LG Rumor2 - black (Sprint)
Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A. Part number: LG265KIT
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The LG Rumor2 is a great option for a messaging phone, but LG missed the opportunity to make it both new and improved.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
LG Rumor2 - black (Sprint) price range: $29.99 - $359.99
- Reviewed by: Kent German
- Reviewed on: 03/17/2009
- Released on: 03/15/2009
The good: The LG Rumor2 has an easy-to-use design with a vibrant display and a spacious keyboard. It offers solid call quality and extensive e-mail and messaging support.
The bad: With a low-res camera and no 3G support, the LG Rumor2 offers no improvements over the original Rumor other than the support for corporate e-mail. The navigation controls and numeric keypad buttons are slick, and the e-mail syncing is unreliable.
The bottom line: The LG Rumor2 is a great option for a messaging phone, but LG missed the opportunity to make it both new and improved.
Though
Now, a year and half since the original Rumor's debut, Sprint and LG offer the Rumor2. Like its predecessor, it remains an accessible and easy-to-use phone; the keyboard is equally spacious, the messaging app is intuitive and the call quality was unchanged. Yet, we were disappointed that LG didn't take this opportunity to expand the phone's feature set. It's not an EV-DO device, and the camera resolution remains a low-res 1.3 megapixels. Indeed, the only new feature is access to some Outlook and Lotus Notes corporate e-mail. While that's a noteworthy addition, it makes the Rumor2 definitely new, but only partially improved. You can get it for just $49.99 with service and a mail-in rebate.
Design
The Rumor2's design is based on its predecessor, and when placed side-by-side, the two phones resemble one another. Both have an elongated candy bar shape with the smooth lines and rounded corners. And of course, the front face slides to the left to expose the full keyboard. But even as it shows many similarities, the Rumor2 also shows a few differences from the original Rumor. It's available in only one color (basic black), and its skin is a little glossier. It also has a more vivid display and is slightly bigger (4.4 inches tall by 2.1 inches wide by 0.7 inch deep) and heavier (4.2 ounces).
As we mentioned, the Rumor2's display is improved from the first incarnation of the handset. Though it also supports 262,144 colors, it has more pixels (240 x 320 pixels) for a higher resolution. Colors are bright and vibrant, graphics are sharp, and the simple menus are easy to navigate. You can change the font size and the backlighting time. The display also shows photo caller ID.
The navigation array is slightly redesigned, but not for the better. Instead of the circular toggle that's on the Rumor, the Rumor2 has a square toggle that feels slick and more cramped. The same is true for the surround controls, which include two soft keys, a dedicated speakerphone control, a back button, and the Talk and End/power controls. On the upside, the buttons and toggle are raised above the surface of the phone, but we liked the Rumor's controls better.
The numeric keypad buttons are slick as well, but we could dial quickly without any issues. Texting wasn't a problem, either, though we have no reason to text on the nine-digit keypad when the phone has a QWERTY keyboard. The keys are raised, and they have backlighting for dialing in the dark.
The slider mechanism is well-constructed--it's sturdy without being too stiff. Like on the Rumor, two keys next to the display serve as soft keys when the phone is open. The keyboard has four rows of keys instead of three, but it manages to be just as roomy as on the Rumor. We could text quickly with the tactile keys. With the extra row you get dedicated number keys--a nice touch--and a dedicated smiley key. Other additions include arrow keys for moving through the menus and a single key for periods and question marks. The shift, function, back and enter keys remain, and the space bar is well-positioned in the center of the bottom row. The only thing you lose is the symbol key, but it's not needed, since symbols are now surfaced on the alphabetic keys.
The remaining controls are a volume rocker and a camera shutter on the left spine and a microSD card slot and a headset jack on the right spine. The latter is 2.5mm, which is disappointing on a phone with a music player. On the bottom you'll find the mini-USB port, which is used for both data transfer and the charger.
Features
The Rumor2's phone book holds 600 contacts, with room in each entry for six phone numbers, an e-mail address, an instant-message handle, a URL, and notes. You can also choose to hide the contacts with a pass code. The Rumor2 supports caller groups and photo caller ID. You also can pair contacts with one of 33 polyphonic ringtones.
Basic features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calendar, a calculator, a voice recorder, voice dialing, wireless phone book backup, a unit converter, and a notepad. You'll also find PC syncing, USB mass storage, a memory card manager, GPS with support for Sprint Navigation, Sprint's Family Locater service, stereo Bluetooth, and instant messaging.
With the e-mail app you can access many POP3 accounts including AOL, AIM, Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail. Once you've activated an account, your messages download directly to the phone--you don't have to go through a clunky Web browser interface to access your messages. Sprint PCS Mail access does require the Web browser, but it was the exception.
Syncing on a Yahoo account wasn't always automatic. Sent messages didn't show up in the in-box until we refreshed, and when we deleted a message from our account on a PC, we had to refresh the phone to see the message disappear from the Rumor's in-box. The reverse was also true: when we deleted a message on the phone, it didn't drop instantly from our PC inbox. On the other hand, when we sent a message on the phone, it did appear in our PC's "sent" folder right away. You can read but not edit attachments.
The interface is mostly intuitive. Basic navigation was pretty easy, though it took too many clicks to access a folder other than our in-box. You can choose how many messages you'd like to appear in your in-box--from the 25 most recent to the 100 most recent--and you can select how much of the message you'd like to show in the in-box. Swapping between accounts was pretty simple. Ideally, we'd like all of our messages to come to single in-box, but that's something we can live without on a handset that's not a true smartphone.
As mentioned earlier, the Rumor2 bests the original Rumor by supporting Microsoft server and Lotus Notes. That means you can get work e-mail right on the phone in the same manner as the POP3 accounts. There is one catch, however. Like the Samsung Instinct it is best if your employer uses Outlook Web access. If not, you'll have to use the Sprint Mobile Email client, which has a more tedious Web-based interface. Luckily, we have OWA at CNET, so we were able to access our account in just a few minutes and get messages. The interface and in-box options are the same as when accessing POP3 accounts. Syncing was uneven here as well.
It's too bad that LG couldn't give us a better camera on the Rumor2. Like on the Rumor, the 1.3-megapixel shooter takes pictures in three resolutions and three quality settings. Editing options include three color tones, adjustable brightness and white balance controls, nine fun frames, a self-timer, a digital zoom, a night mode, and four shutter sounds, plus a silent option. Oddly enough, the Rumor2 does not shoot video.
Photo quality was pretty good, with bright colors and little image noise. It's really easy to get photos off the phone. You can transfer them to a PC via a USB cable or the memory card, you can send them in a multimedia message or e-mail, and you can send them directly to a photo printer. You also can upload them to a Sprint online account or send them to third-party vendors for printing. The Rumor has 22MB of internal memory, and the memory card slots supports up to 16GB.
The Rumor2's music player has a basic player that supports MP3, MIDI, WAV, AMR, and QCP files. Features are limited to repeat and shuffle modes, but the interface is intuitive. It's easy to load music on the phone using a microSD card. Unfortunately, you can't save music tracks as ring tones, but you can pair contacts with a voice recording. Music quality was just average. Like on the Rumor, the sound lacked warmth. Deep bass was lacking and the audio was somewhat tinny.
You can personalize the Rumor2 with a variety of screensavers, clock and calendar styles, and a greeting. More options, and additional ringtones, are available from Sprint using the WAP 2.0 Web browser. The Rumor2 comes with three demo games--Bejeweled, Guitar Hero II, and Monopoly Word--but you'll have to purchase the full versions for extended play. You also get access to a few apps like Loopt, Nascar Spring Mobile, NFL Mobile, and Social Zone.
Performance
We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) LG Rumor2 in San Francisco using Sprint service. Call quality was about the same as on the Rumor, which is to say it was quite agreeable. The signal was strong, and voices sounded natural. There was less static than on the Rumor, but the audio had a more echoed effect at times. It wasn't a deal-breaker, though. We also noticed that the volume could stand to be a bit louder on our end.
On their end, callers said we sounded fine. Most could tell that we were using a cell phone, but that's not unusual. A few had trouble hearing us when we were speaking in noisy environments, but the complaints were minor. We had few issues when using an automated-calling system, as long as we were in a quiet room.
Speakerphone calls were fine and somewhat improved over the Rumor. The audio was quite clear, and the volume was loud. Callers could understand us even if we spoke a couple of feet from the phone.
It's too bad that the Rumor2 doesn't support Sprint's EV-DO network. That was one of our biggest complaints with the Rumor, and it's too bad that LG couldn't add it in here. It would be quite useful on such an e-mail-centric phone.
The Rumor2 has a rated battery life of 5.5 hours talk time. The tested talk time isn't much longer at 5 hours and 50 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the Rumro2 has a digital SAR rating of 1.51 watts per kilogram, which is rather high.
User reviews
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Serious design flaw not covered by warranty
by Minnebarista on November 20, 2009
Pros: I initially purchased the phone because of the Java support. It is very easy to access your gmail and see photos from this phone. The web browser stinks, however.
Cons: Flexible flat cord positioned very poorly and is extremely easy to damage. Good luck getting warranty service from LG.
Summary: Between the top and bottom halves of the phone there is a flexible flat cord that is very fragile. My daughter and I each had to shell out the $50 ...
Summary: Between the top and bottom halves of the phone there is a flexible flat cord that is very fragile. My daughter and I each had to shell out the $50 co-pay for replacement phones WITHIN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS of owning these. In her case, the cord came loose from the screen when it slipped out of her pocket (a phone of this price should be able to survive a three-foot drop test) and in my case, the flexible flat ribbon just RIPPED for no good reason. LG wouldn't cover this and Sprint could have cared less. This is a repair that could be done with a $4 part, and LG doesn't even give you the option of purchasing the part. I couldn't find any parts online, either. Nightmare.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don't buy this garbage phone!
by hemirick426 on November 7, 2009
Pros: It'll suck you in with it's good looks.
Cons: This phone sucks! I bought it new at the end of Aug. On Oct 25th the screen went black. IG wants me to ship it back for a rebuild. That will take 7-10 working days and I will lose all of my stored data! Don't purchase this piece of crap phone!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It is a great phone for what it is.
by casualsuede on March 18, 2009
Pros: The new design is cooler. Changeable backplates, now has Bluetooth stereo, 4x more memory cap, and comes in two trims.
Cons: The front key pad is cramped. Camera is plainly for on the spot moments.
Summary: I think the CNET article is wrong when it says that there were no improvements. There were many. The first is the improved QWERTY keypad. It now has an extra ...
Summary: I think the CNET article is wrong when it says that there were no improvements. There were many. The first is the improved QWERTY keypad. It now has an extra row for numbers, a directional pad and a quick emoticon key, that I find I use much more than I should.
It also has Bluetooth Stereo (I have a bluetooth stereo headphones and speakers) so that is well needed.
It also has 16 GB max mem capacity, which means I can store alot more songs....when I upgrade my mem card.
It has threaded SMS, a good Sprint navigator (which got me around LA) that doesn't require EVDO and I find it to be a good messaging device. I don't websurf or use alot of multimedia features, so why would I need EVDO?
I'm sure LG was looking for a lower cost device in these times to fight the higher spec'd SS Rant. The good thing about this phone is that is has a better feel and look than the cheap looking Rant. And the writer is wrong. LG does have a QWERTY device with EVDO and better camera.......it's called the LG LOTUS, a much better device.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Far from the best out there.
by mikeman75 on November 14, 2009
Pros: The phone looks nice, and physically using it feels good. It is easy to type things out/dial numbers. You can use both the QWERTY keyboard and the number pad for texting.
The phone seems durable enough. I'd still be afraid of dropping it, though.Cons: The interface is beyond clumsy. It's maddening. The interface is in bad need of improvement.
It is needlessly difficult to find anything.There are some software issues. With the ringer set to vibrate, the phone rings anyways.
Cont'd in bottom line.Summary: You can't set a preloaded picture as a picture for your contacts.
Changing settings is beyond frustrating. I just stopped trying to personalize this phone.
I do no recommend ...Summary: You can't set a preloaded picture as a picture for your contacts.
Changing settings is beyond frustrating. I just stopped trying to personalize this phone.
I do no recommend this phone. It was recommended to me by my sister (who has the original Rumor).
I just got it today. Normally there's a "honeymoon" stage where you might think it's the greatest thing ever because it's new, but this is not the case. I have a strong urge to return it.
But I can't. I would have gone with Motorola again, but the only Moto offered to me was the W315.
Now I'm stuck with this thing. -
This phone sucks..i'd rather have the Samsung Rant
by Virg17 on October 17, 2009
Pros: Good QWERTY Keyboard,
Cons: speaker is on the back of the phone, bad pic quality, no video
Summary: I hate this phone. I would rather have the Samsung Rant. Get the Rant instead!!
Summary: I hate this phone. I would rather have the Samsung Rant. Get the Rant instead!!
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looks great feels solid--then--------read on
by vincent marcellino on September 26, 2009
Pros: good call quality--good keyboard for texting-solid design--
Cons: small font size even when set to large and only 5-five! default ringtones--duh!
Summary: went to the shack and picked up a virgin mobile/sprint rumor 2--went back to the shack replaced the rumor on the rack-hadda give it the sack cause--
the font ...Summary: went to the shack and picked up a virgin mobile/sprint rumor 2--went back to the shack replaced the rumor on the rack-hadda give it the sack cause--
the font size was too damned small!
there were only 5 ringtones and none was the one i like and i will not pay for the classic ringtone-gimme a break!!
and i hate the push shove style of removing the back of any cell phone--especially after using kyoceras and samsungs with an intelligent easy to use lift and remove style-
so the ringtones and the font size were inescapable deal breakers and i am back to my ancient but still the best call quality virgin ever had---oystr!!--hey i can take three seconds per letter to get large print and an earpiece quality that is still the best virgin ever produced--tried 'em all-mantra jax tnt and on and on-still the winnah-the oystr!
hopefully now that sprint and virgin et alii are entwined there will come a higher tech and better sounding device--easy to text and easy to hear--all in one--so hard??-dunno why-
pictures and the net and gps are fine--but the phone still is for calling
and texting
90% of the time----straight ahead ---i hope:) -
It's Alright
by HighNoteXV on September 8, 2009
Pros: Sleek and vibrant design, excellent for e-mail, full and nice qwerty Keyboard.
Cons: Low Camera Quality, almost the same as the original rumor. The Navigation controls are so great.
Summary: Its overall and OK phone A lot of work to do on it...
Summary: Its overall and OK phone A lot of work to do on it...
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Horrible Service - Always Roaming on Verizon
by Jnet911 on August 26, 2009
Pros: Attractive, easy to use, nice features, clear pics.
Cons: I can't get service anywhere and I am always roaming. Also, I can't connect to the internet!
Summary: Do not buy this phone. Get a blackberry instead.
Summary: Do not buy this phone. Get a blackberry instead.
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Useless without the most expensive plans
by DHimsizelf on August 18, 2009
Pros: Good interface, don't need to slide to dial, very good battery life, nice keyboard
Cons: No custom ringtones or games w/o data plan, bad speaker design, has to be propped up or upside down to hear it.
Summary: It's basically the Rumor stripped down to force you to buy data/text plans if you want to use it. If you have a Rumor this is a downgrade, ...
Summary: It's basically the Rumor stripped down to force you to buy data/text plans if you want to use it. If you have a Rumor this is a downgrade, Sprint is doing this with all their phones now. It's a giant disappointment, I wish I would not have gotten it. Before it was that you could transfer music to be your ringtones and transfer games, now they must be downloaded forcing you to have a data plan or pay $7 per ringtone that you download. I'm going to sell this phone and buy a non-affiliate phone that actually has some features you can use, I'm not going to pay an extra $15 a month for a data plan just so I can get some use out of the phones features.
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Okay phone - not for me.
by Breeze61 on July 28, 2009
Pros: Easy-to-read screen
Solid build quality
Roomy keyboard
Easy bluetoothCons: Slippery keys
Not much memory without card
No flash
HEAVY
No right shift keySummary: I use this phone with Sprint. I decided to try the QWERTY keyboard-type phone instead of the clamshell-type I have used forever.
The phone is well built. I like the ...Summary: I use this phone with Sprint. I decided to try the QWERTY keyboard-type phone instead of the clamshell-type I have used forever.
The phone is well built. I like the feel of it. The keyboard slides out with a satisfying click and tactile sensation. The buttons feel solid. The back has a very slight texture which helps grip. The downside to this is that the phone is HEAVY.
Sound quality is quite good. Reception here in the mountains has been fair - better than many phones. Works fine with cheap bluetooth headset I use.
The camera is not very good. With good light and still subjects, the pictures look fine. Anything else, not so much. Lack of a flash hurts, and the camera button is not optimally located.
The vibrate mode does not always seem to take. Usually it vibrates, sometimes not.
The keys are very slippery, and for me that made it difficult. They are easy to feel, however, and very well-lit.
I have only had the phone 25 days and am returning it. I tend to leave it home because of size and weight, though this probably wouldn't bother everyone. I know many women who carry this phone, but they use purses and I use pockets. I am very good at texting on a regular phone keypad, I really don't need the QWERTY. I would also like a flash on my phone. Luckily, there is a 30-day return policy at Sprint.
Overall, the phone does exactly what it says it will, and the quality seems high. But it 's just not for me.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
- Part number: LG265KIT
- Description: LG Rumor 2 is an easy to use and stylish device that features a full sliding QWERTY keyboard enhanced messaging, email and social networking as well as stereo Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera and a large QVGA display. Include in the box is an additional removable backplate, allowing users to personalize their phone. Music-lovers will value LG Rumor 2's MP3 player with microSD memory card slot with large capability. Preloaded with Sprint Navigation, it provides full-feature GPS navigation including voice and on screen turn-by-turn driving directions and more than 10 million business listing.
General
- Product Type Cellular phone With digital camera / digital player
- Service Provider Sprint Nextel
- Width 2.1 in
- Depth 0.7 in
- Height 4.7 in
- Weight 4.2 oz
- Body Color Black
Cellular
- Technology CDMA2000 1X
- Band CDMA 800/1900 (Dual Band)
- Phone Design Slider
- Antenna Internal
- Vibrating Alert Yes
- Polyphonic Ringer Yes
- Call Timer Yes
- Conference Call Capability Yes
- Voice Recorder Yes
- Caller ID Yes
- Speakerphone Yes
- Wireless Interface Bluetooth
- Additional Features TTY compatible, Intelligent typing (T9)
Messaging & Data Services
- Short Messaging Service (SMS) Yes
- Mobile Email Yes
- Internet Browser Yes
- Messaging / Data Features Text messages, Voice messages
Multimedia Features
- Downloadable Content Ring tones, Wallpapers, Audio files, Screensavers
Digital Camera
- Sensor Resolution 1.3 megapixels
Organizer
- Alarm Clock Yes
- Calendar Yes
- Reminder Yes
- Calculator Basic
Display
- Type LCD display
- Display Resolution 240 x 320 pixels
- Color Support Color
- Color Depth 18-bit (262000 Colors)
- Multi-language Menu Yes
Miscellaneous
- Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
- Included Accessories Battery, Changeable rear battery covers, AC phone charger
Power
- Type Power adapter
Battery
- Technology - Lithium ion
- Capacity 950 mAh
- Talk Time 330 min
Product series
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Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
Specs: CDMA 800/1900 (Dual Band), 330 min, With digital camera / digital player, 4.2 oz
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Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
Specs: CDMA 800/1900 (Dual Band), 330 min, With digital camera / digital player, 4.2 oz
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Manufacturer: LG Electronics U.S.A.
Specs: CDMA2000 1X 1900/800, 330 min, 4.2 oz
Manufacturer info
- LG Electronics U.S.A.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse LG Electronics U.S.A. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://us.lge.com/
- Address:
1000 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
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