LG Intuition Pro Reviews

We'll admit that our gripes with the width of the Intuition is more of a matter of personal preference and the extra girth may suit folks just fine (provided you have gargantuan hands or simply enjoy the 4:3 aspect ratio too much) -- however, we'd be more willing to give it a pass if the device itself isn't a study in mediocrity. Unfortunately, our head-to-head showdown between it and the Galaxy Note II did nothing more than convince us that this isn't the phablet Verizon fans have been waiting for. Call it a glitch in the Matrix if you'd like, but we can't shake the feeling that we've seen this phone before.

The Verizon LG Intuition, also known as the LG Optimus Vu, is ironically a counter-intuitive phone. Many people don’t “get” the 4:3 screen choice at first. However, those who can go past the initial impression will love the huge screen, and the amazing comfort that the wide format provides – it is unparalleled. That said, the wide format can often be considered “too wide”, especially for one-hand use. Because the gaming performance is relatively low, I suspect that this would be a good fit for business folks who need to type often, and who don’t want to pull their glasses out every time they need to check the phone. This is also a clear advantage for large display smartphones, over the smaller 3.5″ or 4″ ones. It is not something that should be underestimated, and if you don’t like to search for your glasses every time you look at a smartphone, you should check these 5″+ phones.

Don't buy this phone. Yes, it has a big roomy screen for all your note-taking needs (if those exist), but you make constant sacrifices just to get another column of icons on the screen. LG's skin is far from the best one out there, and the way the phone manages its 4:3 aspect ratio makes the third-party ecosystem a much worse proposition. Even pen input, which seems like the only way to functionally use this thing, isn't fully thought-out or implemented. But beyond all that, the Intuition just doesn't work as a phone. It's too big to be comfortably used in one hand, or held up to your face for a phone call. If you want a big screen, get the Galaxy S III and its 4.8-inch display. If you want a giant screen, switch to AT&T or T-Mobile and get the Galaxy Note, which seems excessively usable after spending a week with the Intuition. As I write this, LG's own Optimus 4X HD is sitting on my desk, and that phone would have a chance on Verizon's shelves. The Intuition doesn't.

The LG Intuition is a neat device for the right person. If you're looking for a tiny little mobile phone that tends to get lost if you put it in your pocket with your keys, this isn't for you. However, if you are frustrated by the itty-bitty little screens on other smartphones, you just might love the Intuition. The screen is large, so games are more immersive. You can get the big picture -- literally -- when sharing photos with friends, and you can view web pages without having to constantly scroll up and down and side to side to see everything. Unfortunately this device isn't for everyone, and you have to determine if you're willing to give up some portability and pocketability in order to get that large screen. I also have some concerns about network connectivity, so check the coverage in your area to make sure that Verizon's coverage is strong enough to suit your needs at home and where you're likely to travel. Verizon is currently offering the LG Intuition for $150 with a free Bluetooth headset, quite a good price.

The LG Intuition offers an uneven experience that makes it hard to recommend. It is not a device that I would want to use day in and day out. It is simply too large. The wide design makes it too awkward to carry around and interact with. The buttons are hard to reach with one hand, it's uncomfortable to stick in your pocket, and it made me the laughing stock at my local watering hole. However, if you're comfortable with constantly using both hands to operate your smartphone, then by all means give the LG Intuition a chance. When it comes to basic and essential performance items, the Intuition charts a bumpy course. It connects to Verizon's network with no problem, but voice calls just don't sound that good and battery life is a bummer at less than a day. As a media device, though, the Intuition is excellent. Content availability is not a problem, the screen is great for watching movies, the camera works really well, and browsing the web is a joy with the extra width for web pages. I could only recommend the LG Intuition to those who absolutely do not want both a tablet and a smartphone and are seeking something that falls in between. Even then, I strongly suggest you go to a Verizon Wireless store and use this device before purchasing it. The LG Intuition may seem an intuitive choice to some; sadly, "counter-intuitive" is a more apt description.

Size isn't everything, although the LG Intuition certainly wants you to think it is. At first glance, this looks like a sleek minitablet, although the first time you hold it up to your ear to make a call, you'll feel a bit goofy. It would actually be easy enough to get beyond the size issue if LG made it easier to deal with once you were actually using the device. But with wonky aspect ratios, a tinny speaker, and an at-times frustrating interface, it gets very hard to recommend the Intuition. But it does represent a step in the right direction, and while the Intuition will probably take a beating from the Samsung Note II, we're hoping the LG's next phablet offering gets it right. LG's own press release touts the Intuition as having a 4:3 Display Ratio that is "ideal for reading and writing" when it needs to have a 16:9 display that is perfect for watching and typing. As a result, it feels like the Intuition is just a prototype for what is still yet to come.

As a standalone unit, the LG Intuition is a solid piece of machinery -- its attractively bright 5-inch screen belies its lightweight and slim build, its 4G LTE speeds are fast, and it's packed with features like NFC and QuickMemo. But when put in the context of what's available in the market, the device faces one notable competitor. The Galaxy Note goes for the same retail price, has a bigger screen, and its stylus can be stored inside. And while the Note's only carriers are AT&T and T-Mobile, its successor, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, is slated to be on five carriers, including Verizon. In addition, it'll have an even bigger 5.5-inch screen and a quad-core CPU. Considering all these factors, what's the final verdict? If you're a Verizon customer and you must have a phablet right this minute, then the LG Intuition won't let you down, since again, it's a satisfactory handset. But if you're a patient soul who can sit out until November, and have $100 to spare, it's best to wait and see what the Note 2 will offer.

The massive LG Intuition phablet offers a sprawling 5-inch screen for browsing, reading, and taking notes, but it's not a great smartphone.

This device certainly isn’t the magic all-in-one device for everybody – evidenced by the lack of a microSD card slot and 32GB of onboard storage as well as by the S3 processor inside – not quite perfect for future-proof-seeking gamers. On the other hand, the average office-goer will likely find this device to be more than a match for any tablet they’d been using up unto this point – this device is meant to replace the tablet, after all. You’ll have a much more awesome time with a 5-inch display than you have had with a 7-inch display if you’re finding yourself needing a whole extra bag to carry that device around all day. Here you’ve got a device that’s massive – yet small enough to still fit in your pocket. That’s assuming you’ve got standard-sized pockets, of course. The display is perfectly bright and viewing angles are more than sufficient for everyday browsing and note-taking action, and the phone is, on your average day, swift enough to handle your office-bound needs. This is certainly one of LG’s most impressive devices yet, and though we’re not entirely convinced that we’d not rather have its main competitor in the end, LG does currently have the Verizon piece of the market cornered.

Well, after checking out the LG Intuition extensively from head-to-toe, our gut instinct is nudging to move on ahead – from this one, that is. Sure, its massive size is sure to amaze some random strangers as you whip it out from your pockets, but beyond that, there isn’t anything compelling to make it a worthwhile competitor to the first-generation Samsung Galaxy Note’s throne. Throw in the fact that its Rubberdium pen isn’t anything different from any other capacitive stylus there, it merely reinforces in our head that Samsung’s take on the whole pen and paper thing is vastly superior in all aspects – even more when there’s no slot to tuck away the Rubberdium stylus! For $199.99, it’s sure to be in consideration for those Verizon customers yearning for a Note-like smartphone, but if you’re not tethered to the carrier, we’d suggest checking out the Galaxy Note for AT&T or T-Mobile, or waiting for the second generation Note II. On the other hand, Verizon offers the Samsung Galaxy S III which is an excellent smartphone and its 4.8” HD screen is almost as big. All in all, our intuition is telling us to pass on this one – as it is rather last generation hardware coming late to Verizon.