MWC 2012: LG Optimus 3D Max Hands-On

LG has unveiled some highly appealing Android-based smartphones before this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, including a successor to its first 3D-capable device. 

The company also chose to bring the new LG Optimus 3D Max handset to the event, so that people could have a better look at it. We seized the opportunity and played with the new smartphone. 

LG claims that this is the slimmest and brightest 3D-capable smartphone in the world. Clearly, it fits great in the hand, even if it packs a large 4.3-inch touchscreen display. 

Images on the screen are clear and sharp, due to its 480 x 800-pixel resolution (there was room for more, that’s for sure). And there is also the Corning Gorilla Glass 2 coating to protect the panel from scratches. 

LG Optimus 3D Max is powered by a TI OMAP 4430 dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 application processor, featuring PowerVR SGX540 graphics and complemented by 1 GB of RAM. 

The new device also includes 8 GB of internal memory, but users can easily expand it through the featured microSD memory card slot with support for up to 32 GB of additional storage space. 

Connectivity-wise, the phone sports HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Wi-Fi hotspot, microUSB (MHL) v2.0, Bluetooth, DLNA, NFC, and built-in GPS receiver. 

To enable the much-praised 3D capabilities, LG packed the new handset with dual 5-megapixel photo snappers on the back, with auto focus and LED flash. It can shoot full HD videos in 2D, and 720p videos when in 3D mode. There is also a front camera to enable video calling. 

LG Optimus 3D Max runs under Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system with the LG 3D UI on top. It will arrive on shelves with support for Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, and the like. 

The smartphone measures 126.8 x 67.4 x 9.6 mm and weighs 148 grams. It is powered by a Li-Ion 1520 mAh battery. According to LG, the handset should arrive on shelves sometime in the second quarter of the year.

Posted in: Mobile Phone, Preview