Recently I was given the opportunity to review the Sprint LG Optimus S.
When the box arrived, Karl, my teen, brought it upstairs. Wait, let me rephrase that. He practically tripped over himself running up the stairs in his haste to have me open the box. (I have a rule in my place. As the top dog uhh Mom I get to open any and all packages first – great rule right?!) I quickly ripped open the box and out came a purple phone. It was pre-loaded with apps and did I mention it was PURPLE?! Swoon!
Of course being a non-geek, I passed it onto Karl. Karl is an avid photographer who has received school accolades for his photography and is currently up for an award. He is also the resident Latina On a Mission Tech Guru, providing a young adult’s persepective on all tech related subjects. Below you’ll find his review.
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The LG Optimus S is a new member of the Sprint family. It’s an entry level Android phone that definitely packs a punch. It’s exceeded expectations and even set the standard for the next generation Android phones
Sprint iD
At just .52 inches thick the Optimus is a thin, budget friendly Sprint phone- selling for just $49.00 under contract. It is also one of the few phones that ships with Sprint iD. Sprint iD allows your phone to be a “reflection of who you are” with easy customization. One click changes wallpapers, widgets, and even ringtones. For the two weeks that I’ve had my review unit I have used the Lo2Yo Latino iD pack. The wallpaper and ringtones were spot on; plus when using this iD I could easily change the language to Spanish to brush up on my reading skills 😉
Service and Calls
The problem with most touch screen phones is when taking a call the screen remains on so you press buttons unintentionally. This wasn’t the case for the Optimus S. The proximity sensor did it’s job amazingly. The screen instantly went black when the phone was placed against the ear. Sprint’s service was also surprisingly great. I received service even in train stations.
Camera and Battery Life
With no flash the Optimus’ 3.2 megapixel camera was nothing to brag about (sample photo above). The picture quality was decent but when compared to other Android phones it was measly. Video recording was no different. If you’re looking for a smartphone that will replace your point and shoot camera this is not for you.
The battery on the Optimus S was terrible. Even when on Standby it would drain within 8 hours. I was forced to charge the phone everyday. The camera took a hefty toll on the battery; even when on for just a few minutes the battery life would drop immensely. With all of the amazing apps, it was actually disheartening to see the battery die so fast.
Swype Keyboard
Texting is one of my favorite activities so when I was presented a new keyboard to type on I was a bit skeptical- even if that keyboard did beat the record for fastest text. I waited a few days before enabling Swype but I wish I hadn’t. It made texting faster and more fluid. I was able to type a minimum 40 words per minute. The Swype keyboard was definitely my favorite feature.
All in all, the LG Optimus S has some pretty nifty features and just a few drawbacks. If you’re due for an upgrade or are looking for a new phone definitely give this one a try- it will serve you well!
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Thank you Karl for the informative review! The pros and cons provided should help others make a much more informed purchasing decision. I would also like to note that you can obtain an in depth review of the Sprint ID apps by clicking here.
You can read more about Karl by clicking HERE.
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Very nice review by Karl!
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