LG brings out their Optimus G, 4.7-inch quad-core Android for P26,900

Yesterday, LG announced the availability of their Optimus G to the Philippine market in an event at Manila Peninsula in Makati City.

To make true with their “live without boundaries” statement for the Optimus G, it boasts of having the superb features and functionality. It has 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor, a 320dpi 4.7-inch IPS screen, a high-density 2100mAh battery, 13 megapixel camera, front and back Gorilla Glass 2 panels and LTE capability. It also uses LG’s own Android 4.1 interface with several added features like the QuickMemo and QSlide, which allows you to have several applications running on the screen.

First Impressions

The phone feels pretty solid but a little heavy coming from the fact that it’s a 4.7” screen phone and also because it uses Gorilla Glass at the front and back. The software as they claim, is pretty responsive and the applications launch quick enough.

LG seem to have taken a cue from the iPhone with the Optimus G as the display is really close to the screen thanks to their “ZeroGap Touch”, wherein the touch sensors are etched into the display. Text was crisp as well, thanks to a high pixel density (retina) screen. The camera to me was pretty ok, and it comes with live effects and software for you to make your own video.

For the software, QuickMemo allows you to scribble memos on top of whatever it is you are doing, like browsing or watching a video so you can transfer it later somewhere else. QSlide is also another nifty feature, allowing you to have windows of specific apps on top of your main screen. This allows you to for example, watch a video while browsing the web, or doing calculations and looking up dates while you’re booking your trip online. I did find the implementation rather jarring or confusing visually, but I believe that should be up for a detailed review. Live zooming on a video I guess has it’s uses, like verifying if there really was a bigfoot on the videos they show in Finding Bigfoot, looking for ghosts, or focusing on where it counts in some particular videos, heh.

The launch was headed off by Mr. Sung Woo Nam, Managing Director of LG in the Philippines. Faith Mijares, Product Manager for Mobile Communications gave the detailed rundown of the features. A representative from Qualcomm, even Yugatech’s Abe Olandres also had his time at the podium to talk about his experience with the Optimus G.

If you were wondering why Tony Toni was missing from Boy’s Night Out last Tuesday, it’s because he was here hosting the event (and having selfies with Heart Evangelista and KC Montero). Heart and KC are the brand ambassadors for LG in the Philippines.

Want to get your hands on one of these? LG says that it will be officially available in authorized resellers starting next week with a suggested retail price of Php26,900.

LG Optimus G E973 Specs:
4.7” True HD IPS+ display 1280 x 768 @318ppi
Gorilla Glass 2 (front and back)
Quad-core 1.5 GHz Krait, Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon
Adreno 320 GPU
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
32 GB storage, 2GB RAM, no microSD
13 MP (3,264×2,448) back-side illuminated sensor with LED flash
HDR, Panoramic shot, Photo Sphere
1080p @ 30fps video recording
1.3 MP front-facing camera
microUSB v2.0 / SlimPort for HDMI
HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP
Li-Po 2100mAh battery
microSIM
133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm
139 g
SRP: Php26,900