Customer Reviews

LG VX4700 Verizon Cell Phone

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Let's get to the heart of the matter to begin with. Yes, I LOVE and ADORE this phone. No, I didn't give it five stars. I know that so many on Amazon seem to throw as many stars as possible at every conceivable product they like, but that seems to defy the review process, does it not? I mean, I've encountered few products I would genuinely consider perfect or even close to it, so how can I award a perfect score to everything?

That said, despite a few minor flaws, I have found that the LG VX4700 phone from Verizon meets my needs completely. The phone is simple in appearance, so don't expect anything flashy (though the rather large speaker on the front side of the phone does grab attention - whether this is a positive or a negative aspect of the design is a matter of aesthetics that is best left to the individual. As for me, it's non-intrusive, so I don't mind it at all). When closed, there is a black and white LCD display that shows the current time and information about incoming calls, voicemails or Push-to-Talk data. This screen would be prettier if it were in color, but again that's a minor quibble about what is otherwise an exceptional phone.

The main reason I bought this phone (and, I assume, the main reason most are interested in it at all) was for its push-to-talk feature. Highly touted by Nextel, PTT tech is now available from Verizon and I highly recommend it over any of the alternatives. It still isn't perfect, however. Occassionally (not often, but every few months) my wife and I have had to "reboot" our phones in order to get the PTT functional again. I have found little explanation as to why this happens, but it occurs so rarely I really haven't worried about it too much. Most of the time, the PTT works effortlessly.

Nextel may have good PR, but their coverage is lousy and their service is weak (see the recent Consumer Reports article about cell phone services. While CR wasn't too pleased with any cellular provider, all of their studies placed Verizon at #1 and Nextel at the bottom of the list at a wide variety of locations around the country). I have no vested interest in Verizon, but after trying Cingular and T-Mobile I am happy to find such a reliable, consistent provider.

Some will definitely not like the LG VX4700 because it lacks a camera. If a camera is something that is important to you, then it is probably best for you to avoid this phone. The VX4700 has a nice color screen but it doesn't hold up to some of the more graphically sophisticated phones out there today. For me, a camera would have been nice, but I can certainly live without it.

If you want a flashy looking phone with ALL the bells and whistles, this is probably not the phone you're looking for. However, if you want strong reception and excellent PTT, I haven't come across anything better.

Finally, finally, finally. A phone that is GOOD at what it's supposed to do. First I'll tell you, I'm not impressed by all the ridiculous gadgets they put on phones so they can sell more of them. Cameras, MP3 players and the like. I have a Sony Digital camera and an Ipod. I wouldn't want to use those to call my mom, just as I don't want to use my phone to take lousy pictures.

That said, I want a phone that is clear, has good earbud sound, voice dial and a speaker phone. All useful things for a phone. The VX4700 has that and more. I've tried a lot of phones over the past 10 years. Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, you name it. They all seemed to have one thing in common. Poor earbud sound and OK hold-to-your-ear sound. The XV4700 is by far the clearest phone I have ever heard. My wife put hers on speaker phone. It was so clear I thought she still had the phone to her ear. The 'walkie-talkie' is OK. Not great. Cuts out some. But it's a bonus for me. It comes in handy too. The external speaker is the best I've ever heard from a phone. The high volume will blow your ears off, I keep mine on Med. and can hear fine, even in the car.

A few things I don't like about it:

The placement of the Speaker phone button is on the side of the phone. It's vey easy to hit. So you could be talking privately. The next thing you know, you're on speaker.

On the display while your talking. It says "Speaker On." To me, that means the speaker is on. Wrong. It means hit the button t to turn the speaker on. IMO, LG did it backwards.

I charge my phone at night. When it's fully charged, the display light comes on, and stays on ALL NIGHT! with a message that the phone is fully charged. Verizon didn't know how to disable this. I get around it by laying the phone on it's screen side.

These are very minor annoyances in the grand scheme of things. Overall, this is the best phone I have ever used. If they fixed the few things I listed above, it would easily get 5 stars. As it is, I actually give it 4.5 stars. You won't be sorry if you buy this phone.

I had my old LG for three years until it died. I upgraded to this one and have been wanting my old one back every since. I'll start with cons since they're easy and then add the pros if I can think of any.

Cons:
- Battery has to be in the phone to be charged. This means you can't keep a spare charged battery on hand. My spare battery is useless.

- Dropping calls right and left.

- Side buttons to easy to depress - the thing is constantly switching on/off speaker or on/off manner while in my purse. I hate side buttons.

- Speaker phone is pitchy and to vibrato to use.

I can't think of any specific pros. Aside from the problems mentioned above, it's fine, but I can't wait to replace mine.

This phone has some great features like:
1. easy to use calendar with equally easy to use reminders. You can set appointments and voice-record a short reminder, or just enter the reminder on the keyboard.
2. easy to record a voice reminder, and easy to record a phone conversation (one button on the side) helpful for directions or other important info like addresses or emails or fax numbers while talking to your contact. Just play it back when you want.
3. No camera - yay.
4. Push to talk, with a good speaker.
5. Easy to use alarm. It has saved me many times.
6. Okay, so the calculator is weird and hard to use.
7. Teeny tiny, nice looking phone.
8. Good voice recognition to auto dial or hands-free.

Let me first start with saying that the only reason I brought this phone is because I didn't want a camera phone and this was one of the only non camera cell phone that was available. The other one didn't have speaker phone or allow you to download songs for ringers. So right there that is a negative for this phone. Next is the fact that the speaker phone is very easy to turn off but takes for ever to take it off. So if you want to have a private conversation you have to be careful or else everyone around you will hear your business. Next is the calculator that is available on the phone. For some reason there is no decimal point so if you have to do some quick math (trying to find out the sales price) it's kind of worthless. The third reason, I admit it isn't the most important, is the phone is not the nicest looking phone, however once again the nicest looking phone tends to have extra bells and whistles that I find unnecessary. Luckily it looks like this phone is no longer available so you can thank your lucky star that you will not have to buy this phone. But I would also be leery of any phone that is remotely similar to this one.

They told me the speaker was great. They forgot to mention that the mic is no good. No one can hear me talking when it is on speaker. The side buttons are too easy to press while in my pocket or while I am talking. The battery wouldn't hold a charge after 6 months. Verizon said I should buy a new battery, I wanted to toss it in the garbage. I switched back to my old trusty Motorolla and would not consider purchasing an LG phone again. My partner and sister have the same battery problems with their Lg phones. Too bad, I really liked the calculator feature.

I got this phone in January and it broke IN HALF in May. The ribbon wire that holds the phone together just frayed apart. I wasn't rough with the phone. I didn't drop it on the ground. This phone is just poorly made. From day one it started falling apart. Small pieces and screws fell out and eventually it just split in two. The phone spontaneously goes into "driving mode" which is pointless and announces whoever is calling. The speaker phone button on the side goes on all the time when you don't want it to also. After the phone broke in half, I had it replaced by my insurance. That was in June. Now it is the beginning of August and the speaker button on the side of the phone is permanently lodged into the phone and won't come out. So my phone is constantly on speaker phone and the Verizon Wireless store won't do anything about it. Don't get this phone.