Manage updates with the Download AppLG Optimus V (Virgin Mobile)
Manufacturer: LG Part number: OptimusV
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The LG Optimus V is a great entry-level Android smartphone if you want to go the prepaid route.
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CNET editors' review
LG Optimus V (Virgin Mobile) price range: $79.00 - $129.99
- Reviewed by: Nicole Lee
- Reviewed on: 01/31/2011
- Released on: 02/01/2011
The good: The LG Optimus V is a slim and simple Android smartphone. It ships with Android 2.2 and features Wi-Fi, GPS, EV-DO Rev. A, and a 3.2-megapixel camera. It is also affordable.
The bad: The LG Optimus V does not have hot-spot tethering, nor does it have Flash video in the browser.
The bottom line: The LG Optimus V is a great entry-level Android smartphone if you want to go the prepaid route.
User reviews
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Good for the money, but don't expect great.
by Captiosus on March 10, 2011
Pros: Retail friendly price; Android 2.2; Easy Setup; Budget friendly pre-paid plans
Cons: Lousy battery life unless you tweak most of the settings, low-end processor leading to laggy apps and games, no LED camera flash, factory reset forces you to go through the activation process again, preinstalled apps that can't be deleted w/o root
Summary: I have to say I'm rather flabbergasted at all these 5-star reviews and I suspect they're being driven, mostly, by the cost of the service rather than the ...
Summary: I have to say I'm rather flabbergasted at all these 5-star reviews and I suspect they're being driven, mostly, by the cost of the service rather than the performance of the phone. My wife and I picked up two of these from Radio Shack at 149.99 each when our AT&T contract expired to reduce our overall cellular expenses. For my wife, who has never had a smartphone before, it's perfect. For me, someone who is coming off the iPhone 3GS, this phone leaves a lot to be desired.
First, and foremost, let me address the battery issue. Battery life is absolutely horrid in the out-of-the-box (OOBE) configuration. After doing a battery calibration (full discharge to full recharge), with OOBE settings, I monitored the battery literally dropping 35% in 3 hours. The solution for anyone complaining about battery life is this:
- Turn off Live Wallpapers, they eat a ton of power.
- Turn off GPS unless you REALLY need it.
- Try to minimize the amount of e-mail addresses you add to the device to one or two.
- Disable background sync of e-mail, Facebook and Twitter accounts.
- Disable background data downloading (you will have to turn it on every time you use market).
- Get a Task Killing app like Advanced Task Killer Pro and set it to kill your apps every time you lock the screen.
Doing all of the above will SIGNIFICANTLY boost your battery lifespan. Of course, you'll have to manually sync everything when you use it, and switch GPS and Background Data on and off when you need them. If you leave everything as pre-configured, you can expect your battery to die in 10-13 hours, even in standby.
The screen resolution is ok, a bit fuzzy at times on both devices, so I suspect it's a problem with all LG Optimus S/V models. The processor in this unit is only a 600MHz one, so while the cNet review claims the Optimus V may see Android 2.3, don't hold your breath on that one (most of the current 2.3 devices have 1GHz processors). This processor is barely able to keep up with most games, including Angry Birds, where the simple act of rendering a bird being flung across the screen can make the phone's graphics choppy and laggy. The same lag holds true for many apps and Google Maps runs PAINFULLY slow when using satellite view.
Virgin Mobile's price is a double-edge sword. SMS takes forever to go through, and pictures sometimes won't even send. They included a series of apps on the phone which cannot be uninstalled without rooting the phone, one of which - an app named Where - will DESTROY your battery life on its own if you leave background data and GPS on. Additionally, if, for any unforeseen circumstance, you need to do a factory reset on your phone, you have to go through the activation process with Virgin Mobile again.
In short, before buying know what you're getting into. The $25 monthly tag looks great, but this phone, based on technical specs, is a low-end to mid-grade Android phone that probably won't be receiving any 2.3 or 2.3.3 updates. Heavy use will drain the phone with ease, even with the tweaks, and has a penchant for being slow and laggy. It's a great "first" smartphone, but if you've had others, you will find yourself demanding better.17 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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AMAZING and CHEAP!!! BEST BUY EVER!!!!
by Verzula on February 10, 2011
Pros: -Camera - crisp, clear and 3.2 megapixels is pretty dang good!!
-Speed - apps and websites open up as fast as a 3gs if not faster
-Screen - finger prints are hardly ever seen
-Swype - texting so much faster
-Apps - Google enough said
-Touch ResponseCons: - onboard keyboard is tight yet swype texting beats the need for a large keyboard
- longer battery lifeSummary: Ok so everyone and anyone that wants to pay $25 and get unlimited data/texts(pics) and 300 minutes and with no contract with a touch screen android phone then ...
Summary: Ok so everyone and anyone that wants to pay $25 and get unlimited data/texts(pics) and 300 minutes and with no contract with a touch screen android phone then may I introduce the LG OPTIMUS V. My god is this phone amazing and I am the person that is coming from a iPhone 3gs, yes an iPhone 3gs 16gb white.
The difference between these two is that the iPhone 3gs needs a contract and that the LG Optimus V uses free google gps and has swype texting (which makes texting so much faster trust me) and has many more apps like google voice recognition for search and texting unlike the iPhone 3gs.
The only difference between these two is that the iphone 3gs screen is slightly bigger and I say slightly but since I've had this phone for more than a week now I can confirm that you hardly notice any difference.
Also, unlike many other carriers and phones I've used this phone can get hot-spot (you cnet people need to download the app sheesh) and use the unlimited Virgin Mobile unlimited data plan to use it for your laptop for taking the train or anywhere you are located and are receiving 3g!!!!
And for your information I commute every day 25 miles into the heart of chicago from the suburbs and NEVER lose any reception along the way, because ever since SPRINT took over Virgin Mobile, VM's service is phenomenal and always stays true to its word about bringing the best coverage for the cheapest value (and do not get fooled by the word cheap - the phone with this $25 plan will kick any carrier out of the water).
I've always HAD Att and iPhone from 2g to 3g and then 3gs but eventually got fed up with paying at least $80 per month and being on a contract that I tried this prepaid plan out and I have loved it ever since.
If you are even thinking about getting prepaid let me tell you Virgin Mobile gives you the best bang for your buck, has the best, most polite customer service (called them five times for different things and was assisted in the best way), and uses SPRINT's 3g service and its towers therefore has the BEST coverage especially anywhere in the Chicago land area including Milwaukee and even up to Madison - yes never lost signal once while traveling even that far away.
Best part is that you can import your prior number so you don't have to alert everyone on your contact list that you have a new phone AND yes there is even BETTER NEWS the app BUMP can shift all your contacts from either another android phone or iphone to this phone in a matter of seconds so no need to input all those phone numbers.
I am truly loving this service and this phone and as a graduate student let me tell you this is TRULY the best thing that's ever happened to me...and to think I actually spent 4 grand over two and half years paying ATT for unreliable service.
Even if you are thinking about this go out to your nearest Target or Radio Shack and try it out both give you 30-90 days for return policy and if you don't like it return it for the full refund and for the pre-paid card also.
Though you will like it please let everyone know how your experience was so we can let people know what the best product is so other phone companies should compete and give US CONSUMERS better pricing!!!!!!18 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A very awesome first time smart phone
by Desmock on February 11, 2011
Pros: - Responsive Touchscreen
- Good connection up at almost all times (I never lose 3G it seems like)
- Easy learning curve, especially if you're coming from another phone like iPhone 3GS
- Fast phone for not a lot of $$$Cons: - Internal phone memory is smaaaalll... should be larger but it is only $150 for the phone
- Some games lag, despite GPU
- Stock Bloatware is very unappealing
- I dunno... this phone rocks, not a lot wrong with itSummary: I came from using an iPhone 3GS 32GB phone to using this phone. I gotta tell ya, it's definitely different but all in all, despite the fact that the ...
Summary: I came from using an iPhone 3GS 32GB phone to using this phone. I gotta tell ya, it's definitely different but all in all, despite the fact that the app market for Android is smaller than the iPhones app market, it still has an astounding selection to choose from. Not to mention the quality of the free apps parallel that of the paid apps on an iPhone.
I never got to play around with an iPhone 4, but I doubt that 3 vs 4 could match the awesome abilities that all comes with a phone like this. I tell it to do something verbally and it knows and does it. Or I take a picture with Google Goggles and bam, it knows what it is just on the picture alone.
Not to mention, as EVERYONE here has pointed out, the phone is CHEAP for a smart phone with all these options available to it. AND the plans that come for Virgin Mobile smart phones:
$25 / 300 Anytime Minutes & Unlimited Texting, Web, & Data
$40 / 1200 Anytime Minutes & Unlimited Texting, Web & Data
$60 / Unlimited Everything
Tell me ONE OTHER company that offers THAT sweet of a deal, ANY of those plans are A+ compared to any other prepaid or contract plan from any other carrier. You have Boost Mobile maybe, with their $60 Unlimited Everything but that's it, and they don't have THIS sweet phone (At least yet).
The customer support here is awesome, I had an issue with my minute pack and they did it for me AND gave me an extra 100 minutes. Then quite a few times, when I had not repaid on my plan in a while, I'd get FREE months just to keep me going, what other company gives you freaking free months of service?
All in all... this phone is NOT the latest and greatest piece of hardware out there, but it IS very freakin fast for it's price, of CHEAPNESS, $150.00. It's plan smashes all other plans. It's just an awesome buy for a first time smart phone buyer or someone who just wants a great deal. I love this phone. I will always recommend.8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Android Phone- Better than Samsung Intercept
by sdxben on February 1, 2011
Pros: This review is incorrect in saying it does not have hotspot. It does, you just need to download "Quick Settings" from the market and can be seen in options.
Cons: No Flash and no hardware keyboard if that bothers you. Also, screen is not glass- easy to scratch- get screen protector!
Summary: This phone is slick and fast running on Rev.A. It is rumored that it will receive an upgrade this spring to Gingerbread. At $150 available at RadioShack right now- ...
Summary: This phone is slick and fast running on Rev.A. It is rumored that it will receive an upgrade this spring to Gingerbread. At $150 available at RadioShack right now- cheaper than the inferior Virgin Mobile Samsung Intercept ($250) you can't go wrong! With a $25 dollar unlimited plan and future capability on VOIP this is a must have.
8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a great phone regardless of price.
by gigg865 on February 3, 2011
Pros: Speedy, very responsive, excellent fit and finish. Excellent value.
Cons: Battery life.
Summary: This is a great phone, so glad I waited for this one before springing for the intercept. Comparing the two side by side, the intercept feels a little cheap and ...
Summary: This is a great phone, so glad I waited for this one before springing for the intercept. Comparing the two side by side, the intercept feels a little cheap and fragile. This phone however feels great in the hand. I love the actual buttons instead of capacitive buttons. My only con about this phone is battery life. I wish the battery lasted about 20% longer at least. I have to keep a cable with me at work to charge it at work. The case does not pick up fingerprints at all, I really love that. It really feels like a nice expensive phone. Voice actions are AWESOME.Paying $25 a month for a smart phone is just icing on the cake.
6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Smartphone would recommend it :)
by linkinparkfan007 on February 1, 2011
Pros: Yes it does have hotspot capability I have the Optimus One on Telus and it works great. Fast when overclocked, and fixed touchscreen driver, also with Adreno 200 enabled.
Cons: No HD Screen, or 1GHZ CPU, no HD Video but it isn't expected for the great price.
Summary: Great smartphone for half the price. It is a great alternative compared to the iPhone 3GS and Android is becoming the market leader in 2011.
Summary: Great smartphone for half the price. It is a great alternative compared to the iPhone 3GS and Android is becoming the market leader in 2011.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is a great phone for newer smartphone users!
by brianthompson1 on March 22, 2011
Pros: 3G, GPS, Swype, Android App market
Cons: none so far
Summary: This is my first all touchscreen phone as well as my first android phone. It is perfect for newer smartphone users, and with Virgin Mobile's unbeatable $25 plan, you ...
Summary: This is my first all touchscreen phone as well as my first android phone. It is perfect for newer smartphone users, and with Virgin Mobile's unbeatable $25 plan, you get unlimited text, web, and data, with 300 minutes each month! The phone comes with Android 2.2 FroYo installed and is reasonably responsive and quick.
I am very pleased with this purchase and recommend the phone and Virgin Mobile to anyone looking for an outstanding deal.
Use this Kickback Code when you activate the phone for an extra hour (60 minutes) of free talk time: LYvVGMsJ3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Goodbye AT&T, It was a long, horrible, expensive road!
by cclem700 on February 18, 2011
Pros: Android 2.2, Virgin Mobile CS
Cons: None to report
Summary: I finally decided to quit giving AT&T $130.00+ every month for sub standard coverage. I did enjoy the Samsung Captivate, but I honestly don't miss anything ...
Summary: I finally decided to quit giving AT&T $130.00+ every month for sub standard coverage. I did enjoy the Samsung Captivate, but I honestly don't miss anything about it. I ported my AT&T number over and it took less than 2 hours start to finish. Please Note: If you plan to port over, do not buy air time when you buy the phone, wait until you talk to customer service first(I have heard activating your new phone prior can cause some delays) The coverage is phenomenal in comparison with AT&T(I was not pre-paid with them but can only assume the pre-pay AT&T is just as bad, if not worse) Navigation works 10x better than the captivate! Having REAL FROYO is nice too. So far the experience has been nothing but great. The Virgin Mobile customer service reps are extremely efficient, answer quickly(no long hold times) and speak FLUENT ENGLISH! A++++
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Really cheap but you get what you pay for
by mrssmitty2012 on March 8, 2012
Pros: Cheap phone with cheap monthly payments
No contract
Internet usually won't work
Half the time you can't even make a phone call
None of the apps work very often
The texting doesn't even work all the time
(needed more than 250 characters under Cons)Cons: SLOW as heck!
Randomly closes apps/turns off/freezes
Drops calls more often than not
Comes with lots of dumb apps that you can't unistall
Sometimes texts take several hours to send/receive!!!
They Swype always chooses the dumbest non-words imaginableSummary: It's cheaper per month than any other phone of its kind, but there's a reason for that! I wasted $130 buying this crummy phone. I've had it ...
Summary: It's cheaper per month than any other phone of its kind, but there's a reason for that! I wasted $130 buying this crummy phone. I've had it several months and am getting a different one ASAP!
I deeply regret buying this phone. It's almost worse than not having a phone at all.
Updated on Mar 8, 20122 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Read this review! (Thanks JOhnnyZ)
by covlov96 on June 1, 2011
Pros: 2 important hints: 1) If your battery only charges to 50% or so, simply make sure phone is turned OFF when you charge. EAAASSSYYY fix. 2) If you are having trouble connecting to internet, go to Airplane Mode, turn on Airplane Mode, wait a few seconds
Cons: xxxxxxxxxx
Summary: "This is THE best smartphone deal out there!" on May 20, 2011 by J0hnnyZ (1 review)
Pros: Everything, there is no cons. Flash is moot. Battery life is great if ...Summary: "This is THE best smartphone deal out there!" on May 20, 2011 by J0hnnyZ (1 review)
regarding internet connection (see 'pros' above) remember to turn airplane mode on, then off. Wait a few seconds, then try to reconnect to the internet. Works for me EVERY time..
Pros: Everything, there is no cons. Flash is moot. Battery life is great if you know how to use the phone.
$25 for 300 minutes talk, and unlimited text and data? Are you kidding me? no brainer (only $15 more for 1200 if you need it!)
Cons: none, yeah, there's none
If you were expecting some super advanced phone for $150-200 with no contract then why did you buy this phone?
Summary: OK, the biggest complaint I see about this phone is the battery life. I use live wallpaper on my phone. I can work an 8 hour day and listen to Pandora for the ENTIRE 8 hours with this phone, after which it is close to dead. I even use live wallpaper for my background. If I don't use Pandora I can go the 8 hours and have approximately 65% battery when I get home, including 20-30 minutes of gaming (angry birds would probably use another 15%). If I don't do any gaming, I'll have close to 50% battery when I go to bed. This is after approximately 16 hours.
The secret is from most obvious to least obvious):
Turn off GPS
Turn off WiFi
Turn auto-sync off!!! (set up a separate sync button so you can check your email if you need to)
Every morning after I unplug my phone from the charger I turn it off, and then on again.
DO NOT USE TASK KILLERS. Use watchdog, to find misbehaving apps and kill them.
Key apps:
Remote droid: control my computer/HTPC with my Optimus V as a mouse/keyboard
Widgetsoid: I can toggle WiFi/Hotspot/GPS/Sync/Brightness from my home screen (also make customized control panels, such as for % battery)
Watchdog: find those apps that are killing your battery life (I whitelist my live wallpapers)
MP3 Ringtone maker: Make a ringtone from a specific starting point in an mp3
ColorNote: Stickies for reminders to do stuff and things.
Shush!: App for automatically re-enabling your sound
Subsonic: Stream music from your computer remotely, oh wait now you don't need a big MicroSD card!
TuneIn Radio: Listen to local radio or radio anywhere in the world!
TiKL: Stupid name, awesome app! Push-to-talk with friends or co-workers over data. No minute usage!
Astro: Navigate your file system easily
Bubble Blast 2: endless addictively fun game.
Updated on Jun 1, 20112 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: LG
- Part number: OptimusV
- Description: LG Optimus V touts advanced features and user-friendly simplicity. Having the brilliant Android 2.2 operating system and Google app functionality, users are set with everything they need to navigate through their daily life. They will be pleased to find that searches are an easy command away with Google Voice Search and a large, vibrant touchscreen crisply displays all the results. What's more, Optimus V sports 5 customizable home screens so users have the option of compartmentalizing their needs in a multitude of combination's. Now that's just smart.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Smartphone
- Form Factor Touch
- Phone Design PDA
- Integrated Components GPS receiver,
Digital camera,
Digital player,
Voice recorder - Width 1.9 in
- Depth 0.89 in
- Height 3.5 in
- Weight 4.7 oz
- Body Color Black
Cellular
- Technology CDMA2000 1X
- Band CDMA2000 1X 1900
- Mobile Broadband Generation 3G
- Service Provider Virgin Mobile
- Operating System Android 2.2 OS
- Input Device(s) Touch sensitive screen , Capacitive
Messaging & Internet
- Cellular Messaging Services MMS,
SMS - Instant Messaging Services Google Talk
- Supported Social Networks and Blogs MySpace,
Twitter,
Facebook - Messaging & Data Features Text messages,
E-Mail,
Voice mail - Downloadable Content Applications
- Mobile Services YouTube,
Gmail,
Google Search,
Google Play Communications
- Data Transmission EV-DO
- Wireless Interface IEEE 802.11b/g,
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR - Bluetooth Profiles Object Push Profile (OPP),
Hands Free Profile (HFP),
Headset Profile (HSP),
File Transfer Profile (FTP),
Phonebook Access Profile (PBAP),
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP),
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) - Communication Features Internet browser,
Mobile Email client Phone Features
- Phone Functions Voice control,
Call timer,
Conference call,
Flight mode,
Speakerphone,
Voice dialing,
Vibrating alert - Polyphonic Ringer Yes
- Ring Tone Formats MP3
- Sensors Proximity sensor
- Additional Features Text-to-Speech (text recognition),
Picture editor,
TTY compatible,
Widgets support,
Intelligent typing (SWYPE) Organizer
- Personal Information Management Calendar,
Calculator,
Reminder,
Alarm clock Media Player
- Supported Digital Audio Standards AAC +,
MP3,
WMA,
AAC - Supported Digital Video Standards MPEG-4,
WMV,
3GP Processor
- Type QUALCOMM MSM7627
- Clock Speed 600 MHz
Memory
- User Memory 160 MB
- Supported Flash Memory Cards microSDHC - up to 32 GB
Digital Camera
- Sensor Resolution 3.2 megapixels
- Still Image Resolutions 2048 x 1536
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Digital Zoom 4
- Video Recorder Resolutions 640 x 480 (VGA)
- Features Video recording,
Macro function Navigation System
- GPS Navigation A-GPS receiver - Simultaneous GPS (S-GPS)
- Navigation Software & Services Google Maps
Display
- Type LCD display - Color
- Diagonal Size 3.2 in
- Display Resolution 320 x 480 pixels
- Color Depth 24-bit (16.7 million colors)
Connections
- Connector Type Micro-USB
Battery
- Capacity 1500 mAh
- Run Time Details Talk ( CDMA ) - up to 360 min,
Standby ( CDMA ) - up to 168 hour(s) Miscellaneous
- Compliant Standards HAC(Hearing Aid Compatible)
- Included Accessories Power adapter , Power adapter
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse LG products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:LG
- Address:
1000 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
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