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Welcome to the 2011 LG Optimus 7 review. The Optimus 7 or LG E900 was released late 2010 as a part of Microsoft's Windows Mobile 7 initial partners launch. The version of the Optimus 7 we tested was locked to the Optus network vs the Telstra's HTC 7 Mozart and we came up with an interesting result. The Optimus 7 is priced around $850 at release.
As usual the first release WM7 on any phone is going to be easy to use but lacking the simple things we have become used to. Sure the majority of would be owners simply want a platform to run Apps on but without the basics of a smart phone like cut and paste, file managers, microSD card expansion and GPS without the need for a data plan and so forth all count against it. However it is all flashy to use and we like it. Nonetheless it has to be said that the iPhone did so well because it was an Apple and a much better brand to start with. LG simply isn't in the same league.
Build quality of the Optimus 7 is no different to other high end phones so it is put together nicely and made of plastic and metal. However the overall design is truly boring and not iPhone like. It will always be compared to the iPhone since that what this model is all about. The HTC Mozart is better though thanks to a nicer case design and the Samsung Omina 7 although equally unadventurous in design due to the profile and patchy rear design.
Like the rest of the WM7 based phones Optimus 7 has all that you need in one device for email, calls, SMS, IM, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, a decent web browser and more. The only thing missing is the ability run FLASH in the browser which means no youtube videos or ability to run any FLASH based Facebook games.
As we write this we read that LG was disappointed with it sales of Mobile 7 based phones and the rest of the mainstream media have implied that is was because it is so easy to use that it is 'boring'. As usual unlike the other sites we disagree. Have they used the iPhone lately? It is even more boring than than WM 7. Aside from that and simply put LG does not make the actual hardware interesting enough. LG are you listening - design a phone case that is actually desirable to own is the first thing we'd be doing before complaining. Stop listening to overpaid and out of touch consultants. Stop blaming the OS. Simply stop making cheap ugly and boring looking slabs.
Anyway to conclude this review, we also like the Optimus 7 and it is a pretty good phone although lacking the functionality that any smart phone should have out of the box. This issue is caused by the use of Windows Mobil e7 - admittedly should be fixed within 12 months. The Optimus 7 is worth considering but MS needs to get its App store and LG needs to work on case design to make it truly competitive. Choose it only if you can get a decent phone plan with it because the other initial WM7 phones are just as good and differ only in inconsequential details.
Specifications
- LG Optimus 7 (E900)
- Network
Quad-band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Tri-band 3G 900/1900/2100 (Dependent on country)
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps data speed (download)
HSUPA 5.7 Mbps (upload)
- Design
Touch screen
- L125 x W60.2 x D11.5 mm
Weight 157 grams
- Display/s
3.8 inch External TFT 480 x 800
- Camera
5MP
- Video Camera
720 HD pixel main video camera
- Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth V2.1
- CPU
1Ghz
- Memory
Up to 16 Gig on board
- Ring tones
MIDI, MP3, Video, vibration and others
- Features
MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint
A-GPS
Compass
Accelerometer
MS Store for Apps
Proximity Ambient Light
Music and Media player
Organiser/Calender
SMS, MMS, IM, Email
FM radio with RDS
Speaker Phone/Hands free
Li-Po 1500mAh battery
Up to 400 hours Standby
Up to 6 hours Talk Time
- Price history
Approx $850 AUS 2010 (Outright)