LG Optimus 4X HD review

Product LG Optimus 4X HD
Website LG
Specifications Nvidia's 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 4.7in 720x1280 HD-IPS touchscreen, 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 16GB storage, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) GSM/HSPA+, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, microUSB, microSD, 132x68x8.9mm, 133g
Price £400

THE LG OPTIMUS 4X HD might be late to the game, but it looks set to try and woo customers away from the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X with to its a quad-core Nvidia processor and £400 price tag. However, given its late entrance into the quad-core smartphone arena, does the LG Optimus 4X HD really stand a chance against its big name rivals?

Design and build
The LG Optimus 4X HD looks fairly similar to Samsung's Galaxy S2, featuring an angular, slightly boxy design that looks fairly dated in today's curvy smartphone world.

Physically, the Optimus 4X HD is similarly sized to the Galaxy S3, measuring 132x68x8.9mm and weighing 133g. The Galaxy S3 by comparison is 137x71x8.6mm and weighs the same 133g.

The one design feature that separates the Optimus 4X HD from the S2 are the metal strips that line the device's top, bottom and sides. Outside of its metal lining, like most other LG smartphones the Optimus 4X HD is predominantly made of plastic.

Despite this, we were impressed by the Optimus 4X HD's build quality. The metal lining has a protective element, leaving us with an assured feeling that the Optimus 4X HD's sides are suitably armoured to deal with the occasional bump.

The Optimus 4X build quality carried over to its removable back, which felt significantly thicker and sturdier than the bendable plate featured on the Galaxy S3.

Screen
The Optimus 4X HD features a 4.7in 720x1280 resolution True HD-IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen. Boasting 312ppi and coated in Corning Gorilla Glass, the Optimus 4X HD's screen should be one of its selling points.

However, testing it we found that it wasn't quite as vibrant as the displays seen on the Galaxy S3 and the One X. Moving from using the One X to the Optimus 4X HD we did see a noticeable difference in display clarity, with HTC's flagship handset offering a similar 4.7in 720x1280 resolution 312ppi display. The One X looked both crisper and brighter.

This is particularly noticeable when viewing app shortcuts' and widgets' outer linings on the Optimus 4X HD. The edges all look slightly blurry when compared to their equivalents on the One X.

Next: Quad-core processor and software.

This article was originally published on V3.