Review: LG Optimus L3

With its hard lines and sharp edges, the LG Optimus L3 is a no-nonsense kind of device. This entry-level Android smartphone is not out to make any great statements, and yet, by its very simplicity, it does.

Aimed at the first-time smartphone user, the L3 is refreshingly simple. It takes a few seconds from boot-up to get used to the highly responsive interface and to find one's way around.

Available in black or white, the L3 measures 102.6 x 61.6mm, is 11.9mm thick, and weighs 110g, making it the perfect size and weight to slip into one's pocket.

It has a 3.2-inch QVGA touch-screen, which takes up most of the phone's real estate. Since this is an entry-level smartphone, however, LG has attempted to cut costs. The TFT screen has been the biggest victim of this budgeting. While it is satisfyingly responsive, the screen offers a mere 240x320 pixel resolution. Users who consider display quality to be particularly important might want to look elsewhere.

In addition to the screen, LG has provided three additional buttons ‑ frustratingly black against the black of the phone's body, and therefore impossible to identify without the aid of the backlighting. These are the standard Android fare, consisting of a back button, a multitasking button and a home key.

LG has put its own overlay on top of the Android Gingerbread 2.3 operating system, thereby simplifying navigation. It's easy to access the main menu from any of the five home screens. A drop-down menu provides instant access to wireless, Bluetooth and audio controls. The main menu can also be displayed either as the default list of icons, or by category.

Unfortunately, text input is not half as simple as navigating the phone. The screen is really too small for typing, even in horizontal mode. A stylus is actually needed (but not provided) for accuracy.

LG may have cut corners with the display and casing, but not with the functionality. For such an affordable device, the L3 impressed with its slick capabilities. It has an 800MHz single-core ARM Cortex A5 processor, but with the low demands of the screen, it was perfectly fluid and responsive.

The L3 also has 1GB of built-in memory for storing downloaded apps and games.

The settings on the 3MP camera are impressive: users can change everything from focusing modes to ISO. Unfortunately, that's the only thing impressive about the camera. There is no built-in flash, the colours come out rather dull, and there is a lag time of a few seconds between taking photos. The camera records video at 30fps, which means the quality is decent, though the resolution is rather poor.

In terms of viewing videos on the phone, playback is smooth, but the low resolution of the display is a letdown yet again. Audio also leaves much to be desired if users listen via the built-in speaker. Quality is somewhat better when using earphones.

Another area where LG, thankfully, did not skimp is with the battery. The 1500 mAh offers an incredible (for a smartphone) 600 hours' of stand-by time, and 10 hours' of 3G talk-time. In practice, we found the phone lasted a good three days of intermittent use without needing a charge.

For users who want a phone that's modern and capable, but does not come with the heavy price tag of more sophisticated devices, the L3 is a good bet. It's affordable and functional, cutting out unnecessary trimmings, without sacrificing the basics.