LG Optimus 4X HD Pro Reviews

Now with all that out of the way, I think my flagship phone recommendation for most consumers is still the One X. The industrial design, display panel, and camera are absolutely top notch, and other than the software side of things, it’s hard to find an area in which the Optimus 4X HD is significantly better. The HTC just offers a better all around hardware package than the O4X HD, even though they are based on essentially the same silicon - the surrounding features like design, display, camera are the ones that make a difference. It’s polished, powerful, and impressive - traits that are important in a high-end phone. The SGS3 comparison is a little bit different - the international S3 is more powerful than the Tegra 3-based O4X and One X, so even with lingering concerns about the design and form factor, it certainly has its appeal. If you care about performance, S3 and Exynos 4412 clearly have the edge, and if you care about design, One X is the way to go. On a hardware level, the Optimus 4X HD ends up playing second fiddle to both. It’s by no means a poorly designed phone, but it’s neither as powerful as the SGS3 nor as polished as the One X, so the O4X is less compelling than either for precisely those reasons. On paper, at least. In real life, I prefer the O4X HD - the elegance of LG’s software package, in my book at least, has a bigger impact on my day to day usage of the phone than the hardware polish of the One X or the GPU horsepower of the S3. In my personal rankings, the O4X HD and One X are almost even, with the O4X coming out just ahead, and the S3 is a definite third. But no matter what your preference is, we can say with certainty that LG has made it back to the ranks of high-end Android device makers, and with the Optimus 4X HD, they’ve truly created a well designed hardware and software experience.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a flagship Android phone announced back in February is handily beat by another one announced six months later, and yet we have to mark that the Note II is the better handset in many respects. It is more powerful, with richer interface functionality, and the options brought along by the stylus can’t be replicated on the Optimus 4X HD. Samsung’s phone also runs the newest version of Android, whereas 4X HD with its Tegra 3 processor seems to be on the backburner for a Jelly Bean update for now. Plus, once you see that nice 5.5” display and get used to reaching for the stylus on various tasks, it will be hard to go back. Still, both are flagship Android devices, and you won’t be disappointed with the stylish and compact body of the 4X HD if you can’t force yourself to carry around a supersized phone like the Note II, not to mention that LG's handset now comes much cheaper than the Note II.

LG’s new 4X HD is not only the cheapest quad-core über-phone around, it's also the smallest and lightest, if only by the slimmest of margins. It may not shout "Look at me" like the opposition from HTC or Samsung but it’s a smart and solid bit of kit that goes like stink. Furthermore, it has a very well thought-out storage arrangement and some clever UI additions to stock Android. Add to that the beefy removable battery and regular-sized SIM card slot and I think we have a winner.

LG’s Optimus 4X HD is an impressive phone – the design, screen and operating system tweaks all make it feel like a premium handset. It’s not quite up there with the Samsung Galaxy S3, though – its screen isn’t quite as good, it’s not quite as fast and its camera doesn’t take such impressive outdoor shots. If you’re buying SIM-free, there’s no contest, as both phones are around the same price. However, the 4X HD is seriously good value on contract. While the cheapest we could find the Galaxy S3 was free on a £26-per-month deal, the Optimus 4X HD can be had for free for £15.50 a month (if you’re buying from www.mobiles.co.uk just make sure you cancel the insurance and tech support add-ons). This makes it a bit of a bargain, and a Budget Buy.

It's clear that with the Optimus 4X HD LG's trying to step things up a notch and break away from an embarrassing string of forgettable smartphones. From a design standpoint it's a hit -- the 4X HD is refined and well-crafted, with great attention to detail. At this price point (€490 / $590) we'd prefer fancier materials, but this also applies to Samsung's Galaxy S III. Spec-wise it fits the bill, at least on paper. The display, while better than most, misses the mark when compared to the screen on HTC's One X, mostly due to excess glare. Battery life is a little underwhelming as well, despite the generous 2,150mAh cell. Finally, we'd like to see a software update to unleash the camera's full potential, especially when it comes to the autofocus. Regardless of these limitations, the Optimus 4X HD packs a serious punch in terms of performance -- it runs one of the fastest and least offensive Ice Cream Sandwich skins we've encountered to date. Ultimately, LG's flagship may not have toppled Samsung's Galaxy S III and HTC's One X from the quad-core throne, but it's definitely made it to the royal court.

LG's been all over the map with its phones recently. The Nitro HD is great hardware, but runs outdated (and frankly terrible) software. The Optimus L7 fixed the software problem, but is severely underpowered. The Spectrum is powerful, but poorly made. It seems like every time LG ties up one loose end, another one pops open. Well, they're all tied up now. The Optimus 4X HD has great software, and it's blistering fast. It's a well-made phone that's comfortable to use, and despite its skin's remaining aesthetic offenses it does add some useful new things to Android. The Optimus 4X HD feels like a flagship phone in a way none of LG's recent efforts have. If this device makes it to the US mostly unchanged (except to add LTE), LG might finally earn a spot near the top of the Android heap.

With a removable battery and a microSD slot, the Optimus has some obvious advantages over high-end phones from other manufacturers. If you want a fast smartphone geared toward high-definition video (watching, not shooting), the LG Optimus 4X HD should be considered near the very top of your list. It’s light-weight, high-powered, has a big enough battery to get you through your day, and runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. This isn’t a low-end or budget phone, and the price-tag reflects that.

The LG Optimus 4X HD couldn't repeat the feat of its dual-core predecessor, which had the spotlight all to itself for a good few months last year. Yet, it may turn out more fortunate than the Optimus 2X. The first dual-core phone made a reasonably big splash but failed to capitalize on its head start. The Optimus 2X had its flaws, but its main problem was being unable to live up to expectations - which in hindsight weren't very realistic to be honest. The LG Optimus 4X HD on the other hand comes to a more mature market, which already knows what to expect from quad-core powerhouses. It doesn't feel as rushed as its predecessor either - this time it was clearly LG's goal to finesse the experience, rather than put another first on their resume.

Sometimes it is hard to not be envious of our neighbors overseas--they seem to get all the cool phones. Here in the United States, we're still waiting for at least one quad-core phone to make its way over here. The LG Optimus 4X HD demonstrates the power of a quad-core processor, particularly in gaming. It also has a gorgeous display and the latest available version of Android to boot. The camera isn't as good as the HTC One phones or the Samsung Galaxy S III, however, and I wish LG had left Android 4.0 alone. But overall, the LG Optimus 4X HD has what it takes to compete with other top-of-the-line Android phones, and I hope that LG brings a version to the United States.

The performance of the Optimus 4X HD is good. For everyday tasks, we've enjoyed the speed and power that comes with the hardware and up-to-date software that LG has in its flagship handset. There are a few niggles, some more significant than others. The design isn't quite for us, but this is purely subjective. The software quirks aren't critical, there's nothing we dislike and can't fix, but we think there is space for LG to develop. The connection problems are a bit more difficult to pin down. We've dropped some calls and occasionally been left in the dark, but it hasn't been critical to the point we've felt we had to leave the LG at home. As such, and taking all things into consideration, we're relatively impressed with what LG has done with the Optimus 4X HD. That said, in a line-up with big name rivals, LG just doesn't quite have wow factor offered by Samsung or HTC.

The LG Optimus 4X HD demonstrates the power of a quad-core processor, particularly in gaming. It also has a gorgeous display and the latest available version of Android to boot. The camera isn't as good as the HTC One phones or the Samsung Galaxy S III, however, and I wish LG had left Android 4.0 alone. But overall, the LG Optimus 4X HD has what it takes to compete with other top-of-the-line Android phones.

So there you have it, guys. The LG Optimus 4X HD and the HTC One X are two well-made devices – with performance so similar that we cannot really pick a clear winner between the two. No matter which one you choose, chances are that you will be impressed by the overall experience. Perhaps pricing will be the key factor when choosing between one of the two, but that variable depends on where in the world you live, so we won't take it into account in our conclusion.

The LG Optimus 4X HD is a wonderful, powerful phone for an appropriate price (unlocked: about $600). It would be a great addition to any US wireless carrier’s docket and is a good choice for anyone in Europe, where it has officially launched. Its largest weakness is simply its forgetability. It mostly matches the standards set by competing devices by Samsung and HTC, but fails to excel in any meaningful way. There is no reason to tell your friends to buy a 4X instead of a competing phone. So while we definitely don’t recommend you avoid the 4X HD, we can’t recommend it over devices like the One X or Galaxy S3. A poor camera hurts its status as well. If you can find a good deal on the Optimus 4X, we don’t think you’ll dislike it, and in a vaccuum, it’s an awesome smartphone. But the market is full of good choices right now, and while the LG Optimus 4X HD is one of them, it’s certainly not the best of the bunch in any one way.

The LG Optimus 4X HD and the iPhone 4S are as similar as they are different. Still, there is nothing wrong with pitting the two against each other, so that is exactly what we are doing in today's comparison. Curious to see how the LG Optimus 4X HD stands next to the iPhone 4S? Then let's begin with...

When I first unpacked the LG Optimus 4X HD I was disappointed. The looks of the phone just leave me unimpressed after carrying an HTC One X around for a couple of months. But after using the phone for over a solid week, I can tell you that I really do like the Optimus 4X HD. It has a nice screen, great speed and fluidity, and the battery life is strong compared to most other Android smartphones. LG even did a nice job with software customizations. So while the Optimus 4X HD isn't the best looking kid on the block, it certainly turns out to be one of the more brainy and personable kids. That's more than good enough for me to highly recommend the device to those looking for a powerhouse smartphone with a massive display and modern capabilities.

There is a lot to love about the Samsung Galaxy S III and the LG Optimus 4X HD. Both devices come with powerful, top-end hardware, absolutely no major drawbacks, and will surely serve you well for years to come. The pros with the S III, however, seem to outnumber those of the 4X HD. Samsung's flagship has a better camera, superior in-call audio quality, and we quite like its aesthetic features. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the 720p screen on LG's pride and joy, with its neutral color representation and superior outdoor visibility, outperforms the S III's Super AMOLED HD display, at least from our point of view. Besides, the device itself feels more compact, and is therefore, a bit easier to handle.

The LG Optimus 4X HD is undoubtedly the best Android smartphone that the company has produced to date. It covers the geeky ground with a quad-core Tegra 3 chip, large and vivid HD display and the latest Android 4.0 out of the box. The design is simple and pleasant, with a few welcome twists that make the phone a looker from the prism-shaped sides and easier to grip. The handset is more compact than its main rivals this Android season, despite being crammed with the same high-end innards, making it easier to operate with one hand. The only complaints are its preset screen brightness management and the funky camera focus, so hopefully these will be addressed with the first software update. The new LG Optimus 3.0 UI is an improvement over its predecessor with a number of new features like Quick Memo and a very functional lock screen. Video playback is vastly improved with the new Media Plex features like live video zoom, and the camera module has been given new abilities like the Time Machine precapture. Nothing groundbreaking, but coupled with the light and quick ICS, the UI overlay feels sufficiently enhanced.

Unlike the LG Optimus 3D Max, which also isn't available in the United States, the LG Optimus 4X HD makes me want to jump on the next flight to Europe. Even though it has some drawbacks, like its inelegant user interface and disappointing speaker quality, I'm still impressed by LG's first quad-core phone. In addition to being fast, its display and camera are top-notch, the NFC capabilities are convenient (and a cool party trick), and the newest Android OS rounds everything out nicely. This is one of my favorite LG handsets so far, and the fact that you can't get it here just makes it that much more desirable.