LG Optimus 7

Editor's Review of the Optimus 7

Windows Phone 7 has arrived, and here we have LG's entry, the E900 Optimus 7. Due to Microsoft's tight restrictions, the handset is very much like its HTC and Samsung rivals in many ways. However, thanks to their exclusive apps and macho battery life, LG have managed to stand out from the crowd.

Design & Build

Measuring in at 125 x 59.8 x 11.5mm and with a weight of 158g, the LG Optimus 7 is a pretty chunky smartphone. In this instance however, we quite like the bulk, as it feels indestructable, although we're pretty sure it's not. The built itself has a premium feel, with LG placing a solid metal back panel within a rubberized chassis, making it extremely comfortable to hold.

Within its high-end casing is a 3.8. inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, complete with on-screen QWERTY. This is one of the best touch sensitive keypads we've seen in a long time, which having been spaced perfectly, allowed us to work at significant speeds. The word correction is handy too, even underlining misspelt words in Microsoft's famous red wiggly line. No more sending those embarassing typos to your parents anymore!

Underneath the screen are 3 physical keys, which take up a bit too much of the handset for our liking. The Windows Start key looks and feels as if it's loosely stuck on, which dampens the overall high-end look of the otherwise stunning handset.

OS & Interface

Just like all of the handsets released running Windows Phone 7, you're provided with Microsoft's Live Tile interface, and LG have failed to differentiate themselves when it comes to the homescreen. This isn't their fault however, as you'll struggle to make it your own too. Microsoft have limited customisation options to moving and changing the colour of the tiles and setting a personalized background.

Other features included in Microsoft's new OS are Xbox Live gaming, Microsoft Office and social networking integreation. We were a bit let down by the People Hub, which fails to support Twitter integration.

Multimedia & Storage

When it comes to entertaining, LG really manage to stand out from the crowd.

The Optimus 7 comes equipped with a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, which produces images of a fantastic quality. It may not be quite as nifty as the snapper on the HTC Mozart and it struggles to cope with bright sunlight, although its performance indoors makes up for that. LG also provide a 'Panorama' app, which assists you in creating the perfect panoramic shot. The camera isn't only capable of taking stills, as it also comes capable of recording 720p video, of an equally impressive quality.

Unlike other handsets in the WP7 range, images and videos can be shared via DLNA, using LG's unique Play To feature. It can be accessed straight from the handet's interface, where other devices with DLNA support will be found. It's a great little feature, and saves hunting around from cables.

We weren't too keen on the Zune music player to begin with, but we soon got our heads around it. It's visually impressive, and provides . Zune also allows you to access the integrated FM radio, which while using your headphones as an antenna, allows you to swipe through hundreds of live broadcasts. We were pretty impressed with the in-the-box headphones too, which is a rarity.

Everything Else

Like on any Windows Phone 7 device, browsing the web is a breeze. The built-in Internet Explorer has been optimized for these handsets, and copes well with rendering pages quickly, multitouch gestures and manages to keep up with fast 3G and WiFi speeds.

We were impressed with the 1500mAh too, which lasted a day and a half of subtantial use before we had to pop it on charge. Impressive.

Conclusion

It's almost hard to review Windows Phone 7 handsets as they all appear so similar, but LG have thankfully managed to differentiate themselves. With LG's added extras onboard we felt like we were getting a more personalized experience, and despite its chunkiness, it stands out as one of the best looking handsets within Microsoft's crowd.