LG Optimus Black White Edition Comprehensive Review Specs & Price

Design and Build Quality

The LG Optimus Black, in its white version, boasts a sleek and modern design that appeals to consumers looking for both fashion and functionality. Measuring 122 x 64 x 9.2 mm and weighing a mere 109 grams, it ensures portability and ease of use. Its slim design, at just 9.2mm thickness, was quite impressive at the time of its release, offering a comfortable grip and fit in any pocket or purse. The durable build is reflected in its Corning Gorilla Glass protection, making it resistant to daily scratches and drops.

Display Quality

The device features a 4.0-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, translating to a pixel density of approximately 233 ppi. This screen quality was noteworthy in its day, providing vivid colors and decent viewing angles. The screen-to-body ratio of around 58.3% ensures a good balance between display size and the overall dimensions of the phone. The addition of Corning Gorilla Glass means users could enjoy multimedia without worrying much about damaging their screens in everyday use scenarios.

Hardware and Performance

Under the hood, the LG Optimus Black is powered by a TI OMAP 3630 chipset paired with a 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 CPU and a PowerVR SGX530 GPU. While by today's standards this hardware might seem modest, back in 2011, it offered sufficient power for running most applications and games available for Android 2.2 and 2.3. The phone comes with 512MB of RAM and 2GB of internal storage, which could be expanded via a microSDHC card slot, allowing users to store more apps, photos, and media files.

Camera Capabilities

The LG Optimus Black is equipped with a 5 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash, capable of capturing images with acceptable quality for its time. It can record video at 720p@30fps, which was standard for smartphones in this category during that release year. The device also features a 2 MP front camera for selfies and video calls, a decent inclusion for social media enthusiasts of the era.

Battery Life

The phone is powered by a removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery, providing enough juice to last through a typical day of moderate usage, involving calls, texts, browsing, and media consumption. The ability to replace the battery is an added advantage, allowing users to carry spare batteries if needed for extended usage times away from power sources.

Software and User Interface

The device originally launched with Android 2.2 Froyo and is upgradable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This flexibility allowed users to experience various improvements in features and app compatibility over time. LG's user interface add-ons on the Android platform, such as Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA capabilities, provided users with enhanced connectivity and sharing options.

Connectivity and Sensors

The LG Optimus Black supports GSM and HSPA network technologies, with a range of supported 2G and 3G bands providing reasonable call and mobile data performance. The device also includes Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR for wireless communication, GPS for navigation, Stereo FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. Sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass are included to enhance user interaction and application functionality.

Audio and Multimedia

This smartphone includes a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing users to enjoy music and audio content without needing adapters. With DLNA and Wi-Fi Direct support, users can seamlessly stream multimedia content to compatible devices, adding to its versatility as an entertainment device.

Market Position and Legacy

At its launch, the LG Optimus Black was positioned as a mid-range smartphone with appealing features that catered to both young and older users looking for a stylish yet functional device. Priced at about 140 EUR, it provided good value, particularly with its design aesthetics and display technology. Despite being discontinued, its legacy continues as part of LG's contribution to the smartphone evolution, highlighting the significance of design aesthetics in consumer electronics.

Conclusion

The LG Optimus Black in its white variant remains a memorable entry in the lineage of LG smartphones, offering a combination of sleek design, decent performance capabilities, and useful features. While it has been surpassed by modern smartphones in terms of specifications and capabilities, it remains a testament to the innovations in mobile technology during its time.