LG Optimus Pad V900 Comprehensive Review & Pricing

Introduction to LG Optimus Pad V900

The LG Optimus Pad V900 was one of the first tablet devices developed by LG Electronics, released in May 2011. It was designed to cater to the growing demand for portable and functional tablet devices. Although it has since been discontinued, it remains a fascinating piece of technology from the early 2010s.

Design and Build

The LG Optimus Pad V900 featured a sleek and sturdy design with dimensions of 243.8 x 150 x 12.7 mm and a weight of 621 grams. This made the device portable, yet substantial enough to convey a sense of durability. The tablet boasted a mini-SIM slot and was primarily available in a classic black color.

Display

Sporting an 8.9-inch IPS LCD screen, the LG Optimus Pad V900 provided a display resolution of 768 x 1280 pixels with a 5:3 aspect ratio. The resulting pixel density of approximately 168 ppi ensured a reasonably sharp and clear viewing experience. The screen-to-body ratio of about 61.7% meant that the device had noticeable bezels, a common characteristic of tablets from its era.

Performance

Under the hood, the device was powered by an Nvidia Tegra 2 T20 chipset, clocked at Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9. The inclusion of the ULP GeForce GPU allowed the tablet to perform adequately for casual gaming and multimedia consumption, although it may struggle with more demanding applications by today's standards.

Operating System

The LG Optimus Pad V900 ran on Android 3.0 Honeycomb, which was Google's first OS iteration designed specifically for tablets. Although Honeycomb had certain interface elements optimized for larger screens, it wasn't as polished or feature-rich as later Android versions, limiting the overall experience.

Memory and Storage

The device came equipped with 32GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, it did not offer expandable storage options, which meant that users had to carefully manage their storage space. This could have been a limiting factor for users who enjoyed a plethora of apps, media, and games.

Camera Capabilities

The LG Optimus Pad V900 featured a 5 MP autofocus main camera with an LED flash, capable of capturing video in 1080p at 24fps (2D) and 720p at 30fps (3D). The unique ability to record 3D video was a standout feature during its time. A 2 MP front-facing camera was provided for selfies and video calls, though the quality was relatively modest.

Audio and Sound

The tablet included stereo speakers for a satisfactory acoustic experience and featured a standard 3.5mm audio jack, ensuring compatibility with most headphones and external speakers available in the market at the time.

Connectivity Options

Connectivity was one of the device's strengths, offering Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with DLNA and hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR, as well as GPS and A-GPS for navigation. A microUSB 2.0 slot was available for data transfer and charging.

Battery Performance

Fitted with a non-removable Li-Ion 6400 mAh battery, the LG Optimus Pad V900 offered up to 273 hours in standby mode and 9 hours and 20 minutes of talk time. These figures indicated that the tablet was capable of lasting a full day of moderate use, though heavy users might need to recharge by mid-afternoon.

Sensors and Additional Features

The tablet was equipped with sensors, including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, adding to the overall user experience with functionalities like auto-rotation and orientation-based app features. The inclusion of Adobe Flash in the browser provided improved web browsing capabilities, enhancing media-rich content interaction.

Price and Market Position

At the time of its release, the LG Optimus Pad V900 was priced at around 190 EUR, positioning it as a mid-tier product in the tablet market. This pricing strategy aimed to capture consumers looking for a less expensive alternative to high-end tablets without sacrificing too many features.

Conclusion

The LG Optimus Pad V900 was an early entrant in the competitive tablet market. While it boasted a few innovative features such as 3D video capture, its overall hardware and software offerings were indicative of the technology available at the time. Despite its limitations, it provided a vital stepping stone in the evolution of tablets, paving the way for more advanced devices in the following years.