I don’t think anyone will argue if I say that Apple never tries to “imitate” other manufacturers. Apple always knows what it needs and how to make it, deliver and sell it. This is why Apple has only one device line in each area (probably until we see iPhone 5 along with cheaper iPhone 4S ). This is a unique strategy developed by already retired Steve Jobs and which proves to be successful over last 10 years bringing huge profits to the Cupertino-based company and helps it prosper year by year.
The iPhone 4 is the latest smartphone of Apple (though it was launched in 2010 and we have the iPhone 5 coming soon) and it is packed with many unreachable features, which makes other manufacturers come up with handsets that can compete with it. There are so many attractive iPhone 4 deals also, that not many others can compete with it. Many devices were compared with the iPhone 4 and couldn’t take over, though they were all worthy warriors. To win in a battle against Apple’s device means to offer something the iPhone 4 doesn’t have, or to be the first in its type. There aren’t many devices like that, but I guess I’ve found one — theLG Optimus 3D.
Design
The LG Optimus 3D is the first smartphone launched with a “glasses-free” 3D display that allows users to snap 3D pictures and videos and play them back in the phone’s 4.3-inch display. Generally, the phone looks like all Optimus line smartphones, so there are not so many changes in terms of design. But it doesn’t mean the device will yield to the iPhone 4, as Apple is conservative and doesn’t like to make simple changes in its smartphones’ design, but rather makes them revolutionary.
The Optimus 3D comes in dimensions of 128.8x68x11.9mm, weighing 168g. It’s heavy, yes! But when you hold it you get the feeling it’s a really serious smartphone in your hands. It is also much chunkier than the 9.3mm iPhone 4.
Anyway, let’s return to its design. The Optimus 3D sports a VGA camera located above the screen, as usual, and at the bottom of the screen we can find four capacitive Android touch buttons. They are set in an unusual order, so if you are not an Optimus fan, it’ll take you some time to get used to them. Though the buttons are backlit, the light comes only when you press any of them. This is bad, because it’s very easy to press a wrong button. I guess this is one of the shortcomings on it, more details in the LG Optimus 3D review, so stay with us after the cut.
The right side of this smartphone includes a camera button that performs several functions. It’s not a simple camera launcher, it toggles the camera between 2D and 3D modes when taking shots. This button is also designed to launch LG’s separate 3D interface by holding it down. Here we can also find the volume up/down rocker. The USB and HDMI connectors are safely hidden behind little plastic stoppers in the top-left corner. From the top the phone looks like an ordinary modern smartphone with a Power button and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The back of the LG Optimus 3D is very stylish. I understand the design is a matter of taste, but when we look at another 3D handset in face of the HTC Evo 3D, it becomes clear how developers can design a 3D phone not spoiling its appearance. The camera with its dual lens is located on the back, but it is done so tastefully that we don’t even notice how metal is becoming plastic. Plus, there is a secondary microphone to reduce the noise.
There are many geeks thinking the iPhone 4 is the best smartphone in the world. Of course, there is no certain method to classify a device, but it is difficult not to agree with this claim. The iPhone 4 differs from its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS, not only with its specs, but with its appearance as well. The first design difference is the straight back that makes the phone look more elegant.
The iPhone 4 doesn’t boast a large screen, it remains with the same 3.5-inch display we have seen in the previous versions. The whole phone is rounded by a new stainless steel that makes the phone look so complete and hides all of its nice specs inside. A little after we’ll find out more about this.
The dimensions of the phone are 15.2×58.6×9.3mm — this was enough to fit all the required hardware. Moreover, the developers didn’t make it heavy — the phone is only 137g. The stainless steel that engirds the phone is 10 times stronger than “normal steel.” So we can assume the iPhone 4 is the most rugged model in its line. The front and the back are made of glass, which is a lot stronger than what we used to see in other smartphones.
The front part includes the secondary camera above the screen and the iOS button in the bottom of it. All buttons are made of metal, which is quite attractive. So the 3.5mm port and the power button are located on the top. The right side is blank — Apple didn’t add a camera button there after all. The bottom includes the Apple connector for charging and is flanked by another microphone slot and a speaker.
Display
The LG Optimus 3D’s display is often called a parallax barrier. That’s a slim extra layer on top of the display covered with tiny slits, which means the light projected out the device’s screen is split into two separate paths (!), so it shows two images at once and you get a stereoscopic image without having to wear any glasses. But this 3D view has its bad sides, too, as when you tilt the phone or move your head the 3D image turns into a blurry mess. I guess now you understand why manufacturers don’t hurry to pack their handsets with such technology — the smartphones use a built-in accelerometer to control the action when playing, and tilting the phone will affect on the screen itself. So do not hurry to give prizes to 3D screens.
However, watching 3D content is quite enjoyable, and even the objects in the foreground seem to be popping out of the screen. That’s cool.
One of the main advantages of the iPhone 4 is the Retina Display. I guess there is no other phone that can be compared with the iPhone 4’s screen, and I think this technology is what makes Apple’s phones that cool. Look what Apple has done — it fit 326 pixels per inch and a 960×640 display makes it ridiculously high resolution for a device with a 3.5-inch display. Here Apple brought a very useful thing, and the advantages of such screens are seen especially when we look at a web page on maximum zoom. I don’t think there was any geek who looked at the Retina Display and wasn’t impressed. And it’s not just the smoothness that impresses everybody; it’s the contrast ratios and overall image processing, too.
Of course, this is not an OLED, but the video content looks great, too. Many people think that OLED’s contrast ratio is better than the iPhone’s 800:1, but those who have had phones with OLED displays say that those are too color-heavy, so Retina Displays don’t yield in these terms as well.
Hardware
The LG Optimus 3D is packed with a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor that works fast and manages to provide the required speed for performing 3D. The phone comes with 8GB internal storage and 512MB of RAM; the memory can be expanded due to a microSD card slot. The Optimus 3D is equipped with a standard 1500mAh battery that provides 9 hours of talk time and 450 hours in stand-by mode. Everything works in this phone — GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, speakerphone, 3G and HSPA+. So the owners of this phone will never feel they are disadvantaged or something.
The iPhone 4 is well armed, too, and the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor doesn’t yield to the LG Optimus 3D’s one. The iPhone is offered in 16GB or 32GB memory storage capacities that can’t be expanded. Moreover, it is also packed with 512MB of RAM. The battery of the iPhone 4 is not the best but it provides up to 7 hours of talk time and up to 300 hours in stand-by mode, which is not bad. There are not too many differences between these two devices in the connectivity area — the iPhone 4 sports all the needed features, too.
Camera
At last! The camera part is my most favorite!
The LG Optimus 3D has two 5MP cameras located on the back designed for shooting 3D videos and pictures. Of course, it is perfect for taking 3D pictures, but its capabilities are limited. For example, when you want to share a 3D photo on Facebook, the phone uploads the JPS file in such a way that the users see the both left and right images. Anyway, the camera is very fast in operation and there are no lags when opening the camera app. Once you open it you can quickly take several shots; moreover, there is also a Continuous shooting mode that makes six rapid shots. Unfortunately, it is done in the 2MP mode.
Here is one more limitation — the device doesn’t open the camera app if there is less than 10 percent of battery remaining. So we can assume how much energy the phone wastes when shooting in the 3D mode.
The phone’s ability to record HD videos differs in 2D and 3D modes, as in 2D it records Full HD videos at 1080p, while in 3D mode it comes only at 720p. Here I won’t say too much, as it is better to watch the 2D and 3D video samples and judge yourself.
Camera
At last! The camera part is my most favorite!
The LG Optimus 3D has two 5MP cameras located on the back designed for shooting 3D videos and pictures. Of course, it is perfect for taking 3D pictures, but its capabilities are limited. For example, when you want to share a 3D photo on Facebook, the phone uploads the JPS file in such a way that the users see the both left and right images. Anyway, the camera is very fast in operation and there are no lags when opening the camera app. Once you open it you can quickly take several shots; moreover, there is also a Continuous shooting mode that makes six rapid shots. Unfortunately, it is done in the 2MP mode.
Here is one more limitation — the device doesn’t open the camera app if there is less than 10 percent of battery remaining. So we can assume how much energy the phone wastes when shooting in the 3D mode.
The phone’s ability to record HD videos differs in 2D and 3D modes, as in 2D it records Full HD videos at 1080p, while in 3D mode it comes only at 720p. Here I won’t say too much, as it is better to watch the 2D and 3D video samples and judge yourself.
Software
The LG Optimus 3D was launched with Android 2.2 on board that doesn’t allow many customizations. It’s disappointing to see Froyo on the Optimus 3D, but the phone is upgradable to Gingerbread and many problems can be solved by the update.
I can’t say Android is worse than iOS, but there are several shortcomings making us think the Android developers must work hard before their product reaches iOS. For example, there is a lag between pressing the Power button and the screen illuminating itself. It’s really getting on nerves and once you can end up hating your Android phone for that.
iOS 4 that is the next advantage of the iPhone 4 continues Apple’s relentless yearly mobile OS update cycle. Every single user who picks up an iPhone 4 for the first time in his life knows what to do thanks to iOS 4’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface. Apple has already launched theiOS 5 beta, which is better than this one, but we have already talked about them in many of our posts. So it’ll be better not to read once again about its performance but watch this video where everything is seen clearly. Enjoy!
Conclusion
As you understand, I didn’t talk much about Android and iOS because I know there are thousands of Android fans and thousands of iOS fans. Each platform has its own advantages and disadvantages, and different principles of work, which is also expressed in their app markets; Android Market is open for developers and grows very fast, while it’s not that easy for developers to put their products in the App Store.
Anyway, these two handsets are very attractive, and if the LG Optimus 3D is a real Android-powered handset with all its goodies and disadvantages, the iPhone 4 is the best smartphone of the company ever launched. When there are two perfect handsets and it’s so difficult to choose one of them, people usually look at the price tags.
The iPhone was launched in the U.S. in June, 2010. AT&T and Verizon offered it for $199 (16GB) or $299 (32GB). Then the phone’s price dropped because Apple launched the white version of the phone. Anyway, the phone’s unlocked version is available, too, though it is not cheap — $599 (16GB) and $699 (32GB). The things were almost the same in the UK, and if now some mobile operators offer it for free (with data plans, of course), the unlocked version of the iPhone 4 is priced at £499 (16GB), £599 (32GB), that calculates approximately $812 and $975 respectively.
The LG Optimus 3D has not been launched in the U.S. yet, But it’s expected to hit the market via AT&T on September 4. The carrier has renamed it, and the U.S. market will meet it with the name of the LG Thrill 4G. Anyway, the UK was one of the first countries that sheltered this phone, and now you can find many affordable LG Optimus 3D deals. The unlocked version of the smartphone was sold for £514.99 ($838), but the mobile operators give it for free offering different data plans.
So It’s up to you to decide which one is better for you. Do not forget to look at contract deals as money decides many things in our life.
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