LG Lucid Lands On Verizon

When you used to look at Android handsets and think they were still a little too expensive. It only seems like a few weeks ago when we were saying how cool it was to have a sub $100 / £100 device and then comes along Verizon with their just announced LG Lucid. Normally when we talk sub 100 we also talk sub par specs however to be fair to Verizon, this one is really worth the $’s.

With a 4 inch Gorilla Glass LCD, a1.2 Ghz Dual Core CPU, 4G LTE Radios and a 5MP camera the Lucid proves that it’s certainly no cheapskate handset. Other specs on board the Android 2.3 device are 1GB RAM, 8GB internal, microSD card slot, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0, DLNA and a 1700mAh battery.

So, essentially If you sign-up for a two-year contract it’s yours for $79.99 after a $50 rebate, however, this being a 4G LTE phone, the required data plan is expensive and will add at least $30 onto the standard tariff.

LG Lucid Headed to Verizon:

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:

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.