upcoming feature phones – especially ones that are only announced for Russia. Yet LG’s A290 is worth noting, as it will be the first phone from a major manufacturer to offer three different SIM slots. So for those of you who need a world phone with three different numbers (or networks) this is the phone for you.

Well, as long as “you” happens to live in Russia you'll be able to pick one up in February. The phone seems poised to put some pressure on Nokia’s Russian marketshare; Nokia apparently sells a lot of dual-SIM featurephones in Russia, and checking out the gallery below, the LG N290 has more than a passing resemblance to Nokia-branded handsets of this type.

Let us know, would you be interested in a triple-SIM phone if one were available in your market? Meanwhile, you can see how it stacks against the competition when you compare mobile phones via our in-depth phone specs comparison.

LG A290 Triple SIM:

LG Optimus L3 E400 LG Optimus L3 E400 Budget Android Smartphone Leaked

It looks like LG has a new budget Android smartphone in the works, as a yet to be announced Android smartphone from LG has appeared at one online retailer, the LG Optimus L3 E400. The LG Optimus L3 E400 will come with a 3.2 inch QVGA touchscreen display, and will also come with Android 3.2 Gingerbread, plus Wi-Fi, GPS and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the back of the LG Optimus L3 E400 is a 3 megapixel camera and it also features a microSD card slot which can take up to 32GB cards, and it will be available SIM free for around 145 Euros, which works out at around $190.

We’ve yet to hear anything about the LG Optimus 2 headed to the UK, but we might be getting the similarly-specced LG Optimus L3 aka the LG E400. Available to pre-order now from CDON for the equivalent of £120 (converted from 1290 kr), the LG Optimus L3 has a 3.2-inch screen (320x240 pixels) a 3-megapixel camera (no flash) and comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Design-wise it looks a little like Nokia’s Lumia 800 with that curved metallic edge on the front and sides and a bit like the Samsung Galaxy Ace's latticed pattern on the back. Coming in black and white editions the LG Optimus L3 is expected in stock on the 27th of February. It looks like the white versions have already gone, but GSM Arena managed to swipe a few pics of the white version which we've included here. We’d therefore expect to see this on LG’s stand at Mobile World Congress. As for word of a UK release, we’ve contacted LG and are waiting to hear back - stay tuned for an update.

Is the LG E740 the LG Fantasy?; model could be the manufacturer's initial Windows Phone 7.5 model

Well, it seems that congratulations are in order for the LG E740. The Windows Phone powered smartphone received its Bluetooth SIG certification on January 11th, which moves it closer to launch. According to WMPoweruser, the device could be the LG Fantasy, which is expected to hit the market this quarter with Windows Phone Mango aboard, a 4 inch IPS display and a front-facing camera. The phone is allegedly a high-end device and could be the Korean manufacturer's initial second-gen Windows Phone model.

As for the LG E740, LG's user agent site shows that it uses IE9, confirming it is a Windows Phone Mango device and is more evidence that the model could be the LG Fantasy. We should know for sure when the current quarter becomes history.

LG signs patent licensing deal with Microsoft

LG is the latest major Android manufacturer to sign a licensing agreement with Microsoft, agreeing to pay royalties to the software giant. That leaves Motorola as the only one of the Google OS big players that hasn't got a similar deal.

The deal means that LG will be paying Microsoft a few bucks for every smartphone, tablet or "other consumer devices" it makes that run either Android or Google Chrome OS.

LG becomes the eleventh Android OEM to sign such a deal with Microsoft. The aforementioned Motorola is already being sued by Microsoft over alleged patent infringement, so it might be joining that list soon.

HTC and Samsung each have patent licensing deals with Microsoft, which require them to push out Windows Phone devices and pay for promotion and marketing of the OS. It's unclear if LG has similar clauses in its contract.