Review of LG Optimus V Android phone with Virgin Mobile Wireless 3G service

LG Optimus V Android phone top view



LG Optimus V Android phone side view, micro SD
memory card slot



LG Optimus V Android phone side view, camera control,
voice dialer control, volume control

LG Optimus V Android phone, back view

I started using my LG Optimus V Android smartphone in February 2012, after switching from Metro PCS wireless service. When I used Metro PCS, I had the same type of phone. For those who have been reading my blog, you know that I have Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go wireless internet service, which I have been happy with. This is what influenced me to switch my wireless service. All-in-all, I like the phone, and you definitely get much bang for your buck with it. I purchased it on Amazon.com from an independent seller for about $95, which is not bad at all. Aside from the basic functionality of the phone, I love that this phone is very durable. I have dropped it many times, and it has held up reasonable well. Knock on wood that the screen on it never cracks.

The phone is run off the Android 2.2.1 operating system and it has a 3.2 inch touch screen with the Virgin Mobile logo on top of it. The package that I received contains a phone charger with a removable USB chord. This comes in handy for when you want to sync or transfer files between the LG Optimus V and your PC or other devices. It also comes with LG headphones for listening to audio files, videos or making phone calls, etc. There was also a 2 GB micro SD card and adapter included in the package. Of course, there was a user manual in the package, too. I consider this to be an exceptional value, considering that some of things bought separately would run $8- $15 each or more.

The LG Optimus V has a 3.2 mega pixel camera with no flash. Hence, the camera takes grainy, okay quality pictures. I generally don’t use the camera on this phone, but I can see where it comes in handy. The phone is also capable of capturing video footage. The video quality is okay, but I don’t like the extra “noise’ during the video filming. Here are some other features and specs of the LG Optimus V:

• Pre-downloaded apps such as Google maps, Google Playstore, Virgin Mobile Live, You Tube, Uber Social, and AirG chat

• Swype technology for rapid texting

• Bluetooth technology

• e-mail capability through Google g-mail

• A calendar/ organizer

• A calculator

• A customizable clock/alarm

• SMS and MMS text capable system

• Voice Search

• A media player for enjoying video or audio files

• A 3.5mm headphone jack

• The ability to set up ringtones

• The ability to set up wall papers on the display

As far as the actual wireless and internet coverage goes, they are pretty mediocre. I live in South Florida and this where I mainly use my phone. I don’t see much difference in the call clarity and quality between Metro PCS voice calls and Virgin Mobile Wireless voice calls. I get occasional dropped calls with Virgin Mobile Wireless, just like I did with Metro PCS. It seems to happen more frequently when I am in certain areas, though. Also, there are times when my calls “fade in and fade out” during conversations. It could be a problem with the other person’s wireless service. I don’t know. This phone has frozen up on me and shut down unexpectedly a few times, also.

I am not all that impressed with their 3G internet. It seems inconsistent. Sometimes the internet is lightinening fast and sometimes the 3G internet moves at a snail’s pace. This pisses me off, especially when I am trying to watch a Youtube video on my LG Optimus V and the video has to stop for several seconds and buffer. Sometimes the internet does not work at all. I have had to turn the phone on and off several times to get my internet working. The good thing about this phone is that it is Wi-Fi capable. I can easily find a free Wi-Fi spot and connect to the internet at faster speeds.

I am a little bit jealous of my boyfriend, because he has T-Mobile 4G internet on a Samsung Galaxy S II phone. This allows him to watch movies and TV shows through Netflix without any buffering. We have cuddled up and watched several movies on his phone together, with no issues whatsoever. This would not be possible on my phone due to the fact that the internet is too slow. Also, I can’t talk on my phone and use the internet at the same time. My boyfriend can do this on his Samsung Galaxy S II android phone. So, if you can’t deal with this type of 3G foolery, then a 4G device with 4G wireless service might be a better option for you.  Expect to pay a bit more money, because these types of phones run from $200- $400 and up.

Virgin Mobile USA provides their service through the Sprint network. There are several Beyond Talk plan types available with Virgin Mobile USA. I have the $55 per month plan (plus taxes) which gives me unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and unlimited data every month. There are no contracts to worry about. The caveat is that after you go over about 2500 megabytes of data, your internet speed may slow down from 3G to a lesser speed. They send you a text message to alert you that your internet speed will slow down until the next billing cycle begins.

Another thing that I don’t like about this phone is that it does not have capability for the viewing of flash videos. So I am not able to watch certain types of video on the LG Optimus V. For instance, in almost every case, I can’t watch videos that appear on AOL’s website. I suspect that it has to do with the fact that this phone does not support viewing of flash videos.

The battery life is not awesome. It is supposed to last about 6 hours or so. However, if you are using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and apps a lot, this will consume more battery juice. I do these things often, so a fully charged battery may last me about 3 hours before it starts to “go red”. Therefore, I keep my phone charger with me at all times.

So, in closing I feel that the LG Optimus V is a great reliable starter android smartphone, for the cost conscious person. There are smartphones available with all the newest bells and whistles, such as 4G LTE, HD video filiming capability, 3D video, upgraded android operating systems, etc. My LG Optimus V phone suits me just fine, since I am not one to try and keep up with the latest technology fads and crazes. If you aren’t necessarily interested in the latest technology, then this might be a good phone for you.

©  Copyright 2012  Susan Broadbelt 
 

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