LG GW990 Comprehensive Review of Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of LG GW990

The LG GW990 was an ambitious smartphone announced by LG in January 2010, but it never made it to the market. It was a part of an innovative effort to bring Intel's Atom processor to the mainstream market within mobile devices, paired with the MeeGo operating system.

Design and Build

The LG GW990 has a sizeable form factor, with dimensions of 146.8 x 64.2 x 12 mm, providing a robust presence in hand. While the specific weight wasn’t disclosed, the phone's build hinted at a device that demanded attention through its size and build. It featured a Mini-SIM slot, conforming with the technology norms of its time.

Display

Equipped with a 4.8-inch TFT display, the LG GW990 aimed to offer a superior viewing experience. The screen had a resolution of 480 x 1024 pixels, delivering a pixel density of approximately 236 ppi. This was relatively high for its time, promising sharp visuals for users.

Platform and Performance

Under the hood, the GW990 housed an Intel Atom processor, a rare choice in the smartphone landscape, designed using the 45nm Pineview architecture. This provided a unique execution environment running on the MeeGo OS, which was a fusion of Intel’s Moblin project and Nokia’s Maemo software platforms. With 512MB of RAM, it was sufficient for standard operations and multitasking capabilities in its intended era.

Camera Capabilities

The device was equipped with a single 5 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash. It was a standard offering at the time with adequate capabilities for capturing everyday moments. Additionally, the GW990 included a front-facing camera, although specific details about its specifications were not elaborated.

Memory and Storage

Offering 512MB of RAM, the GW990 might seem restrained by today’s standards but was typical for devices of its time. It also offered a dedicated microSDHC card slot for expandable storage, catering to users’ needs for extra space for media and applications.

Connectivity Features

Connectivity was a strong suit for the GW990, supporting both GSM and HSPA technologies, with 2G and 3G bands ranging from GSM 850/900/1800/1900 to HSDPA 900/2100. Its data transfer capabilities included HSPA speeds of 7.2/5.76 Mbps, providing decent transfer rates for web browsing and mobile applications. Furthermore, it had Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth for local connectivity, GPS and A-GPS for location services, but lacked a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, audio peripheral integration would likely hinge on proprietary solutions.

Battery Life

The GW990 was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1850 mAh battery, promising a balance between performance and endurance. The benefit of a removable battery gave users the option to carry spares or replace defective batteries without professional help.

Miscellaneous Features

Additional features of the device included an accelerometer sensor for responsive orientation changes, and it supported standard web browsing with xHTML and HTML options. The GW990 was offered in a singular grey color variant at launch.

Conclusion

Although the LG GW990 never reached consumers, its specification highlighted an ambitious move towards integrating desktop-level computing power and unique operating systems into smartphone form factors. If it had launched, it could have presented a compelling option for power users looking for flexibility in a mobile device even by today's standards of mobile technology evolution.