Review: LG Optimus 3D

The LG Optimus 3D is the first mobile phone to offer glasses-free 3D. However, I personally cannot think why 3D would be particularly useful or compelling. I found after staring at the 3D games for a few minutes, I felt both light headed and nauseous.

The Optimus 3D is a bulky phone, with a fairly bland and uninteresting design. It features a 4.3-inch touchscreen. It's also heavier than expected. For those that don't mind a large device, it won't pose a problem. However, those wanting a phone that fits in their pocket will not find this device an option.

The back features two stereoscopic 3D, 5MP cameras, with an LED flash in between. Both cameras sit on a stainless steel strip that runs left-of centre down the phone's back. They're also submerged slightly below the phone's back surface, providing a little extra protection. The speaker delivers adequate, clear sound, but in a phone of this nature, that's not the main attraction.

The phone has curved edges and rounded corners, similar to many other phones on the market, although on the back, it splits into two levels, with the cameras sitting on the higher end of the ridge. The whole back shell can be lifted with remarkable ease, something I found really useful after wrestling with other models.

On the left sits a micro-USB port, stacked on top of an HDMI socket, both of which can be accessed by opening the respective hinged cover. On the top is the power/screenlock button and a 3.5mm jack.

I enjoyed the touchscreen though. It was highly responsive and easy to use, although not unique or out of the ordinary in any way. Its 480 x 800 resolution was a little disappointing, although it handled direct sunlight well, and was more than bright enough for my use. It just wasn't as hi-tech as it could have been, considering the visual experience it promises.

Inside, there is SIM storage and a slot for a microSD card, which can be easily removed without disturbing the 1500mAh battery inside.

Speaking of the battery, I found the battery life abysmal. It lasted approximately one afternoon, with minimal usage - a few photos taken, a few SMSes sent. Very disappointing.

The 3D effect on the phone is clear and easy to see. However, like all glasses-free 3D, it has some negatives. It's dimmer than 2D, as the screen's pixels are split into two images. It also only works in landscape mode, and I found it hard to hold it the right distance away, to avoid that double-vision that makes me want to hurl.

The Optimus 3D features seven different home screen panels to customise with applications and widgets, many of which come from LG. At the bottom of the display is a customisable dock that the user can replace up to three apps with the fourth used as the application launcher.

While this phone has several things going for it, such as its super fast dual-core processor, in my opinion, it's a bit gimmicky. I still can't imagine who would actually need 3D on their phone. Its fun to use, but bulky and its design is smooth but not particularly interesting.