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Not content simply waiting for their chance to shine at Mobile World Congress next week in Barcelona, LG has sent out some official press shots and confirmed the spec sheet for the Optimus Vu superphone. With the Optimus Vu, LG hopes to steal some of the spotlight away from Samsung’s Galaxy Note, as the Optimus Vu will be the next device to blur the line between smartphone and tablet.
Specs on the Optimus Vu include:
5″ IPS LCD display, with 1024 x 768 resolution and 4:3 aspect ratio1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPUAndroid 2.3 Gingerbread (though, we suspect this may be running Android 4.0 soon after officially launching – LG promises within 3 months)Stylus-input capable with stylus-friendly applications built in8 megapixel rear-camera likely to come with 1080p HD video capture1.3 megapixel front-facing camera650 nits brightness on the display, mirroring the super-bright display found in the ASUS Transformer Prime32 GB built-in storage (no word on microSD slot)
While we like that LG has decided to go with the potentially more svelte 5″ display (vs. the 5.3″ monster that is the Galaxy Note), the press shots in LG’s press release reveal a device that’s none too pleasing on the eyes. While the Galaxy Note brought us more of what we love, looking exactly like a bigger Galaxy S II, the LG Optimus Vu looks like a big, boring rectangle. It’s sad, really, as the LG G2x/Optimus 2X was one of my favorite looking phones with the chrome accent on the back of a gray-ish slab.
Hopefully we’ll see the Optimus Vu get a bit of a facelift before it launches to the masses later this year. Anyone out there interested in the Optimus Vu? We’ll have some hands-on time with the Vu in Barcelona next week. To hold you over, check out the video LG leaked a few weeks ago below.
Show Press Release
LG UNVEILS UNIQUE 4:3 RATIO, 5-INCH OPTIMUS VU: AT MWC 2012
With Productivity in Mind, LG Demonstrates its LTE and Display
Leadership with Device that Does, Well, Everything
SEOUL, Feb. 19, 2012 – LG today unveiled one of the most anticipated LTE devices, the Optimus Vu:. Equipped with LG’s advanced LTE and IPS display technology, the Optimus Vu: offers a unique combination of tablet-like viewing with smartphone portability. Running on a powerful 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GM internal memory and a large 2,080 mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: is a multimedia lover’s dream device.
“The Optimus Vu: was designed to maximize what customers could do with a smart-phone,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “By offering an optimal 4:3 ratio viewing experience, 5-inch display combined with superfast LTE technology, Optimus Vu: is just one example of what we can achieve when we combine our best technology with customer needs.”
The large 5-inch display with bright 4:3 aspect ratio makes viewing documents, books, internet and multimedia contents easier and more comfortable. The 4:3 aspect ratio is optimized for viewing to grasp more at a glance and note taking to increase productivity in everyday life. Moreover, IPS display realizes every color in its natural state for the best viewing experience even under bright sunlight.
Backed by unparalleled speed and performance from LG’s advanced LTE technology, the Optimus Vu: boasts unmatched productivity. Its unique built-in QuickClip™ hotkey allows users to conveniently capture screenshots and memos with a single push. Jotting notes is also possible with a finger or with the dedicated Rubberdium™ pen. Among many productive apps installed in the Optimus Vu:, the included Polaris Office allows users to open any document, spreadsheet or presentation while on the go.
At only 8.5mm, the Optimus Vu: is the slimmest among all LTE phones currently on the market and is perfectly suited for a hand and fits comfortably in a jacket pocket. Despite the large 2,080mAh battery, the Optimus Vu: adopts LG’s exclusive floating mass technology to appear slimmer than its actual dimensions.
In addition to HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), Optimus Vu: comes with 32GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera. While it will initially launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works.
The Optimus Vu: will be introduced in Korea in March. Additional information on the unique Optimus Vu: can be found at the LG Stand (Hall 8) at MWC 2012 from February 27 to March 1.
Key Specifications:
Chipset: 1.5GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display: 5-inch (1024×768) IPS Display
Memory: 32GB eMMC and 1GB DDR2
Camera: 8MP with AF LED Flash (rear) and 1.3MP (front)
OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Battery: 2,080mAh
Dimension (L x W x D): 139.6 x 90.4 x 8.5mm
Anthony loves all things technology, from hardware to apps and games. You can connect with him via Google+ or Twitter by clicking one of the fancy doo-dads above. Tagged#galaxy note#lg#lg optimus vu#lg optimus vu specs#mwc2012#optimus vu specs#Phablet .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; }.nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } 37 Comments Join the discussion!Sort by DateRating 
53Julian Rafael1 12 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +12
No. Just no. Why even make something like that? They could have had a winner there, but no. It’s a severely dumbed down X3 with a slightly larger screen. Waste of R&D and time.
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88Jeff Pan 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2
While I do appreciate the effort to do something different, it is extremely disappointing to see the design which they came up with!
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47heeros 4 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
yea, I’d say it’s exceptionally ugly, and I don’t enjoy the 4:3 aspect ratio. It just looks too wide.
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21slimx30 2 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
couldn’t have said it any better myself
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OwainGuest 12 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +4
Though it’s not to my taste, I doubt it will make it to European or American shelves anyway… It’ll do really well in Asia though I guess as there is real market for larger phones there and so long as you can put a customisable case on it they don’t give a shingle about aesthetics (which is the right approach if you ask me! :D)
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50txbluesman 12 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2
I’m not sure I dig it.
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71Jorge Vieira 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
Yeah I doubt they will release it in the US
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85Billy 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
I really want to play with something like this. 5in sounds so huge …. but so did my GNex at 4.65 and its fine.
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92alxrock 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +9
The Galaxy Note does the 5.3″ screen so right.
The LG Vu does it so, so wrong… seriously a 4:3 aspect ratio?
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91redraider133 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +4
I agree. I think this would really be awkward to hold with its 4:3 ratio.
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94AsakuraZero 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +6
i knew what made the device fugly it was the 4:3 ratio, plus that the design itself its. … no thanks.
and gingerbread? seriously ? LG seriously? and you say 3 months of extra wait? that i n LG time its like never plus how much it will cost me to buy that? 699 out of contract? please no keep it
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94AsakuraZero 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2
btw that korean girl is cute, sadly she may have 2 pounds of make up
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92alxrock 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +4
I’m not sure if it’s just the 4:3 aspect ratio, the huge bezel, or the sharp corners on it… but this just looks so awkwardly bad.
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96Nathan D. 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
I don’t Think so I rather go for HTC s3 or quad core phones then this at least they know what they are doing.
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76Alexander drzfr3shboialex 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +3
Nice specs, ugly as phone. On top of being ugly it’s LG, so most likely full of problems. Galaxy Note is way better.
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comandanteceeGuest 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +3
Good god I hope this isn’t the new trend for 2012..
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86Hall Lo 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +5
I wonder why the Galaxy Note looks so much better than this…. LG your doing it wrong…
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96spazby 11 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
The consensus is in and I have to say I share the same view
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79Ironzey Lewis 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
I think we should really reconsider calling these things phones. For me the phone part of these devices was secondary now we are seeing these devices that are more screen-centric and the phone part is there but is not star of the show.
Phablet? (yuck)
Smart phone? (already been used)
Superphone (you’re kidding right?)
Personal Computer? (has baggage but I like it)
What should we call these things.
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89thekaz 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2
Tablette..?
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81Angie Wimberly 6 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
“ette” suggests femininity, this looks more like a bro-dude.
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89thekaz 6 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
true, but in general, these devices are smaller, less beefy tablets.. so maybe Tablette works..?
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74honourbound68 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
ouch.. this looks too wide… it’d look stupid as a phone.
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61Dirge 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t 4:3 the ratio of the old SD televisions?
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89thekaz 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
yeah. This phone only gives you an SD output. You cannot see it from the angle of the pictures, but it is actually a CRT display, not a flat screen… ;)
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61Dirge 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2
And that bezel…and those sharp corners…*shudder*
If it wasn’t for the color screen, I would’ve thought this was a product from the 90′s.
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55BigCiX 10 hours ago Thumb upThumb down -1
I thought the galaxy note was ugly. This sh*t is horrible!
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sere83Guest 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
lol, WTF? LG have lost the plot. Actually having a complete laugh. Who the hell do they thinks gonna buy this? They might as well just transfer some money into Apple and Samsungs bank accounts.
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Anuj Singh TomarGuest 9 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
not sure about the phone .. but girl is already famous on all blogs as same pic is available on every other tech site !!
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41cb2000a 8 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
Come on LG! Too wide and corners that would cut pockets open!
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88Richard Yarrell 7 hours ago Thumb upThumb down -5
Another LG FLOP nothing surprises me on this front. Lg is simply out of touch when it comes to what we here in the states would find desirable. Honestly it’s a shame maybe people abroad could care less about the fact it has gingerbread. I can’t help but LAUGH at this compared to the Galaxy Note simply NO COMPARISON….
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squiddy20Guest 6 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +2
Another stupid, utterly biased comment from none other than Dick Yarrell. Last I checked, the Galaxy Note was released with (and still has) Gingerbread too so your point is moot there. Pixel density is only *slightly* less than the Note, probably barely noticeable. Slightly lower resolution front camera on the Vu, but again, barely noticeable. The Vu has a slightly higher processor speed. Looking at the specs alone, it’s perfectly comparable to the Galaxy Note, despite what you so ignorantly want to believe. You really have become Samsung’s bitch, just like you were HTC’s. I can’t help but laugh at how “great” you think you are, despite your incompetence. Good job.
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61Dirge 6 hours ago Thumb upThumb down -5
I hate to say it, but Richard is right. This…product has “flop” written all over it. You could tell LG didn’t think this one out. From what I gathered from the Press Release was that it has optimized app, rather than allowing for full digital pen input. It feels like more of a “Look! I have a pen too!” than “What they can do, I can do just as good if not better.”
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69McLovin 6 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
Battery? Repaceable or non replaceable?
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93kazahani 5 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
I don’t know about their square phone, but LG gets some gorgeous girls to show them off!
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87jimtravis 5 hours ago Thumb upThumb down +1
I am a fan of large screen phones, first the Dell Streak 5, and now the internatonal Note. Reserve judgement until I see / feel it; however, I do like viewing web pages in portrait mode. The 4:3 ratio may enhance portrait viewing.
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OwainGuest 2 hours ago Thumb upThumb down 0
The amount of consumer choice in phones is fantastic, love Android.
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