LG Optimus L5 E610 Review
While LG is ramping up operations in their Lineup, their recent Indian launches were well received. Among them was the LG Optimus L5.
Build Quality and Design
The phone is decently build along the same design elements as the Optimus 4X HD, the over excessive use of plastic is kind of disappointing. The phone does not rattle , but bends with a squeak and may actually worry a lot of its users.
The form factor of the phone is pretty great, while a 4 inch display format in this price range is still very rare.
Display
The L series have pretty strange pixel densities, and the L5 is no exception. Its 320×480 pixels on a 4” display make the images appear much coarser than what you are used to with even the cheapest Sony or Samsung Android phones these days. A possible reason for the pixel density could be LG ability to cut costs.
The display also has weak viewing angles, and suffers from vertical as well as horizontal washing, when tilted away from the eyes.
Software and UI
LG has slapped Optimus UX overlay on ICE Cream Sandwich Android 4.0, the only real saving grace on this phone. LG’s new UX is pretty impressive with themes and a lot of customisation options. More or less keeping the same android features and adding a bit of their elements like customisable toggles in the notification panel, a new Keyboards and dialer etc.
Camera and Multimedia
The phone has quite a capable camera, that does decent imaging. The camera is not at par with the likes of smartphones from Samsung or even the two year old iPhone 4, but will get you by in day to day shooting. The camera does 480p video and may disappoint a lot of users, considering a minimum 720p is the norm nowadays.
The display although coarse has good colour reproduction and serves well for movie and video playback. The way the interface is stitched with Android, the playback is very smooth and will not disappoint the user. Streaming video over the internet may be a little buggy but Wifi is nice and stable. Audio is decent from the speaker although one would prefer using an alternate medium of audio out.
Phone, Messaging and Network
No criticism here the networks are solid and steady, phone call quality was at par with any other phone and the earpiece and microphone do a great job of making this possible. Handsfree may turn out to be a chore with the speakerphone, but then again no one really uses it except in emergency, and during that time the L5 should suffice.
The new keyboard layout makes messaging easy and although LG is yet to introduce “Quick Voice”, the phone does have Google’s stock dictation which works fairly well with the Indian accent. Messaging and typing in general is done with ease and if needed several supplemental keyboard app/ replacements from the Play Store make is more customised to the users liking.
Battery Life
- Talk Time 3G network(data off): 5 Hours
- Talk Time 2g (data off) : 6.5 hours
- Internet : N/A
- Music : 8.5 Hours
- Video : 5.5 hours
- Talk Time 3G network(data on): 4.5 Hours
- Talk Time 2g (data on) : 6 hours
- Internet : 6 Hours
- Music : 8.5 Hours
- Video : 5 hours
- Talk Time 3G network(data off): 5 Hours
- Talk Time 2g (data off) : 6 hours
- Internet : 6.5 Hours
- Music : 8 Hours
- Video : 5 hours
Conclusion
The LG Optimus L5 is not the best phone in this price bracket, but is the only one which offers a 4 Inch display and ICS out of the box with the hardware it holds. Although many other phones with similar pricing and better hardware or phones with same hardware and better pricing are available, the L5 does add to ones usage experience. their new UI is fresh and a unique twist to customisations on the stock rom.
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