- 3.2 MP camera with 4x zoom
- Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB
- Android 2.2 operating system
- Mobile Email with Gmail, POP3/IMAP, and MS Exchange support
- What's in the Box: LG Thrive smartphone, battery, USB cable, wall charger, CD with user manual and Flash tutorial, Quick Start guide
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Technical Details
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
The LG Thrive smartphone is the perfect balance of functionality and affordability, with the flexibility of a prepaid plan. It feature whip-fast processing on the Android 2.2 platform, PC-like browsing, and access to email, contacts, and calendar that sync with your web accounts and PC. The LG Thrive lets you have your world, your way.
 Featuring Android 2.2 on the flexibility of a prepaid plan. View larger |
Boost your data connection with WiFi and connect free to thosuands of AT&T WiFi HotSpots nationwide or share your mobile broadband connection with up to 5 other devices by creating a password-protected personal hotspot. The Thrive gives you the power you need to run the most demanding Android applications and games available on Android Market. Stay in the know with quick access to social networking with Facebook and Twitter and shoot sharp photos and video with Thrive’s 3.2 megapixel camera--which you can easily upload to Picasa or YouTube.
The LG Thrive operates on AT&T's Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA 7.2Mbps and Quad-Band EDGE networks. Its 600MHz application processor has the power you need to multitask on the 3.2" HVGA full touchscreen. Enjoy PC-like web browsing with the built-in WebKit 2.3-based browser. Read your work email with Gmail, POP3/IMAP, and MS Exchange support, and get more done with ThinkFree Office which lets you view and edit Microsoft Office files and attachments.
 With the 3.2" full touchscreen, enjoy PC-like web browsing, access Gmail, and get more done with ThinkFree Office. View larger |
Keep in touch with social networking like Facebook and Twitter, or just entertain yourself with preloaded AT&T apps such as AT&T Radio, AT&T Navigator, AT&T U-verse Live TV, AT&T FamilyMap, YPmobile, and more.
Enabled for use on AT&T's lightning quick HSPDA 3G network, you'll be able to easily access the Internet as well as quickly download video, music, and more. Additionally, with AT&T's 3G network, you can make a call while simultaneously receiving picture/text messages and e-mail or viewing Web pages. This GPS-enabled phone can access the AT&T Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions.
Google Integration
The Thrive has voice commands and speech-to-text capability, with compatibility for Google Voice Actions. It has integrated Google account syncing for compatible Google apps such as Contacts, Gmail, Gtalk, Google Calendar, Picasa and Android Market.
Vital Statistics
The LG Thrive weighs 3.2 ounces and measures 4.47 x 2.32 x 0.53 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7.5 hours of talk time, and up to 20 days of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's 3G UMTS 850/1800/2100 HSDPA network.
What's in the BoxLG Thrive smartphone, battery, USB cable, wall charger, CD with user manual and Flash tutorial, quick start guide.
Camera
Multimedia
Messaging
Memory
| Applications
Productivity
More Features
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Android Operating System
The LG Thrive runs the Android operating system--OS 2.2 (aka Froyo)--which provides a faster overall Android experience as well as greater multitasking capabilities. You'll be able to receive notifications, listen to music, and even record GPS data without keeping the application open. And it features a plethora of new enhancements, including an improved onscreen QWERTY keyboard, full push corporate e-mail, and support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web. It also offers enhanced Exchange support, with Calendar syncing, Global Address Lookup, improved security, auto-discovery, and more.
With integrated Google technology, the LG Thrive brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, GTalk instant messaging (with presence capabilities), YouTube, and Picasa. The LG Thrive 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.
AT&T GoPhone Service
AT&T's pay-as-you-go GoPhone plans are wireless plans made easy, simply pay in advance for what you need. No long-term contracts, credit checks, or surprise bills--just all the benefits of wireless, with no complications. In addition, AT&T's Rollover Balance feature lets you carry over your unused account balance when you purchase refill minutes before your balance expires.
Other great GoPhone features include no long distance or roaming fees across AT&T's national service area, the ability to track usage via text messages with an updated balance after each call, and the ability to refill your minutes 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. You can also choose to add international long distance for calling to over 50 countries (including Mexico landlines and Canada) for just $10 for 250 minutes. And you can cancel any time without penalty.
GoPhone Plan Options
- $50 Monthly Unlimited Plan includes unlimited talk, text (both U.S. and internationally), and access to Internet data and web browsing (smartphone users must purchase a separate data package).
- $25 Monthly Plan includes 250 minutes of talk time, unlimited text messages, and international texting at 25¢ per message. Data and mobile web browsing is charged per use, or you can buy a package.
- $2 Unlimited Daily Talk & Text is a good plan for those who do not use their phone every day, and data packages can be added. It's charged ONLY on days when the phone is used to make or receive a voice call (including a call to voice mailbox), use IM, or send a text or picture/video/sound message. Data is charged per use, or via a package.
- Per Minute enables you to make phone calls at just 10¢ a minute--perfect for those looking to use their phone very infrequently or for emergencies. You can also send texts at 20¢ per message (25¢ per international message), or choose a monthly package. Data is charged per use, or via a package.
Smartphone users can use any of these GoPhone plans, however, a smartphone require a data/web package to use data/web services. Pay-per-use data/web is not available on smartphone devices. Data packages for all GoPhone plan options (for mobile web access for e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and more) include the following:
- 500 MB for $25
- 100 MB for $15
- 10 MB for $5
Data packages are good for 30 days, as long as your account balance is not expired. Standard rates apply if feature package is not renewed after 30 days.
Learn more about AT&T GoPhone plans from this handy chart, plus check out AT&T's nationwide coverage map.
See (AT&T's coverage map).
How to Refill Your Account
For your convenience 24/7, you can add money to your account in a variety of ways and in a variety of amounts.
- With Rollover Balance, if you refill your account before your balance expires, you keep your unused balance.
- Purchase a refill card at any AT&T store and over 200,000 other retail locations in the U.S. Most refill cards will let you dial *888* to refill using the PIN number on the card.
- Use a credit/debit card and visit att.com/mygophone to refill online. You can also set up Auto Refill and Text to Refill, which enables you to refill directly from your phone.
To check on your current balance, dial*777# and press SEND to receive a text massage indicating your account balance and expiration date.
AT&T GoPhone refill cards are available in these amounts:
- $15 (30-day expiration)
- $25 (90-day expiration)
- $50 (90-day expiration)
- $60 (90-day expiration)
- $100 (1-year expiration)
Product Description
For unparalleled connectivity and functionality, there's no better phone to use than the AT&T LG Thrive Locked Cell Phone. The AT&T LG Thrive Locked Cell Phone is a GSM phone with a large 3.2” touch screen interface running the Android 2.2 operating system. Featuring a 3.2 megapixel camera that doubles as a camcorder, WiFi connectivity capabilities, 160MB of user-accessible internal memory and up to 20 days worth of battery life on a single charge.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
171 of 175 people found the following review helpful
** See bottom of review for change log.
1] Phone Review
This phone is like having an iPod Touch that can leave your WiFi network when necessary. It is exactly what I was looking for. I work from home, travel every 2 months, and could not justify paying $70+ a month for a phone that I'll barely use off of a wireless network. My only regret is buying this from the AT&T store when I could have gotten it a bit cheaper on Amazon.com.
The graphics look great and the touch screen is very responsive. ** The screen can scratch after some use though, so I would suggest using a screen protector. I have a small 1-2cm portion of my screen that has several small scratches in it that is distracting in sunlight when there is no screen protector in place. I bought the stock screen protector from the AT&T store. It has worked well to protect the screen and diffuses the appearance of the small scratches so they cannot be seen.
The sound quality through the speaker is a bit weak but a set of headphones sounds great especially with Pandora or Audible audio books. One strange thing I've noticed though is that in a quiet room with ear bud headphones even the lowest volume setting can seem too loud. This might be related to the headphones I am using or the fact that I am near sleep and sounds that were once comfortable seem louder as I drift off. If you encounter this one a workaround is to buy headphones that have a built in volume control.
I've seen other professional reviewers state the phone is not overly attractive but I think it looks nice. The screen cleans easily and every button is where you would expect it to be on an Android phone. No phone snobs have made fun of my phone for its appearance.
So far the phone has been powerful enough to run almost every app I've thrown at it even though it only has a 600mhz processor. I've seen Angry Birds Rio and Plants vs Zombies slow down when the graphics/physics get very intense on a complicated map but it has not impeded my game. There were two "free app of the day" games that used intense/3D graphics that didn't even install on the device, but I have played other graphics intense games with no issue.
The camera is average and what I expected. Using the free app of the day Retro Camera app I made some great pictures while on a trip out West. I also used the Daily Roads Voyager app to take time lapse pictures of a drive through Death Valley and the results turned out great. I did not expect high resolution images/video and the quality is not horrible. The audio quality on videos is a bit poor.
The battery life has been what I expected. I can actively play Words with Friends, pirate games, air traffic control games (intermittently letting the phone rest while I watch tv) for about 4-5 hours before it starts to get low on battery. Otherwise in standby mode with WiFi, Skype, Facebook, and email apps running it tends to stay almost full all day long. I believe actively interacting with the screen is what drains the power the fastest. Streaming music, or some other passive actions tends to drain it slowly.
One other reviewer suggested turning off unnecessary features such as Bluetooth when not in use and I agree. Leaving GPS on will definitely drain your battery. I suggest using a wired power source when using this phone for navigation.
I would recommend this phone to anyone who has been looking for a reasonably priced prepaid Android phone or someone who has wanted an Android version of an iPOD Touch.
(That being said the AT&T salesperson that I purchased the phone from mentioned that I could likely use the same GO plan with any Android phone in their store. Though I would never purchase a $500 phone for any reason, I am wondering if it would be possible to buy a used/unlocked more powerful phone from the Web and use the SIM card from this phone in it.
2] Android
The interface is not an iPhone interface but it looks great. The operating system runs fairly smooth and has a small learning curve. What I like most about the Android interface is its flexibility. You can easily download new keyboards, animated backgrounds, new widgets, and a host of other features not included in the original install. The voice to text feature in the included Android Keyboard works really well when searching for directions or locations, but really isn't a substitute for texting or updating Facebook yet.
One of the greatest values of this phone is its built in GPS and software. The Google Navigator software allows you to download a route via your wireless network and drive that route without need of a data connection. If you get a little off your route the navigator can even get you back on course without having to download new maps. If the navigator doesn't give you enough assurance for a few dollars you can download some offline GPS applications and use the device just like you would a Garmin/TomTom. (If you did this you would likely need to buy a bigger SD card than the included 2GB card.)
I used the built-in Google Navigator on a recent trip out west and enjoyed it. I found though that Utah and a lot of national parks do not have data service. That means that you can't do new searches while you're in the middle of say... Death Valley. What I did to mitigate this was download a free 7 day trial of an offline GPS program. I found my phone worked much better than my wife's iPhone using MapQuest's free software.
The biggest downside to the Android operating system is the fact that some apps must be installed on the built-in flash memory. That means that after a while you'll find yourself running out of built-in storage space. Many Google apps do not move to the external SD card. The key is to preferentially install apps that can move to the SD card, and to remove any apps that you do not use regularly. If you purchase an app from Google or Amazon you can always download them again later.
3] Data Plans/Usage
You do not have to pay a regular monthly fee for data but purchased data does expire after 30 days. If you add more data before the 30 days expires then your existing data gets extended for another 30 days. Money you have placed on your account expires at a different rate based on the amount of cash you have put down. For instance, I put down $25 and it is good for 90 days.
A] Saving money on purchased data
The most economical way to manage your data plan is to initially buy 500mb of data for $25 then set up an auto-renewal via [pay gonline dot com] for 10mb at $5 every month.
There is a big red flag to look out for though. When you do this you'll notice that the renewal date for the data plan is set for one day after your current data plan expires. Brad noticed this a few weeks ago and noted it in the comment section. I noticed this again tonight when I set up the auto-renewal. It appears that AT&T never intended for their auto-renewal service to extend your previous data plan. Instead it appears that they allow your current data plan to expire, then they add in the automated renewal. Again, this is how the process *appears* to work, if you want to know for certain you should contact AT&T Customer Support.
So Brad appears to have found a workaround for this issue. There is a way you can setup the data renewal so it renews on a different schedule than your data expiration.
*** Please remember that when you make data plan purchases you do so at your own free will. Neither I or anyone else in the comments section of this review are responsible for purchases you make. If this workaround does not resolve the problem I am not responsible for money you gave to AT&T. When you purchase data in $5 increments from AT&T you are purchasing data, not a clever means to workaround a limitation of their web site. This workaround process will cost you at least an extra $5 just to use the workaround to change the renewal data to a different schedule than your expiration date. ***
[Setting up Automatic Data Renewal]
i. Go to [pay gonline dot com] (please note there is just one 'o' which is shared between the two concatenated words)
ii. Log into your account. (If you don't have a pin or have forgotten it; have it text messaged to your phone)
iii. Click on 'Account Summary' from the menu on the left and scroll down to the Feature Packages section. Note your data package and the date it is set to expire.
iv. Click on 'Automatic Feature Package Renewal'
v. Confirm that you do not currently have auto-renewal set up for a data plan and click 'Yes' under the 'To setup automatic feature package renewal on another feature select Yes.' heading.
vi. Select the 10MB for $5 from the renewal options and confirm that you want this setting.
vii. Select 'Automatic Feature Package Renewal' again from the menu on the left. Note that the Auto Renew date is now set exactly one day past the expiration data for your current data plan that you observed on the 'Account Summary' page.
At this point it appears that your current data plan will expire before the auto-renewal takes place. To fix this, simply add an additional $5 data plan by following the steps below:
[Changing the renewal date to a different schedule than your current data expiration rate]
i. Select 'Buy Feature Packages' from the menu on the left.
ii. Under the 'Data Packages' heading, select 'Data 10MB $5.00' and click Submit.
iii. Click on 'Account Summary' from the menu on the left and scroll down to the Feature Packages section. Note your current data package is now set to expire on a different schedule than your renewal. Your next renewal should now take place before your current data package expires. Read more ›
1] Phone Review
This phone is like having an iPod Touch that can leave your WiFi network when necessary. It is exactly what I was looking for. I work from home, travel every 2 months, and could not justify paying $70+ a month for a phone that I'll barely use off of a wireless network. My only regret is buying this from the AT&T store when I could have gotten it a bit cheaper on Amazon.com.
The graphics look great and the touch screen is very responsive. ** The screen can scratch after some use though, so I would suggest using a screen protector. I have a small 1-2cm portion of my screen that has several small scratches in it that is distracting in sunlight when there is no screen protector in place. I bought the stock screen protector from the AT&T store. It has worked well to protect the screen and diffuses the appearance of the small scratches so they cannot be seen.
The sound quality through the speaker is a bit weak but a set of headphones sounds great especially with Pandora or Audible audio books. One strange thing I've noticed though is that in a quiet room with ear bud headphones even the lowest volume setting can seem too loud. This might be related to the headphones I am using or the fact that I am near sleep and sounds that were once comfortable seem louder as I drift off. If you encounter this one a workaround is to buy headphones that have a built in volume control.
I've seen other professional reviewers state the phone is not overly attractive but I think it looks nice. The screen cleans easily and every button is where you would expect it to be on an Android phone. No phone snobs have made fun of my phone for its appearance.
So far the phone has been powerful enough to run almost every app I've thrown at it even though it only has a 600mhz processor. I've seen Angry Birds Rio and Plants vs Zombies slow down when the graphics/physics get very intense on a complicated map but it has not impeded my game. There were two "free app of the day" games that used intense/3D graphics that didn't even install on the device, but I have played other graphics intense games with no issue.
The camera is average and what I expected. Using the free app of the day Retro Camera app I made some great pictures while on a trip out West. I also used the Daily Roads Voyager app to take time lapse pictures of a drive through Death Valley and the results turned out great. I did not expect high resolution images/video and the quality is not horrible. The audio quality on videos is a bit poor.
The battery life has been what I expected. I can actively play Words with Friends, pirate games, air traffic control games (intermittently letting the phone rest while I watch tv) for about 4-5 hours before it starts to get low on battery. Otherwise in standby mode with WiFi, Skype, Facebook, and email apps running it tends to stay almost full all day long. I believe actively interacting with the screen is what drains the power the fastest. Streaming music, or some other passive actions tends to drain it slowly.
One other reviewer suggested turning off unnecessary features such as Bluetooth when not in use and I agree. Leaving GPS on will definitely drain your battery. I suggest using a wired power source when using this phone for navigation.
I would recommend this phone to anyone who has been looking for a reasonably priced prepaid Android phone or someone who has wanted an Android version of an iPOD Touch.
(That being said the AT&T salesperson that I purchased the phone from mentioned that I could likely use the same GO plan with any Android phone in their store. Though I would never purchase a $500 phone for any reason, I am wondering if it would be possible to buy a used/unlocked more powerful phone from the Web and use the SIM card from this phone in it.
2] Android
The interface is not an iPhone interface but it looks great. The operating system runs fairly smooth and has a small learning curve. What I like most about the Android interface is its flexibility. You can easily download new keyboards, animated backgrounds, new widgets, and a host of other features not included in the original install. The voice to text feature in the included Android Keyboard works really well when searching for directions or locations, but really isn't a substitute for texting or updating Facebook yet.
One of the greatest values of this phone is its built in GPS and software. The Google Navigator software allows you to download a route via your wireless network and drive that route without need of a data connection. If you get a little off your route the navigator can even get you back on course without having to download new maps. If the navigator doesn't give you enough assurance for a few dollars you can download some offline GPS applications and use the device just like you would a Garmin/TomTom. (If you did this you would likely need to buy a bigger SD card than the included 2GB card.)
I used the built-in Google Navigator on a recent trip out west and enjoyed it. I found though that Utah and a lot of national parks do not have data service. That means that you can't do new searches while you're in the middle of say... Death Valley. What I did to mitigate this was download a free 7 day trial of an offline GPS program. I found my phone worked much better than my wife's iPhone using MapQuest's free software.
The biggest downside to the Android operating system is the fact that some apps must be installed on the built-in flash memory. That means that after a while you'll find yourself running out of built-in storage space. Many Google apps do not move to the external SD card. The key is to preferentially install apps that can move to the SD card, and to remove any apps that you do not use regularly. If you purchase an app from Google or Amazon you can always download them again later.
3] Data Plans/Usage
You do not have to pay a regular monthly fee for data but purchased data does expire after 30 days. If you add more data before the 30 days expires then your existing data gets extended for another 30 days. Money you have placed on your account expires at a different rate based on the amount of cash you have put down. For instance, I put down $25 and it is good for 90 days.
A] Saving money on purchased data
The most economical way to manage your data plan is to initially buy 500mb of data for $25 then set up an auto-renewal via [pay gonline dot com] for 10mb at $5 every month.
There is a big red flag to look out for though. When you do this you'll notice that the renewal date for the data plan is set for one day after your current data plan expires. Brad noticed this a few weeks ago and noted it in the comment section. I noticed this again tonight when I set up the auto-renewal. It appears that AT&T never intended for their auto-renewal service to extend your previous data plan. Instead it appears that they allow your current data plan to expire, then they add in the automated renewal. Again, this is how the process *appears* to work, if you want to know for certain you should contact AT&T Customer Support.
So Brad appears to have found a workaround for this issue. There is a way you can setup the data renewal so it renews on a different schedule than your data expiration.
*** Please remember that when you make data plan purchases you do so at your own free will. Neither I or anyone else in the comments section of this review are responsible for purchases you make. If this workaround does not resolve the problem I am not responsible for money you gave to AT&T. When you purchase data in $5 increments from AT&T you are purchasing data, not a clever means to workaround a limitation of their web site. This workaround process will cost you at least an extra $5 just to use the workaround to change the renewal data to a different schedule than your expiration date. ***
[Setting up Automatic Data Renewal]
i. Go to [pay gonline dot com] (please note there is just one 'o' which is shared between the two concatenated words)
ii. Log into your account. (If you don't have a pin or have forgotten it; have it text messaged to your phone)
iii. Click on 'Account Summary' from the menu on the left and scroll down to the Feature Packages section. Note your data package and the date it is set to expire.
iv. Click on 'Automatic Feature Package Renewal'
v. Confirm that you do not currently have auto-renewal set up for a data plan and click 'Yes' under the 'To setup automatic feature package renewal on another feature select Yes.' heading.
vi. Select the 10MB for $5 from the renewal options and confirm that you want this setting.
vii. Select 'Automatic Feature Package Renewal' again from the menu on the left. Note that the Auto Renew date is now set exactly one day past the expiration data for your current data plan that you observed on the 'Account Summary' page.
At this point it appears that your current data plan will expire before the auto-renewal takes place. To fix this, simply add an additional $5 data plan by following the steps below:
[Changing the renewal date to a different schedule than your current data expiration rate]
i. Select 'Buy Feature Packages' from the menu on the left.
ii. Under the 'Data Packages' heading, select 'Data 10MB $5.00' and click Submit.
iii. Click on 'Account Summary' from the menu on the left and scroll down to the Feature Packages section. Note your current data package is now set to expire on a different schedule than your renewal. Your next renewal should now take place before your current data package expires. Read more ›
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Nothing beats ATT's goPhone rates and this phone has kicked it up to the next level. I was using a goPhone before and was surprised when I saw the packaging for this phone that the plan rates had dropped to $0.10/min with NO commitment. I think the phone is great but I haven't used any other smart phones before, but it performs as well as one of my daughter's 4th gen. ipod touch. The Android interface is nice but it does take some time and work to learn how to use it, not as intuitive as apple's OS but I like the flexibility. I was able to use the "old" goPhone for $100 per year, I'm guessing that the smart phone will run me ~$230 per year ($5/mo. 200 messages, $5/mo. 10mb + a couple of $25/500MB, and about $5/mo phone) that's less than $20 PER MONTH. All the extra "hardware" will really eat up a battery so you have to be prudent to use the "power panel" widget to keep WiFi, GPS, 3G, and BT turned off when you aren't using them. I was REALLY surprised to find this phone had GPS for only $150 and that feature, and GOOGLE Sky work very well.
If you are looking for a budge phone where you have full control over the cost then this is for you. You don't HAVE to buy a data plan, but I've found that I get by perfectly well (google account sync, periodic checking static web sites, downloading games) with the plans I mention above, because everything carries over month to month so you buy the 500MB packages when you get low and buy the 10MB packages to keep your balance "alive". All the other "fun" stuff I just do at home connected to my wifi...
If you are looking for a budge phone where you have full control over the cost then this is for you. You don't HAVE to buy a data plan, but I've found that I get by perfectly well (google account sync, periodic checking static web sites, downloading games) with the plans I mention above, because everything carries over month to month so you buy the 500MB packages when you get low and buy the 10MB packages to keep your balance "alive". All the other "fun" stuff I just do at home connected to my wifi...
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
UPDATE - June 22, 2011: ** HOW TO USE AMAZON'S APPSTORE WITH THE LG THRIVE **
By default, AT&T has disabled installing apps from "unknown sources" (i.e. Amazon Appstore). Rumor has it that there's an Android OS 2.2.2 update being pushed out over the air for this phone which re-enables this feature. Unfortunately, I can't get my Thrive to check for updates at all. However, you CAN enable installing unknown source apps using a "secret menu". Just dial 3845#*506# and a settings menu will appear. Scroll down and tap "Unknow Sources Test". Then check the "Unknown sources" box on the screen that pops up. Amazon Appstore should work as intended now!
First things first: this is no $500-600 flagship phone. But for under two hundred bucks, it's an excellent value, and can do almost anything that any of the fancy smartphones can do. And for someone who doesn't use many voice minutes, and can ration 3G data by taking advantage of Wi-Fi, the monthly fees can be incredibly low when compared to a smartphone contract.
PROS
* Using the 10-cent per minute plan, this can give you a smartphone for as little as $8.33/month (that is, if you use fewer than 33 voice minutes & less than 10MB of 3G data every month). If you find yourself low on data, you can spend twenty-five bucks to add 500MB (up to a max of 1500MB) that will roll over every month that you continue purchasing a data package. Voice minutes can also be added in 150 to 1000 minute increments at any time.
* If you port your old number or sign up for a new number using Google Voice, you can get free text messaging without paying a monthly texting fee to AT&T (texts will come to your phone through your data plan or Wi-Fi). Be aware that you'll want to send & receive texts through the Google Voice app (found in the Android Marketplace), and not the stock Messaging app. Also, once you link your Thrive to your Google Voice account, you'll want to turn OFF the "Receive text messages on this phone" setting for the Thrive (if you turn this setting ON, every time you receive a text, you'll get a free Google Voice text PLUS a regular SMS text that will cost you 20-cents a pop).
* Ability to run almost any app in the Android App Store.
* Pretty decent battery life (for an Android phone). I charge my Thrive while I'm asleep. Unplug in the morning, use it all day, and plug it in to charge when I go to bed at the end of the night.
* Small size makes it extremely pocketable. While the entire device is a bit bulkier, the screen is just a smidge smaller than the screen of an iPhone.
* Even though it's only 3.2MP, the camera takes some pretty clear shots.
* Like any other Android phone, you can upgrade the memory by buying a larger microSD card. I bought an ADATA 32GB class 4 microSDHC card, transferred all of my music to my Thrive, and ditched my iPod. (Looking through Internet forums, it appears that similar LG Optimus phones have been reported to have problems with SD cards 16GB or larger -- I have not had any problems on my device with this setup.)
CONS
* The screen is definitely not Gorilla Glass. I babied my phone, and had a couple fine scratches on the screen within 2 weeks. Invest in a screen protector.
* At 320x480, the screen resolution isn't as high-def as newer phones. However, it's still on par with any iPhone made before the iPhone 4.
* The fairly-slow 600MHz processor means that you won't be able to install Flash on this device for web browsing. I've also noticed slowdowns in some games, specifically the newer Angry Birds games.
* With only 150MB of on-board memory, you're very limited with the number of apps you can install. True, you can move some apps to SD, but even then, these apps will still eat up a certain amount of onboard memory. In less than a month, I've already found myself having to delete certain apps to find room for others.
* (FOUND A WORKAROUND FOR THIS! SEE UPDATE AT THE TOP OF THIS REVIEW!) AT&T has turned off the ability to load apps from anywhere but the Android Marketplace.
* AT&T tries to complicate the refill process for this phone. You CAN set up automatic refill of airtime and features like data, but to do it online, you have to use two different AT&T websites. At paygonline dot com, you can set up auto-renew on your data or text plan. At myprepaidrefill dot com, you can set up auto-refill on airtime. Also of note, buying feature packages at paygonline dot com deducts from your existing airtime balance; while feature packages at myprepaidrefill dot com must be purchased separately.
* Depending on where you live, you may have an E911 fee deducted from your airtime balance every month. Usually not too costly, but still a surprise. Search for "gophone e911" to see what you'll be paying for 911 service.
By default, AT&T has disabled installing apps from "unknown sources" (i.e. Amazon Appstore). Rumor has it that there's an Android OS 2.2.2 update being pushed out over the air for this phone which re-enables this feature. Unfortunately, I can't get my Thrive to check for updates at all. However, you CAN enable installing unknown source apps using a "secret menu". Just dial 3845#*506# and a settings menu will appear. Scroll down and tap "Unknow Sources Test". Then check the "Unknown sources" box on the screen that pops up. Amazon Appstore should work as intended now!
First things first: this is no $500-600 flagship phone. But for under two hundred bucks, it's an excellent value, and can do almost anything that any of the fancy smartphones can do. And for someone who doesn't use many voice minutes, and can ration 3G data by taking advantage of Wi-Fi, the monthly fees can be incredibly low when compared to a smartphone contract.
PROS
* Using the 10-cent per minute plan, this can give you a smartphone for as little as $8.33/month (that is, if you use fewer than 33 voice minutes & less than 10MB of 3G data every month). If you find yourself low on data, you can spend twenty-five bucks to add 500MB (up to a max of 1500MB) that will roll over every month that you continue purchasing a data package. Voice minutes can also be added in 150 to 1000 minute increments at any time.
* If you port your old number or sign up for a new number using Google Voice, you can get free text messaging without paying a monthly texting fee to AT&T (texts will come to your phone through your data plan or Wi-Fi). Be aware that you'll want to send & receive texts through the Google Voice app (found in the Android Marketplace), and not the stock Messaging app. Also, once you link your Thrive to your Google Voice account, you'll want to turn OFF the "Receive text messages on this phone" setting for the Thrive (if you turn this setting ON, every time you receive a text, you'll get a free Google Voice text PLUS a regular SMS text that will cost you 20-cents a pop).
* Ability to run almost any app in the Android App Store.
* Pretty decent battery life (for an Android phone). I charge my Thrive while I'm asleep. Unplug in the morning, use it all day, and plug it in to charge when I go to bed at the end of the night.
* Small size makes it extremely pocketable. While the entire device is a bit bulkier, the screen is just a smidge smaller than the screen of an iPhone.
* Even though it's only 3.2MP, the camera takes some pretty clear shots.
* Like any other Android phone, you can upgrade the memory by buying a larger microSD card. I bought an ADATA 32GB class 4 microSDHC card, transferred all of my music to my Thrive, and ditched my iPod. (Looking through Internet forums, it appears that similar LG Optimus phones have been reported to have problems with SD cards 16GB or larger -- I have not had any problems on my device with this setup.)
CONS
* The screen is definitely not Gorilla Glass. I babied my phone, and had a couple fine scratches on the screen within 2 weeks. Invest in a screen protector.
* At 320x480, the screen resolution isn't as high-def as newer phones. However, it's still on par with any iPhone made before the iPhone 4.
* The fairly-slow 600MHz processor means that you won't be able to install Flash on this device for web browsing. I've also noticed slowdowns in some games, specifically the newer Angry Birds games.
* With only 150MB of on-board memory, you're very limited with the number of apps you can install. True, you can move some apps to SD, but even then, these apps will still eat up a certain amount of onboard memory. In less than a month, I've already found myself having to delete certain apps to find room for others.
* (FOUND A WORKAROUND FOR THIS! SEE UPDATE AT THE TOP OF THIS REVIEW!) AT&T has turned off the ability to load apps from anywhere but the Android Marketplace.
* AT&T tries to complicate the refill process for this phone. You CAN set up automatic refill of airtime and features like data, but to do it online, you have to use two different AT&T websites. At paygonline dot com, you can set up auto-renew on your data or text plan. At myprepaidrefill dot com, you can set up auto-refill on airtime. Also of note, buying feature packages at paygonline dot com deducts from your existing airtime balance; while feature packages at myprepaidrefill dot com must be purchased separately.
* Depending on where you live, you may have an E911 fee deducted from your airtime balance every month. Usually not too costly, but still a surprise. Search for "gophone e911" to see what you'll be paying for 911 service.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Changes to the GoPhone plan?
Hi y'all,
I've been using the 10˘/min plan with data packages that I renewed every 30 days. Read more
I've been using the 10˘/min plan with data packages that I renewed every 30 days. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Martin Allan
Phone
I like this phone, it takes great pictures and pretty easy to use. The one down side is that to me the battery doesn't last that long.
Published 1 month ago by seolbo99
Working fine
Android 2.2.1 is kinda old, 200 RAM is kinda low(all att apps can't uninstall), anyway it's a good product and working just fine. Read more
Published 1 month ago by PeterA
Great phone!
Great phone, great price. The only problem I had was that we thought it would be able to be a 'hot-spot' like one of our other kids' phones was (and I swear I read that about this... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Geo.
It could be rated zero
This is my worst experience of a purchase. The phone stopped working (could not turn on). Called their technical support and was sent back to repair. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zong Tian
From $50 plus per month to less than $20!!!
I bought this phone a couple of months ago to replace my feature phone (talk and text) at the end of my contract. I have to say I am loving the phone and the prepaid plan. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Barney
EXCELLENT GOPHONE SMART PHONE
Have had for over six months now and still love it! Battery lasts long, the gophone pricing package option of 10cents/minute is perfect for me and I rarely use all of my minutes,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by gigajulie
LG Thrive Prepaid Android GoPhone(AT&T)
My son dropped his other LG Thrive Phone (which is identical to this one) that we had purchased at the AT&T store for $179.95 in the washing machine. Read more
Published 4 months ago by MaMaMea
Gotta Love The Thrive
This phone lives up to it's name. It is everything you "THRIVE" for in a phone without having to pay that high tech price. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ebony
LG Thrive
This is a decent Android phone (2.2). The memory limitations are well documented. But if you are sick of paying for the data plan then you can use this phone. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. G
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