LG VX8350

The stylish CDMA phone, the LG VX8350, is the successor of one of the best selling flip phones for Verizon Wireless, the LG VX8300. Though it doesn't appear to be on a diet, this clamshell phone has got some really snazzy features like a 1.3 mega-pixel Camera, an MP3 player, a microSD card expansion slot, EVDO support, and Stereo Bluetooth support which compensate for its lack of exercise. This mobile also has access to Verizon's array of V Cast broadband content.

The phone is a great update from the LG VX8300. It has a soft and curvy look rather than its predecessor’s boxy one and the stubby looking antenna is gone too. Thanks to its smooth curves, the LG VX8350 feels great to hold in your hand and at 3.73 × 1.97 × 0.87 inches packed in a light 3.3 ounce body, it has a far more ergonomic, streamlined and stylish appearance than its predecessor.

The external screen at 1.2 inches diagonally now supports 256,000 colors. The display shows the typical items such as the date & time, battery life & signal strength indicators, as well as the caller ID. Additionally, it can act as a viewfinder for its camera when you need to take a self-portrait. Yet another nice feature right here in the external screen is the ability to display the album art and track information when you’re using the music player.

Right under the external display are dedicated music control keys for the phone’s music player. There are three buttons in all and though they appear a bit small, they have a polished spun-metal look many would die for and are raised high enough to get a good “hold” on them. The phone can play a variety of file formats including MP3 and WMA. Other dedicated buttons include the volume rocker and a voice recorder button, both of which are on the left spine. On the right spine is the button to activate the camera as well as the slot to insert a microSD card. The stereo speakers are surprisingly not located on the sides but are both on the back of the phone. This sometimes leads to a bit of “muffling”, but the sound quality on the whole is very crisp and clear without any static. The music quality is very good too but is slightly low on bass which is to be expected from a device such as this.

Inside the flip is a 176 x 220 screen or a 2.0 inch diagonal display. The display looks rich, luxuriant and teeming with colors literally popping up from the screen. Backlight and font size settings can be modified but this Verizon phone still has the boring standard Verizon menu interface which could reduce your excitement a bit.

The keypad is very user friendly and every single key seems to be tactically placed with a pleasant curved texture. The keypad consists of a five-way toggle doubling up as shortcuts to four user defined functions, two soft keys, Send and End/Power keys, a Clear key as well as a dedicated speakerphone key.

The phone is similar to VX8300 with respect to its features. There are a couple of refinements and upgrades here and there including the smooth design and richer displays. A total of 1000 entries can be stored in your phonebook with multiple details for every contact. Photo caller ID’s, special ringtone alerts, voice command facilities and notepad are some other features available with this mobile. While taking or attending a call, the built in “Voice Clarity” mode automatically adjusts the voice level based on surrounding noise. You also have the option of accessing your email from the mobile phone. Also included is the web browser for viewing rich Internet content, EVDO support, and Stereo Bluetooth. More notable feature are support for a wide array of Bluetooth profiles including A2DP, FTP, HSP, PBA, HFP, DUN, BIP, OPP (vCard only), BPP and AVRC as well as using the phone as a USB Mass Storage mode. Using Bluetooth, you can transfer files or use the phone as a modem. The 1.3 mega pixel camera takes images of a very good quality with sharp and vivid colors. Though there is no flash, several other options such as night mode and photometry/spot meter modes are notable. Three resolutions of 1,280 x 960, 640 x 480, and 320 x 240 are available for photo mode but only 176 x 144 pixels is available for taking videos. Hence, video quality is a bit low and “pixelated” as compared to taking stills.

The phone has a host of options for personalization. You can personalize many areas such as the wallpaper, ringtone, backlight timing etc. There is a wide range of accessories available too. Many dedicated buttons for various features are present, such as the ones for enabling camera, speaker phone and music. Downloading content from the Internet is possible, including games, wallpapers and ringtones. Streaming content can also be viewed in the VX8350. EVDO speeds ensure high streaming video quality and with little or no buffering. The battery life of this phone is about 4 hours of talk time with about 9 days of standby time which is pretty decent for mobiles today. Averaging $250 in the market, this phone is a good bargain and is a must-buy for those who want a good host of features in a stylish package.

Pros

• Stylish, Curvy and Ergonomic design which can fit with ease on your palm
• Rich and luxuriant display, both external and internal
• Dedicated keys for various features such as the External Music Player controls
• User friendly keypad
• EV-DO support
• Bluetooth with multiple profiles
• USB Mass Storage support
• Email and web access

Cons

• Lack of Flash for the Camera
• Stereo Speaker on back of phone

Final Verdict

The LG VX8350 is an excellent phone having a host of useful features in a stylish and smooth design. Though there are a couple of minor cons such as the lack of flash and wrong placement of the stereo speakers, it shouldn’t deter you from trying out this fantastic little mobile.