LG Spectrum 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

by LG

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.7 x 0.4 x 5.3 inches ; 5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00700V3JK
• Item model number: Spectrum
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Get the same HD experience on your phone as you do at home with the LG Spectrum from Verizon, featuring a 4.5-inch True HD IPS screen that makes videos more cinematic and realistic. The 4G LTE-enabled Spectrum also sports a 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 dual-core processor, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system, and an 8-megapixel camera on the rear that can capture Full HD 1080p resolution video clips.

4.5-inch True HD display makes video and photos come alive (view larger).

8-megapixel camera with Full HD 1080p video capture (view larger).

LG Spectrum At a Glance: 4G LTE connectivity Android 2.3 1.5 GHz dual-core processor 4.5-inch True HD IPS display 8-MP camera + Full HD 1080p video record 4 GB memory + 16 GB pre-loaded microSD card GPS navigation Wireless-N Wi-Fi Stereo Bluetooth 3.0 Corporate/personal e-mail

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network provides speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless' 3G network. With 4G LTE, you'll enjoy simultaneous voice and data capabilities, allowing you to check e-mail, browse the web, download an app, and check directions on Google Maps while on a call. You can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas (learn more about 4G below).

You can share your high-speed 4G connectivity with multiple devices--laptop, another phone, MP3 player, and more--via Wi-Fi using the built-in Mobile Hotspot functionality (additional service charge applicable). And the Spectrum is outfitted with ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking as well as next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity (which remembers up to 100 device pairings).

Other features include a 4 GB internal memory plus pre-loaded 16 GB microSD memory card (for 20 GB of storage out of the box), 1 GB of RAM, GPS for navigation (via Google Maps) and location-based services, multimedia player with wide format compatibility, customizable home screens, and up to 8.3 hours of talk time.

Take It All In

The 4.5-inch True HD IPS display provides brilliant, undistorted HD images at a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 1280 x 720-pixel resolution provides additional screen space for more visible page content when compared to a typical smartphone screen. With 329 pixels per inch screen density, pictures and texts are sharp even at the smallest details. It looks great even under direct sunlight, and it's highly scratch resistant thanks to the display's Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

Picture It Now

Collect crisp images with a powerful 8-megapixel rear–facing camera with LED flash and Full HD 1080p video capture, then play photos and videos back on the Spectrum's brilliant display--or wirelessly send video or photo slideshows to compatible DLNA-enabled HDTVs and devices with LG Smart Share. In addition to amazing imagery, you'll maximize your HD multimedia experience with support for Dolby Digital Plus audio processing.

Apps Out Of The Box

There's no waiting to watch, with pre–loaded premium apps like Netflix, Verizon Video, and ESPN ScoreCenter with HD video. Enjoy hours of entertainment from the palm of your hand. Then tap into the Android Market and access an ever–expanding array of apps.

Vital Statistics

The LG Spectrum weighs 4.99 ounces and measures 5.33 x 2.71 x 0.41 inches. Its 1830 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 8.3 hours of talk time, and up to 348 hours (14.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, as well as EV-DO, Rev A 3G and CDMA 800/1900 frequencies where 4G LTE is not available.

What's in the Box

LG Spectrum handset, rechargeable battery, wall/USB charger, USB cable; 16 GB microSD card, quick start guide

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Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network allows you to download photos, apps, and games in seconds and entire movies in minutes. LTE (or Long Term Evolution provides significantly increased upload and download speeds over 3G networks, as well as significantly reduced latency (or lag time). Verizon Wireless expects 4G LTE average data rates to be 5-12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments.

With these blazing fast speeds, you'll be able to stream HD movies without the annoyance of constant pauses to buffer the video stream--as well as quickly download HD-quality movies right to your phone in minutes. Additionally, you'll be able to download a new song file in about 4 seconds or upload a photo to your favorite social networking site in about 6 seconds.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE mobile broadband network will also redefine the mobile office for business users. Business applications that used to require wired networks will be untethered forever, allowing you maximized productivity and efficiency while you're out of the confines of your office. Enhanced security lets you tap into most VPN networks with less waiting, and faster responsiveness enables you to upload 10 MB presentations back to your team in less than 25 seconds.

In areas serviced only by 3G, you can expect download speeds of 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps and upload speeds of 500 to 800 Kbps in Mobile Broadband coverage area.

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Android Gingerbread Operating System

The Spectrum runs the Android 2.3 operating system (dubbed Gingerbread), which features a clean, refined interface, intuitive navigation, and a notification bar that lets you know when you have new messages, voicemails, invites to games, and more. Multitasking in Gingerbread allows you the ability to run more than one app at a time. If you're playing a game, you can easily switch to an incoming e-mail and then switch back to the game without losing your place. And like the previous version of Android ("Froyo"), Gingerbread provides support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web. A new onscreen keyboard makes it easier to type thanks to additional spacing between the keys and larger font sizes. And the more you use the keyboard, the easier typing will be as the enhanced suggest feature records previous input history to make better suggestions. The Spectrum also brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services you use every day. It also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets, and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

Google Integration Android Market for browsing and downloading thousands of free and paid apps Pre-loaded Android apps: Browser, Calculator, Calendar (Google or Corporate), Camera, Clock, Contacts, Email, Gallery, Messaging, Music, News & Weather, Phone, Settings, Video Player, Voice Dialer, Voice Search, YouTube Google applications: Gmail, Google Search, Google Voice Search, Google Latitude, Google Maps, Google Places, Google Talk Google Maps Navigation with spoken turn-by-turn directions showing real-time traffic and 360° views of the destination

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Connectivity Ultra-fast 4G LTE connectivity via the Verizon Wireless 4G Mobile Broadband network, with expected download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps. Onboard GPS for navigation and location services Integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, street and satellite views. Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go. 4G Mobile Hotspot capability allows you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot using your Verizon Wireless 4G LTE connection, which can then be shared among up to 10 Wi-Fi-capable devices. Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals and includes stereo audio streaming. Hardware Dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor capable of opening web pages twice as fast as most other smartphones. 4.5-inch True HD IPS display (720 x 1280 pixels; 16.7 million colors; 329 pixels per inch screen density; Gorilla Glass) Onscreen QWERTY keyboard (with Swype keyboard enhancement) MicroUSB port 3.5mm headphone jack Communications & Internet Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture/video and IM instant messaging Full HTML browser with Flash 10.1 Support Personal and corporate e-mail access with support for Exchange ActiveSync as well as mobile e-mail accounts (Google push, Yahoo!, POP3, IMAP).

Memory 4 GB internal memory Pre-loaded 16 GB microSD card with support for optional cards up to 32 GB. 1 GB RAM Camera 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, face tracking mode image editor, geotagging, and up to 4x digital zoom. 1.3-megapixel front camera for self portraits and video chats Full HD 1080p video capture (1920 x 1080 pixels) with on-phone video editing capabilities. Multimedia Music player compatible with MP3, WMA, M4A, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, and Ogg Vorbis Video player compatible with MPEG4, WMV, H.264, and DivX DLNA wireless media streaming More Features Wi–Fi Direct enables you to connect directly to another wireless device without joining a traditional home, office, or hotspot network. Voice commands and voice-activated dialing Speakerphone for hands-free communication. Hearing Aid Compatibility: M3

 

Also Available for This Android Device

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific HD IPS Display Hampered By Poor Software (fixable), February 7, 2012

By 

rs (Aliso Viejo, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: LG Spectrum 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) (Wireless Phone)

The Spectrum is the only Verizon choice at present for those who want a Gorilla Glass protected large (4.5") IPS (same technology as on iPhone/iPad) LCD HD display LTE smartphone with both removable/replaceable battery and MicroSD card. Below is my comparison to current Verizon alternatives, which are all terrific devices with unique strengths.

Comparative strengths of the Spectrum:
-The Samsung Galaxy Nexus lacks Gorilla Glass, has a pentile display (shared subpixels vs true full subpixels on Spectrum), and non-removable memory.
-The HTC Rezound has a smaller (4.3") non Gorilla Glass protected display.
-The Motorola Razr has a pentile display and non-removable battery. (when traveling, I like to take an extra battery for flights).
-The LG Spectrum is among the first batch of Verizon LTE World Phones, which means it can access any CDMA or GSM network worldwide.
-Not widely publicized: The Spectrum has "Dolby Mobile" included in its music and video player, providing a clearer and more spatial audio experience with most input when listening with headphones. This is very different than reverb or echo or stereo expansion found on some Android music players. Best way to describe it is by analogy: mono is to stereo as stereo is to dolby mobile. Some music with certain ambient pre-processing does sound over-processed with this activated, but unprocessed music, e.g. classic rock, generally is improved vastly. Dolby says this works with the phone speaker too, but I haven't tested that.

LG Spectrum deficiencies:
-Even though it looks like carbon fiber in photos, it has a polished, very smooth, slippery plastic back cover that collects fingerprints like crazy. The closely related ATT LG Nitro has a terrific rubberized textured back cover (very much like the HTC Rezoound), but the shape of that phone has more rounded corners, so unfortunately its cover is not compatible with the Spectrum. Why LG would want users to more easily lose grip on their phones is a mystery.
-No Android Ice Cream Sandwich Operating System (OS) at the moment, but it will be upgraded eventually as it's LG's flagship phone on Verizon.
-Android Gingerbread OS with clumsy LG 'Optimus UI 2.0' skin, especially with regards to frustrating and inefficient app drawer 'organized' by categories.
-No notification LED. This is very annoying, and is a serious omission by LG, especially for their top phone.
-Far too many locked preinstalled applications from Verizon, which can not be prevented from running in the background and occupying RAM, leaving you with less of the 1GB DDR2 memory to use for running wanted applications.
-Yikes, Verizon Visual Voicemail for $2.99 per month advertisement is displayed by the OS whenever you check your voicemail. What other advertisements are buried in the phone waiting to pop up unexpectedly?
-Browser address bar searches provide results only by Microsoft Bing, with no way to change this.
-No way to root this phone at present. UPDATED 2/19-- This is no longer an issue.

Many prior owners have stated that lack of root access is why they have returned the phone to Verizon within their first two weeks of ownership (Root access should allow users to 'fix' many of the software issues with this phone). It's a case of decent and generally appealing hardware crippled by poor carrier/OS/software implementation. When the phone boots, it loads an assortment of unnecessary applications, most of which will start again automatically if you shut them down. Some of these are Blockbuster, ESPN Sport Center, V Cast Media Manager, Music (LG?), Verizon App Store, and My Verizon Mobile. There are a host of other Verizon and Yahoo applications that also cannot be removed. One user who counted reported 24 such applications. Android phones should allow you to choose your apps and remove bloatware you know you don't want.

Minus 0.5 stars for the slippery back cover where other implementations of this phone have rubberized and textured backs.
Minus 1.0 stars for the terrible preinstalled and locked bloatware and advertisements from Verizon.
Minus 0.5 stars for the horrible application drawer of Optimus 2.0 UI.
Plus 0.5 stars for Dolby Mobile.
Plus 0.5 stars for fast processing and graphics.

4.0 stars overall

This review is written by a soon to be ex-Spectrum-owner moving to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (aka Google phone--Google doesn't hate freedom). My far less particular spouse is happily keeping the Spectrum.

UPDATE 02/15/12:
Received the Galaxy Nexus and after one day of comparing am surprised to say the Spectrum wins. While the idea of having a true Google phone is great in terms of openness and modernness of the OS; the pentile display is just not very good. Had Samsung chosen to go with Super AMOLED Plus technology (true complete RGB Pixels), the Nexus would have been terrific with a true 720p AMOLED HD Display. As it is, the less costly "HD Super AMOLED" Pentile display, wherein each 'full' pixel is composed of a dedicated green subpixel and a shared blue subpixel and a shared red subpixel, suffers from large blue and red pixels, which are easily seen by my eyes and which cause eye strain and headaches. Instead of seeing a white background in the browser, my eyes see tiny red and blue and green dots. Even holding the phone a foot away from my eyes doesn't fix the problem. This issue was described by Leo Laporte (longtime tech personality) in his "Before You Buy" review of the Galaxy Nexus. It may be a minority of people who are troubled by the Pentile display, the Spectrum has ~2.76 million subpixels, while the Nexus has ~1.84 million subpixels. Side by side, there is no comparison between the IPS LCD Spectrum and the Pentile AMOLED Nexus display.

As far as the OS, with a lot of tweaking (Go Launcher, Go Locker, ICS theme, many other apps/widgets), the Spectrum can at least function like an ICS phone in many characteristics, and hide all the bloatware from view in the app drawer. Also, the Spectrum is significantly faster and has a stronger dedicated graphics chip than the Nexus. The Spectrum is lighter than the Nexus (5.05 ounces vs. 5.23 ounces on the same micro scale). And surprise: The 4.5" Spectrum display is larger than the 4.65" Nexus display *most of the time*. This is because the soft keys of the Nexus take up a lot of screen space, and browsing in particular suffers on the Nexus. Due to the screen issues described above, the Nexus requires more zooming of text to reach legibility, exacerbating the issue.

The Spectrum is the better choice for those who value display quality over coolness. The Nexus wins for leading edge software and playfulness. Comparing either to my Droid 1 is like comparing a sleek sports car to a minivan. What will our phones be like in two years? At this rate, 4oz with 5+ inch 1080p displays.

For those who care, some benchmarks:
Linpack Single Thread (3 consecutive runs): 50.3; 51.2; 50.2 MFLOPS
Linpack Multi-Thread (3 consecutive runs): 79.8; 78.3; 81.6 MFLOPS
AnTuTu Benchmark: 6486
Quadrant 1 Benchmark: 2646 (3D graphics quite smooth and good)
Quadrant 2.0 Benchmark: 2712 (CPU 4652; Mem 2668; I/O 4305; 2D 342; 3D 1592)

Friend's Galaxy Nexus Quadrant 2.0 Benchmark: 2041 (CPU 5711; Mem 1986; I/O 1118; 2D 192; 3D 1200)

UPDATE 2/19/12:
It is now possible to root this phone, thanks to the efforts of the developer community. Bye bye bloatware (it's recommended to 'freeze' rather than remove bloatware). My phone remains stock, but root access is tempting. The bloatware is completely hidden with Go Launcher, but it would be nice to prevent unnecessary use of system resources.

With free 'ES File Explorer', the included video player of this phone easily streams video over LAN (Like the iOS app 'Air Video', without having to run a server program as Air Video requires).
-so far works with avi, xvid, divx, mov, mkv, wmv, and probably others too.
-source material at 1080p is fine and looks terrific on the 720p display.
-hd playback is not taxing to the cpu due to the discrete Qualcomm Adreno 220 graphics chip.

New score: 5/5 stars. It's as good a phone as you can get on Verizon now. After a bit of ownership, both my spouse and I are very happy with this phone.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a good start for LG, January 31, 2012

By 

M. Ali (Southern-USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: LG Spectrum 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) (Wireless Phone)

I like the phone and it provides what I need. However LG still has a way to go when it comes to building a better user interface. The HD graphics are totally AWESOME! Hands down there is no other phone on the market that comes close to displying content. It's bigger and better than the iphone-Display-wise

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's ok. Worth the $$., February 4, 2012

By 

geodawg - See all my reviews

This review is from: LG Spectrum 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) (Wireless Phone)

The phone is ok. I agree with the other review that the UI could have been a little better as I think the HTC Sense UI (so is Motorola's) is alot better than this. The buttons on the bottom will eventually become useless if LG decides to go the Android ICS platform route. The HD graphics are very good, personally better than the iPhones. I would definatley grab an extended battery if you want to use the 4G (my comparison is that the 4G will last 3-4x longer with extended battery than the Thunderbolt with an extended battery) which the 3000mAH battery gave me 24 hours of service over 4G and about 60-70 minutes of talk time during that period. The phone does not charge well at all with any other charger than the LG provided chargers. If you want to use another charger, it will take you a long time to charge the phone.