Solid, remarkably good phone with an excellent price-performance ratio.

Solid, remarkably good phone with an excellent price-performance ratio.

LG P970 Optimus Black Smartphone (10.2cm (4 inches) NOVA touchscreen, 5 MP camera, 9.2mm thin, Android 2.2, 3.5mm jack, Wifi, GPS) (Electronics)

Customer Review

As a longtime, very satisfied Samsung users (currently with the Galaxy S 2, which I use mainly in my office) I bought our oldest son at his request to his 18th birthday in September 2011, the LG Optimus Black.
I unacknowledged his interest for a smartphone that mark the beginning without skepticism, because I certainly did not have more of yesteryear LG as a good manufacturer of mobile phones in memory. My concerns I would have, as it turned out in the meantime to save, because I realized that the differences between my Samsung Galaxy S2 and its LG P 970 not be as clearly by far, as expected.

Except for the Dual-Core and the much better, because much faster camera in my Samsung LG can keep up surprisingly well. In the area of ​​display (and not only in this area, I come to it later returned), it can even, the Galaxy S 2 to remain amazingly hot on their heels:
Representation and contrast this touch screen with LG's new 'Nova technology' come namely a direct comparison is not much worse off than in the first class, but occasionally heavy color as translucent Super AMOLED my S2. Amazingly, however: As for what brightness and natural color reproduction, the LG Optimus Black is obvious but new standards and exceeds my Samsung Galaxy S2 in the highest brightness level by far. For more information see chapter 'Display'.

Appearance and processing

The LG Optimus Black is optically and thus based on the experiences that I occasionally made years ago with LG mobile phones, a quantum leap. The look like it almost as good as that of my Galaxy S2 (Yes, I admit it frankly. I am impressed by the rotzfreiche Samsung's strategy to have copied the iPhone look in successful manner).
The processing of the LG affects 'not only at first glance, but on closer inspection and, above all, to the touch' astonishingly high. The spite plastic case, but continuous, uninterrupted glass front noble-looking surface, the sleek, no-frills design, the almost invisible gap dimensions and the low weight of just 109 grams making it a small, simple yet wertig seemingly smartphone.
Nothing creaks, nothing crunches. Only the thin plastic battery cover on the back of the device is annoying if it is to be removed because times. The fact that a battery is firmly in place so exaggerated, I think that is wrong. A clear decline.

Handling, size and weight

Contrary to the unfortunate trend towards ever larger displays and device dimensions, the handiness increasingly clear abtriften in size and (in) toward mini-tablet, the Black is beneficial in the positive because opposite direction.
It is the size and weight very comfortable to hold and makes anything but bulky or disruptive in your pocket noticeable. I catch my son desöfteren amused when he nervously his jeans pockets controlled, apparently solid faith, not having brought this indispensable part for him.

With regard to the compactness of the unit I am now arrived at the point of the LG compared to the Samsung Galaxy S2 once again gives a clear superiority in direct comparison:

It's not dissimilar to the S2 thanks to its flat design and the screen size of 'only' 4 inches (my Galaxy S2 has apparently decisive 0.3 inches too) exactly even in the area where it is playful and effortlessly with one hand can hold and operate.
Ironically, this situation I had always talked already beautiful in my fantastic S2. The Galaxy S2 as a top product of the Samsung product range I had probably gekuckt handy from the outset, as it is in hindsight actually feels and can also operate. Namely, it is simply too great for one-handed operation. And I have, at a height of just 1.90 meters far from little hands.
Always is either the upper left screen corner is too far away or my right thumb too short.
So precisely, the supposed advantage of larger displays such as my Galaxy S2 or HTC Sensation XL (great for watching videos or viewing and editing of Word documents) to regrettable KO factor for people who want to use a smart phone with one hand. With the LG the wonderful possible, with my Samsung unfortunately impossible.

Camera

Well. There are much better phones in terms of tripping time. Although the LG makes decent pictures, but not enough to approach the a Samsung Galaxy S2 by far in terms of quality. This is particularly striking when it comes to approx addition large-format photo prints on DIN-A-4.
However, video recorded in HD are not a problem and not to fast moving subjects also present no problem. Color fidelity and depth of field are in a very acceptable for comparable units in this class range. Negative point precisely: In camera mode, the subject should not move too fast. Snapshots? Too bad, impossible.

Battery Life

It is already noticeable when - as in some reviews here to read at AMAZON, persistently the supposed weak battery life of the LG Black is criticized. In most cases, one must necessarily get the impression that -very lack the battery is not in the phone, but 'as my son wont like to say - in many cases before sitting.
For it is up to each prospective purchasers to gain enough information before buying. Had the 1's and 2's points Reviewers namely attentive researched a bit before your purchase, then you would have noticed that without exception all androids and even the certainly very good apple-product with the '4 S' in the product name in zealous use problems have much longer to get along with one battery charge than a day.

Both phones, my Samsung Galaxy S II and the LG Optimus Black to intensive use in all regularity in the evening to the charger. Point.
In normal, mixed handling calls, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and high-speed data networks, both devices achieve almost two full days. Not outstanding, but acceptable taking into account the wide range of technical features.

Interesting in terms of the battery performance of androids in general: to would be those who complain about too short battery life, a little more open with long-known energy-saving tips (read in the network and specialized magazines) have busy and have only once a serious attempt to comprehend the Android typical battery-management generally, then there would not be such a nonsensical 1-point ratings exclusively for alleged poor battery life neither LG nor at other trademarks de facto.

Because by the use of small, sufficiently known tricks can the battery life of each Android device, including a LG Optimus Black considerably lengthen.
In not a few cases reported of (mostly free) apps that almost double the battery life can be achieved (in this example to call the Android Assistant and JuiceDefender from the Market). With the latter I was nothing but headaches, but I'm also not who has to deal with such complicated anmutendenden applications daily. Our Sohnemann was initially disappointed by the battery performance, but with an increasing number of charges and by means of appropriate apps he has got it without any problems in order to increase the battery life of their devices now almost twice the here and there Reported.
It seems he is also now a sport of it, before discovering his hidden reserves in the energy management of its mobile phones.

Display: sharpness and touch sensitivity

The all-new in the smartphone scene 'Nova screen in the LG Optimus Black is indeed remarkably sharp and - at supplies- from brilliant to unpleasant dazzling brightness. In direct comparison, the display of my really excellent S2 in usual convincing Super AMOLED brilliance against the LG look quite dark fully up screen. Meanwhile, the LG can compete in terms of sharpness and depth impression still amazingly well with my S2, it surpasses fully up display in brightness but loose this and all I know of smartphones; even an iPhone 4s (recently admired) or the 9700 included a BlackBerry Bold from friends and acquaintances.
It exceeds (I have taken the trouble, herauszugooglen this criterion in figures) with an illumination of 715 Candela / m² all currently on the market smartphones by far: my S2 creates less than half with 316.5 cd / m² this value , Even the Apple Spike counterpart 4S from Cupertino is not nearly with 488 candelas per square meter the brightness of the LG Optimus Black zoom. However, 'that's clear' the surprisingly good LG display takes place in terms of pixel density, the Retina display of the iPhone 4 clear his master. I used the way for a long time makes me repeatedly on's new fascinating (but its price in no way justified) iPhone 4 almost every day in my work and therefore I allow direct display comparison "LG Optimus Black / iPhone4".

However, I still see at the touch sensitivity of the display a slight advantage in favor of Samsung and iPhone.
Although the LG display reacts to the lightest touch of a finger fast and smooth, but not quite so perfectly and spontaneously, as I know that from my Samsung S2 and me also generally wish of a smartphone that wants to compete in the upper quality segment.
Rarely, but now and then already it occurred to me that (curiously, not all applications) the touched point on the LG display reacts in not always immediately, but a second time had to be easily tapped to be implemented.
Given the excellent price-performance ratio can be just accepted this circumstance, but LG should see in any successor models of the Optimus series in this respect serious touch-up demand.

Sound, call quality

Radio and MP-3 players are listening to the pathetic earplugs original supplied. Bass and treble sound dull apparently do not exist. If the factory-supplied earphones but exchanged (in this case of in-ear headphones of the brand Sennheiser in the price segment of about 45-60 euros) then the sound is indeed a bit bass-heavy, but overall very very good. The built-in equalizer, the sound can turn improve somewhat or even deteriorate.

The voice quality when making calls (of course dependent on the network coverage) 'we all ePlus / base' in rural areas is good, but not outstanding. Only in urban areas of both the vocal quality of caller and called is better; the speed while surfing the net varies greatly from respective undrawn network standard. Nice to see that the LG among others also supports HSUPA standard. Home in WLAN operation builds the LG Optimus Black Internet pages amazingly much faster than, say, on my Sony Vaio X11S1 that I bought before nearly eineinalb years.
In hands-free mode via the loudspeaker is nothing negative to report. The speaker is sometimes rather too noisy and prone to distortion at me as a call receiver. Fortunately, the volume can then but downregulate quickly when needed.

Even otherwise allowed this phone ', contrary to expectations, I must say - no serious gaffe. No stuttering, no exaggerated numerous crashes. At least no more or less than my Galaxy S II. Only three or four times so far, the LG my son stayed longer than half a minute depend (probably because he had once again opened too many apps at the same time and was 'alongside' gambled what stuff the held).
It is and has been for a while, but no problem about it ever worth upset because one should in such a case, have the nerve, the corresponding application only for a half, maximum to allow for a full minute at rest and not to close. It is proposed from the device anyway in this case, close the application or service. In the latter option an annoying reboot is not necessary. With a little more patience, therefore, would in most people complain about the occasional or even regular crashes when LG Optimus Black, avoid removing the batteries again cause reboot.

Keyboard

The virtual keyboard of the LG reminds less of that of my Samsung, than that of the iPhone and can also serve as good genauo in "template" of Apple. However, I have found that facilitate writing programs from the Market (notably "SWIFT KEY X") typing longer texts considerably. My son has become so enthusiastic that he clearly is this self-learning writing program which is certainly not bad LG Original Keyboard preference.

Data transmission and GPS

In important respects, such as the time needed for data transmission in Bluetooth range (Samsung USB: Time for transfer of 100 MB: 29 seconds and the LG USB for the same data transfer rate, despite only one () processor even just 27 seconds) there is almost a tie between Samsung and LG.
The time it takes both to communicate with a satellite (betweenthe switching on and the beginning of next signal), the so-called Navi GPS fix, both not take surprisingly one millisecond (both approved in this important for navigation discipline excellent 12 seconds) , In addition, both devices have the Bluetooth Killer 'WiFi-Direct' on board, which, strangely enough, this contact between the Samsung and LG have never succeeded, but rather the WiFi Direct connection of the LG Black with other so-equipped mobile phones without any problems.
I can not say anything, because I prefer to rely in this respect on my vehicle from the factory built facility on the qualities of LG in terms of navigation. I can only confirm that the vehicle takes only a few seconds of switching on the GPS receiver to the 1. Satellite. Of course, the speed of the reception is of course also depends on the environment. In big-city canyons it can take a bit longer before than on the countryside.

Conclusion and Final Score

Overall, the LG P 970 unexpectedly close. At the forefront of leading premium-class Androiden- and with only a single core I would not have held previously by far possible, but can personally come to the same conclusion after the recent, extensive experience with both devices at least.

After what I read so far, though comes a LG Optimus SPEED in terms of speed compared to overall good values ​​as my Galaxy S2, but that does not concern the discussion and thus the LG Optimus Black is not in any case significantly slower.

Nearly one point deduction if ...

Unfortunately LG failed just with this device, to realize the promised update to Android 2.3 in due time. If, however, according to the latest, serious press statements of LG Germany instead middle / end of this year, the 'forgotten' update will be skipped on Gingerbread and carried out as a "consolation prize" and redress directly upgrade to the announced for the entire Optimus series Android 4.0, then the LG P 970 will be reached with high probability on the same quality level, on my Samsung Galaxy S2 is now. Only the (good) and a credible prospect of a 4.0 Update (IceCreamSandwich) can downgrade to "only" 4 points to avoid.

I remember finally that I for my excellent Galaxy S2 early July 2011, still had to put a whopping 600 euros on the table and I contrast Visualise that in many areas almost equal good LG P 970 have now for less than half that price is so I can only express a strong buy recommendation.

A good booster battery Rank: 5/5
March 12
Excellent 143 Rank: 5/5
May 16
not great 32 Rank: 2/5
September 4
Exciting 39 Rank: 5/5
January 27

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