VX9800 Review

The VX9800 features the coolest trends in mobile communications including Bluetooth(R) technology for certain profiles and a 1.3 megapixel integrated camera and camcorder. Easy to use external memory capability means customers can purchase a MiniSD(TM) memory card and use it to play their own MP3s, or
transfer digital pictures, music files and video clips easily from PCs to their wireless phones.

Get the Latest Price on the LG VX9800 EV-DO Phone

Features and Specifications:

-- Internal LCD Display: 262K Color TFT, 320 x 256 Pixels, 15 Lines
-- External LCD Display: 65K Color TFT, 160 x 128 Pixels, 9 Lines
-- QWERTY Keyboard for Easy Messaging
-- Unobtrusive Internal Antenna

-- Bluetooth-Capable -- compatible with devices that support the headset, hands-free, and/or dial-up networking profile(s); pair up to 20 Bluetooth-capable devices; send vCard via Bluetooth (some Bluetooth profiles not supported)
-- EV-DO High-Speed Data Connectivity +
-- V CAST-Capable -- stream and download video clips (15 fps) with high-speed EV-DO technology +
-- Mobile Web E-mail -- easy access to Hotmail(R), AOL(R) or Yahoo!(R)e-mail accounts +
-- VZEmail -- Wireless Sync E-mail +
-- Get It Now(R)-Capable -- download games, ring tones, wallpapers and more +
-- Mobile Web 2.0(SM) Capable +
-- Mobile Instant Messaging (IM) +
-- PIX and FLIX Messaging Service (MMS) -- send and receive messages with text, sounds, photos or videos +
-- Enhanced TXT Messaging (SMS/EMS) +
-- MP3 Player with Customizable Equalizer
-- Dual Speakers for Stereo Sound
-- MiniSD Memory Port to Store Pictures*, Videos*, Sounds** and MP3 Music

-- 1.3 Megapixel CMOS Camera with Flash
-- Business Card Reader
-- Record 15-Second Video Clips (15 fps)
-- Save up to 315 Videos @ 176 x 144 or 153 Videos @ 320 x 240 Pixels
-- Video (Camcorder) Format: 3g2
-- Camera Resolutions: 1280 x 960, 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 176 x 144,
160 x 120 Pixels
-- Zoom: Up to 4x (varies by resolution)*
-- Save up to 365 Photos @ 160 x 120 or 16 Photos @ 1280 x 960 Pixels
-- LCD Dual Mode for Self-Portraits
-- Close-up Mode for Photos at Close Range*
-- Self-Timer: 3, 5 or 10 seconds
-- Customizable Brightness*, White Balance*, Shutter Sound, Color
Effects, Photometry and Orientation (Portrait/Landscape)
-- Night Mode
-- Text to Speech (English)
-- Full-Duplex Speakerphone
-- Advanced Speaker-Independent Voice Recognition (English & Spanish)
-- Voice Commands: Call Someone, Digit Dial, Voicemail, Missed Calls, Messages, Time & Date
-- Voice Memo Recorder (1 Minute Each; Up to 200 Memos Total)
-- 72-Chord Polyphonic Ring Tone Support
-- 15 Unique Default Ring Tones
-- Personal Organizer: Calendar with Scheduler, Alarm Clock, Notepad
-- Tools: World Clock, Calculator, Ez Tip Calc
-- Speed Dial (98 Entries + 1 Voicemail Default)
-- Address Book with 1000 Contacts -- each stores 5 numbers, 2 e-mail addresses and picture ID
-- External USB Capable
-- Vibrate and Silent Modes
-- TTY/TDD Support
-- Hearing Aid Compatible (M3-Rating)
-- Standalone Mode (RF Off)
-- English and Spanish Language Support
-- Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 1.5 GHz GPS, 800 MHz CDMA (Dual-Mode)
-- Dimensions: 4.57" (H) x 1.97" (W) x 1.00" (D)
-- Weight: 5.19 oz.
-- Memory: 128 MB Flash/64 MB SRAM
-- Standard Battery: 1,300 mAh Lithium Polymer
-- Usage Time: Up to 4.16 Hours*
-- Standby Time: Up to 8.3 Days*

PC Magazine reviews the LG VX9800 and finds, "The VX9800's 1.3-megapixel CCD camera is excellent, the best we've seen on a phone so far. Images are sharp and colors are true. We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the video-recording mode, as well, which takes 320-by-240 videos up to 15 seconds long at 13.75 frames per second. The camera also sort of works as a business-card scanner."

Keith Reed, of the Boston Globe, reviews the LG VX-9800 and comments, "The 9800's brilliance is not in functionality; it does mostly what any other cellphone can. But it makes a huge leap in design, cleverly folding in a huge, attractive LCD screen, two speakers, and a standard keyboard into a package that's barely thicker than the average clamshell-style phone."

The NC Times reviews the LG VX9800, and notes that" A stunning amount of engineering has gone into this phone, making it surprisingly easy to use. I found the phone's functions set up intuitively, so you won't need to consult a manual to use it. The buttons and software controls give you step-by-step information to guide users."

MobileTechReview reviews the LG VX9800, and concludes, "US camera phones aren't generally anything to write home about, though Nokia's megapixel offerings are quite nice. What a pleasant surprise the VX9800's 1.3 megapixel CMOS camera was. Better than the LG VX8100's and even one of my personal favorites, the Nokia 7610, the VX9800 takes very sharp photos with good color accuracy and lighting. Like most cameras, it does best in moderate to well lit environments, though low light shots taken with and without the flash aren't horribly grainy but they do lose some color. In general, the camera takes photos that look good on your monitor, not just the phone's LCD and they're worth saving."

MobileTracker reviews the LG VX9800 and says, about the phone's camera, "The megapixel camera on the LG VX9800 takes pretty good shots (see photo section below), but I took issue with it's position. It's on the back of the phone while it's closed. This means that while opened the camera is pointing to the ground, probably with your finger covering it. So for best results you'll have to stick with taking pictures with the phone closed, using the small external screen to preview your shots. However in one circumstance, the business card scanner, that isn't possible."

PCWorld reviews the LG VX9800 and writes about the phone's camera: "The camera sports a horizontal orientation to mimic the look and feel of a point-and-shoot digital camera (this is a design trait that Sony Ericsson phones were first to offer). A dedicated button on the side panel initiates the camera and works as a shutter button. But when I pressed it a few times, the camera still wouldn't power up. After reading the manual, I discovered that you must press and hold the button for about 4 seconds in order to go into camera mode—not very intuitive."

Sci-Tech Today reviews the LG VX9800 smartphone, and finds that it's a good phone if you're looking for something that will download video clips and MP3s, but if you're looking at it more for business use, you might want to check out a pocket PC. About the phone's camera: "Turning the phone around reveals a highly capable 1.3-megapixel camera, with built-in flash and 4x zoom, that can double as a business-card scanner."

From the news release:

Available exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers, the VX9800 uses advanced wireless technology and design to offer a complete multimedia entertainment experience along with the latest in wireless phone
communication. Whether streaming news and sports video highlights on Verizon Wireless' V CAST service, downloading and watching crystal clear V CAST video clips from the hottest names in entertainment, or listening to favorite songs through the phone's MP3 player and stereo speakers, customers will notice that
the VX9800's overall design typifies the latest in wireless technology.

The VX9800 features the coolest trends in mobile communications including Bluetooth(R) technology for certain profiles and a 1.3 megapixel integrated camera and camcorder. Easy to use external memory capability means customers can purchase a MiniSD(TM) memory card and use it to play their own MP3s, or
transfer digital pictures, music files and video clips easily from PCs to their wireless phones.

The VX9800 comes equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard for easy access to messaging applications and VZEmail with Wireless Sync that lets customers send and receive e-mail directly from their VX9800s. With Wireless Sync, customers can get new e-mails, calendar, contact and task information sent to their
VX9800s as long as the PC is left on. Wireless Sync also allows for synchronization with POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts so customers can stay connected to friends, family and business contacts -- all with one device.

"The VX9800 represents the ultimate convergence of today's most innovative mobile technologies and brings the very latest advances in wireless entertainment and handset design together for a complete multimedia
experience," said Mr. Juno Cho, president, LG Electronics MobileComm. "An evolution in wireless phone technology, the VX9800 represents a giant step forward for both LG and Verizon Wireless in our quest to bring next-generation multimedia entertainment and communications tools to today's cutting-edge customers."

In addition to its mobile media and advanced communications capabilities, the VX9800 also includes some of the most advanced mobile phone features available to wireless phone users today.

The LG VX9800 will be available beginning on September 26 for $299.99 after $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement at http://www.verizonwireless.com. On October 1, the LG VX9800 will also be available for $299.99 after $50 mail-in rebate with a two-year customer agreement in more than 1,900 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country and at Circuit City locations.