Key features:
* Quad-band GSM support and dual-band 3G
* 7.2Mbps HDSPA and 2Mbps HSUPA
* 3.2" 256K-color TFT capacitive touchscreen display of WVGA (480x854 pixels) resolution; multi-touch support, scratch resistant surface
* Latest S-Class UI; Flash and HTML5 support
* Cool minimalist styling and great build quality
* 5 megapixel auto focus camera; image stabilization, geo-tagging, face detection, Smile Shot, Beauty and Art shot
* VGA@15fps video recording
* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g with DLNA and built-in GPS receiver with A-GPS support
* Bluetooth with A2DP and microUSB v2.0 (chagrining)
* Hot-swappable microSD card slot; up to 32GB cards supported
* Stereo FM radio with RDS
* 3.5mm audio jack and Dolby mobile
* DivX/XviD support
* Social networking integration (Facebook, Twitter)
* Accelerometer sensor for automatic screen rotation; proximity sensor
* Office document viewer
* Smart dialing
Main disadvantages:
* Laggy software
* Display has poor sunlight legibility
* Flash and HTML5 support not good enough for watching videos
* Below-par audio quality
* GPS functionality is left bare, not even Google Maps preinstalled
LG will tell you the GD880 Mini is the phone users wanted - not too big, too expensive or too complicated. Now, that may be just marketing but we do see a point in such a claim. The LG Mini is a cool little piece of gear. Small, simple and good looking - they got that just right.
We're glad to see LG haven't given up on the S-Class. It definitely is a project worth continuing - given the ever growing market for touchscreen feature phones. The Mini is a good one to have the latest S-Class and we think the benefits are mutual. One of the most compact, and feature-rich, LG phones is running a capable UI, which just got better both visually and functionally.
So, we're talking a gadget with great build quality and premium looks. This is usually where most touchscreen feature phones would stop but the LG Mini is trying to attract more advanced users and has the feature set to do it. The complete connectivity package and brilliant high-res screen (indoors anyway), are things to find on the top shelf. So is the brand new HTML5 ready web browser with Flash support, updated UI with tight social-networking integration and full DivX/XviD video player.
However, a top-of-the-line feature phone should be prepared to deal with some heavy competition - smartphone and dumb phone alike. Let's take a look at the LG Mini's rivals.
For a bit of background, S-Class veterans like the LG Arena, Viewty Smart and the BL40 New Chocolate were all supposed to make a splash back in their day. And with prices gone down to more than reasonable levels, they still might look quite tempting. We do think however that all comparison is undoubtedly in favor of the LG Mini.
It's not such an easy call though when it comes to some of the real competition. Within this price bracket, the Sony Ericsson Vivaz and Samsung Galaxy Spica are two smartphones to offer plenty of features and flexible operating systems. Plus, the 720p HD video recording seems to seal the deal for the Vivaz over the Mini.
Even on the feature phone front the Samsung S8000 Jet is still quite a threat. Months after its release already, the Jet gives you an excellent still camera and D1 video recording, bigger storage, a snappy 800 MHz processor, TouchWiz UI and more. The Samsung contender is some 100 euro cheaper than LG Mini.
You might be thinking already the forecast doesn't quite look too good. We're back where we started - not too big, not too expensive or too complicated. Yeah, they got it right but not quite. The value for money comparison is far from convincing at this point. But the LG GD880 Mini has the courage to put up a fight. More importantly, it does have the looks and the attitude. Some people are just eager to spend a lot on a cool gadget. And here's to common-sense buyers: the Mini will be a better deal once the inevitable price drop hits.
Labels: LG
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