LG GW820 eXpo Ultimate Specs Pricing & Features Revealed

Overview of LG GW820 eXpo

The LG GW820 eXpo was a smartphone that made its debut in December 2009. Manufactured by LG Electronics, this device aimed to merge the functionalities of a smartphone with the versatility of Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional operating system. Although this device has been discontinued, it remains a point of interest for collectors and tech enthusiasts who appreciate the evolution of smartphone technology.

Design and Build

The LG GW820 eXpo was designed with a solid form factor, measuring 114 x 56 x 15 mm and weighing 147.4 grams. The physical construction included a sliding QWERTY keyboard, which was a signature feature for phones during that era and catered to users who preferred physical keys for typing. The mini-SIM slot supported GSM networks, and the finish was in classic black, offering a professional aesthetic.

Display

The display of the LG GW820 eXpo consisted of a 3.2-inch TFT resistive touchscreen which supported 16 million colors, although only 65K were effectively utilized due to the technology limitations of the time. The screen had a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, providing reasonable clarity and detail for multimedia usage. Despite the small screen-to-body ratio of approximately 45.7%, it was adequate for the user interfaces of that time.

Performance

Performance-wise, the device was powered by a Qualcomm QSD8250 Snapdragon S1 chipset and a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU, complemented by an Adreno 200 GPU. This hardware combination was quite competitive during its release, allowing users to enjoy various applications supported by the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. The device was equipped with 256MB RAM and offered 512MB of ROM storage, which could be expanded via a dedicated microSDHC slot.

Camera

The main camera of the LG GW820 eXpo was a 5MP shooter with autofocus capabilities. It included an LED flash, which improved photo-taking in low-light conditions. Video recording was supported at a resolution of 480p, which was the standard for devices in that era. However, the phone did not include a front-facing camera, reflecting the usage trends before video calls became mainstream.

Battery Life

The device housed a removable Li-Po 1500 mAh battery. This offered a standby time of up to 408 hours and a talk time of approximately 4 hours. The ability to remove and replace the battery was a common and appreciated feature at the time, giving users the flexibility to carry spare batteries for extended usage.

Connectivity

For network connectivity, the phone supported GSM and HSPA technologies, with 2G and 3G band compatibility. The data transfer speeds could reach up to 7.2 Mbps on HSPA networks. Additional connectivity options included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS with A-GPS support, and a microUSB 2.0 port for data transfer and charging. Notably, the phone lacked a radio and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may have limited its appeal to some users.

Sensors and Additional Features

The LG GW820 eXpo included several sensors such as a front-mounted fingerprint sensor and an accelerometer. These added layers of functionality and security for users, in line with the increasing emphasis on user data protection. The phone's browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML, accommodating the browsing needs of its users.

Market Context and Conclusion

Priced around 90 EUR at its launch, the LG GW820 eXpo was positioned as a mid-range smartphone with competitive features for its time. It was a representation of the transitional phase in mobile technology, where phones began to incorporate more computing capabilities giving users richer experiences. Despite its discontinuation, the LG GW820 eXpo remains a testament to the rapid evolution of mobile technology over the early 2000s.