News - LG Optimus 4X HD, super high-end smartphone, unveiled

[HEXUS]

Featuring epic 4.7 inch 720p, Tegra 3 quad-core, Android 4.0 ICS power!

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[crossy]

Looks like a reasonable spec'd device, but I thought that LG didn't exactly have a good reputation for being on the ball with software updates.

Plus, unless the models used have dainty hands, it looks a little too large to be comfortable to hold for any length of time. Surely we must be getting close to mini tablet (Dell Streak?) sized dimensions?

[brasco]

Hate to be a naysayer with this but I find larger smartphones a pita, I'm all for higher density screens no bigger than 4"! First we had monstor size phones carried mainly by cars then to piddly small-only-tiny-hands-could use and now we're back up to Dom-Jolly-"HELLO!" phones Reign it in smartphone makers!

brasc

[Siuko]

Sorry but I wont be purchasing any more LG phones after the terrible lack of support for the ghost calls issue with the LG Optimus 3D gingerbread update.

So it doesn't really matter if it looks fantastic if you cant receive calls or texts randomly lol!

The XDA developers thread that mentions the problems

[jimborae]

Yep I agree the phones are getting too big, my Galaxy Nexus is just a bit too big and makes it fiddly to play around with. The Galaxy SII is about ideal and my LG 2X is also a great size.

[Hicks12]

you're right crossy their reputation is crap, however the fact that is coming out with ICS is a different story, over the last couple of months LG have released a couple of ROMs for the Optimus2x and its included a crap load of fixes this time, i mean loads its as if they were scanning XDA and fixing xyz . If we get ICS on the O2x by q2 like they said then it would have restored my faith in them as the hardwares solid and custom roms > stock on any device really! I must add though that i think Nvidia is the one making it harder for LG, if Nvidia are failing to provide their code open source style then maybe LG have been given the cold shoulder aswell on the Tegra2 chip, tis the only reason we dont have a 100% ICS rom (cyanogen) yet, its pathetic.

Im worried that going with Nvidia again will cause frustration by users and developers, hopefully nvidia learnt their lesson!

Now onto the phone, smaller than the samsung note i believe? Its looking like a solid device but i agree 4.7" is to big for a phone, i know people say about 4.3" screen etc but really after having a 4.3" HD2 for awhile it was excellent but i was at the maximum point where if it was wider/larger it would be uncomfortable to use one handed, my O2x being 4.0" doesnt look smaller at all but compared to the sensation and galaxy s2 its much easier and less strain to handle however im happy with either. So this wont be a phone for me but ill be interested whats out may next year so i can take out a new contract or buy a new one outright unless my O2x is still alive .

[Scribe]

With any luck the LG will have taken on-board the Android 4.0 philosophy with a little Google persuasion and we'll get something a little more standardised. Likewise the Tegra 3 has been out for a while now with focus on the ICS software base and so I'd hope to see some good drivers.

[crossy]

With any luck the LG will have taken on-board the Android 4.0 philosophy with a little Google persuasion and we'll get something a little more standardised. Likewise the Tegra 3 has been out for a while now with focus on the ICS software base and so I'd hope to see some good drivers.

Given the howls of protest from Asus Transformer Prime users, (which also uses Tegra3, and has ICS on it), I'd guess that ATP owners are being used by NVidia to beta test their Android drivers!

Hopefully, all the makers launching ICS phones this quarter will be on board with the philosophy and we'll have no more of this "the only OS release you get is the one it ships with" nonsense.

@jimborae: originally I thought the SII was too big, however maybe I'm fooling myself (because I want one!) but now I tend to agree with you that perhaps the SII's form factor is near to the limit of what I'd find "comfortable".

[Hicks12]

With any luck the LG will have taken on-board the Android 4.0 philosophy with a little Google persuasion and we'll get something a little more standardised. Likewise the Tegra 3 has been out for a while now with focus on the ICS software base and so I'd hope to see some good drivers.

Indeed i hope they have taken it on board as it is the only issue i have with LG . Not sure on Tegra3 mind, its not about the drivers as thats solid anyway (same as tegra2) but the issue is specifically for tegra2 phones that Nvidia have released no useful code so nothing developers can use to actually support it, which is why GB and now ICS is a hacked job with reverse engineering and stuff due to Nvidia refusing to release the code, im just hoping they actually release this for Tegra3... its much more likely due to Asus having it and if people like Samsung take it up aswell in their phones then 100% expect good support for the custom rom community! .

[cheesemp]

Having read the specs of this I'm really really tempted. I'd like to see a few reviews though first just to be sure they are getting on top of the bug ROMs issue. I know I could stick a custom ROM on it but I've never bothered with my X10 (just rooted) so don't feel the need to this time. Just have to hope its available when my contract is up...

[Scribe]

@jimborae: originally I thought the SII was too big, however maybe I'm fooling myself (because I want one!) but now I tend to agree with you that perhaps the SII's form factor is near to the limit of what I'd find "comfortable".

I'd say Samsung agree, though they have the Galaxy Note for heavy business use with its larger screen, for a typical smartphone they're now looking at pushing limits of thickness and screen-boarders as opposed to increasing device size.

[kopite]

There are some nice looking devices that are supposed to be getting anounced at mwc and the LG does look good.

I`m more interesting in the HTC endeavour as my last 2 phones have been htc or the galazy s3 as rumour have it that it will come with 2 gb ram

[Arthran]

see, I feel like the odd one out, but I want the larger screen. I'm trying to trade up from my new S2 to a Note, because I want that bigger screen. In my mind it stops me having to carry 2 devices around as a 4.7" screen is almost large enough for me to do my job from it!

[Brewster0101]

LG have generally a poor software team for their phones and lack the support offered by Samsung or HTC. This phone be all singing and dancing on launch but if you expect updates when new versions of Android are released then an LG phone is not a safe bet.

LG on the whole (mobile, TV, Bluray) have a poor software team and lack good support.

[laywill]

I've had a Desire HD for about 15 months now with my contract ending soon and I LOVE the big >4" phones because I have much larger hands than most, so these phones allow me to type reliably without hitting 2 or 3 keys at once! That was the problem that plagued me on my old HTC Hero and is an occasional problem on iPhone for me.

I welcome large phones warmly, but I wish that the software they ship with could be more power efficient! My Desire HD struggles to make it past 12 or 14 hours away from a charger with WiFi/3G on which if I'm working late evenings on a gig means its dead if i forget my charger in the morning!

Summary: Much love for big screened phones with loads of features. But please please please can they have some more battery life!!!!

[miniyazz]

My Desire HD struggles to make it past 12 or 14 hours away from a charger with WiFi/3G on which if I'm working late evenings on a gig means its dead if i forget my charger in the morning!

Tasker with a couple of choice events, root & setCPU boosts the battery in mine to two days without difficulty (and 4+ if I'm barely using it, but that's hardly fair)

Summary: Much love for big screened phones with loads of features. But please please please can they have some more battery life!!!!

This!