Although most people question LG’s capabilities, they’re often the first with new technologies. They were the first to release a dual-core phone, and they were the first to release a phone with 3D capabilities. But is it better to wait and see what the competition brings or does being an early adopter pay off? That’s what this review sets out to find out. The 3D thing is a selling point, but not the only one worth examining.
First Impressions
LG delivers an excellent first impression with the box and build quality. It comes in a solid red box, and once opened you’ll find a well-crafted phone inside. Accessories in the box are standard: headphones (excellent quality), a USB cable, and a wall plug. The phone itself has a solid plastic build that absorbs shock better than metal unibody designs. The screen is easy to swipe, the back doesn’t wobble, and the overall construction feels premium. The one weak point is thickness: compared to the Galaxy S II, the Optimus 3D is noticeably heavier and chunkier.
Software
LG’s custom UI is a weak point. It’s brighter and more cartoon-like than even older versions of TouchWiz, and performance doesn’t match the hardware. A dual-core phone at this price point scoring 36MFLOPS in Linpack is a software problem, not a hardware one, and LG’s advertising of its speed feels misleading against real-world results. The Optimus 3D launched on Android 2.2 Froyo, which was unacceptable for a newly released flagship, and partly explains the sluggishness since Gingerbread brought significant speed improvements and dual-core optimizations. A persistent lag appears when opening any app or settings item.
Setting aside performance and aesthetics, the launcher itself is functional. It’s snappy, offers categories, and includes a customized status bar with quick toggles for sound, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and data. The browser supports visual tabs and a most-visited homepage. Bloatware includes Facebook, Twitter, Asphalt 6 3D, N.O.V.A. 3D, LG World, Let’s Golf 2 3D, News!, Polaris Office, Smartshare (DLNA), and Remote Call for remote diagnostics.
3D Capabilities
The 3D feature is well-implemented and genuinely impressive when viewed from the right angle and with a steady hand. Glasses-free 3D remains a novelty, but it’s executed better than expected. 3D stills are shot at 3MP but the effect is striking. 3D video is watchable but blurs with fast motion. Bundled 3D games (N.O.V.A. 3D, Asphalt 6 3D) enhance the experience but can cause eye strain during extended play. YouTube 3D has limited content. The technology is in an early stage but has genuine potential.
The tradeoff is battery life: with 3D disabled, the Optimus 3D delivered a solid 8 to 10 hours of medium to heavy use. With 3D active, battery drain was severe enough that limiting 3D to occasional use is a practical necessity.
Conclusion
The Optimus 3D is a nice phone to use with a genuinely cool and well-executed 3D feature, but it doesn’t deliver on its performance promises. If smooth, fast performance is the priority, the Galaxy S II or HTC Evo 3D are better choices. If glasses-free 3D is the appeal and you don’t demand flagship-level responsiveness, the Optimus 3D is worth considering.
