T-Mobile myTouch

Over the past two years, T-Mobile has introduced a variety of Android based smartphones under their “myTouch” label. Now it’s LG’s turn with the newest version simply being called the T-Mobile myTouch, which is basically a US variant of the LG Optimus Sol. This new myTouch smartphone has a contract price of $80 (though it can be purchased for less during holiday sales), and includes a modest band of features, including a 1GHz processor, 3.8” AMOLED display, and a 5MP camera, while the device is running Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread.

Included in the retail box is the T-Mobile myTouch by LG smartphone, 2GB microSD memory card, 1540mAh battery, wall charger with microUSB cable, and user guides.

The myTouch measures 4.8 by 2.5 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and weighs just 3.8 ounces. It's extremely lightweight and comfortable to hold. My test model was black, but it's also available in white. The phone is made mostly made of rubbery black plastic, with shiny black plastic used to outline the display. The 3.8-inch AMOLED display looks great, and sports an impressive 480-by-800 pixel resolution. There is a slightly noticeable stippling effect thanks to the PenTile pixel layout, but it didn't bother me, and I was happy to see a high-res screen on a low-cost device. I was able to type on the on-screen keyboard without an issue, but if you're looking to do some heavy texting, you may want to check out the keyboarded myTouch Q (Free, 3.5 stars).

The myTouch is a quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and dual-band HSPA+ 14 (1700/2100 MHz) device with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. It also supports T-Mobile's UMA-based Wi-Fi calling, which is a great fallback in areas with less-than-optimal T-Mobile coverage and a good way to save some money on your phone plan. Voices sound full and clear in the phone's earpiece, though they distort a bit at maximum volume. Calls made with the phone also sound good, with just a touch of echo. Calls sounded clear through a Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset ($129, 4.5 stars) and voice dialing worked well over Bluetooth without training. The speakerphone sounds fine, but isn't loud enough to use outdoors. Wi-Fi-based calls sounded good as well. Battery life was average, at 5 hours 47 minutes of talk time . The 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 MSM8255 processor moves this along nicely for the most part.