LG Thrill 4G review

A few weeks after the LG Optimus 3D got placed within the hot seat at our European offices, we’re able to give its American counterpart its justifiable share of heat. Better known inside the states because the Thrill 4G, this AT&T device is the most recent smartphone to follow within the footsteps of the HTC EVO 3D by tossing an additional dimension into the combination. Because it so happens, two rear cameras and a few fancy computer graphics are only enough to switch a person’s judgement of the device in a split-second.

We get it. Few people are looking to spend their hard-earned cash on a gimmick. But like all other phone with a defining feature, there’s more to this glasses-free 3D handset than meets the attention (pun intended). And after peering under the hood and seeing what the excitement is able to, there is a possibility this phone can hold its own against the contest inside the same funds ($100 on AT&T). How does it differ from its European counterpart? Does the phone’s 3D match up against Sprint’s contribution? And the way does this handset perform except for that extra D? Join us as we dig through all three dimensions to get to the foundation of the joy 4G.

Hardware and software

Speak about a spitting image of the LG Optimus 3D. Do not get us wrong, we were expecting the excitement 4G to be incredibly a bit like its global counterpart, needless to say — we just didn’t believe it’d be that close. We think US carriers to take a handset popular in other parts of the arena, tweak its design, change the UI and essentially turn it right into a totally different phone. Interestingly enough, we found it difficult in finding any significant variations in any respect between the twins apart from some minor adjustments.

At the outside, the sole distinguishable difference is the AT&T logo imprinted on the back. Nothing else. Nada. Zilch. Even after swimming the entire way around the pond, the device remains just as chunky as ever, weighing in at 5.93 ounces (168g), and its dimensions size up at 5.07 x 2.68 x 0.47 inches (128.8 x 68 x 11.9mm). Both versions of the Optimus 3D offer a similar 4.3-inch 800 x 480 display, indistinguishable hardware buttons and ports, identical camera placement… the list goes on. The internals of the fun are carbon-copied besides: they both run off the identical 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 CPU, 512MB of RAM, and a 1,500mAh battery, and pair of 5MP rear cameras for 3D capture (with 1.3MP front-facing).

The Thrill’s software doesn’t stray too faraway from its lookalike, either. Unfortunately, that incorporates the firmware — despite AT&T’s promise to bump every member of its 2011 Android lineup to Gingerbread, this one is shipping with Froyo (Android 2.2) installed. We’re sure a forthcoming update is within the works — in truth, we’re relying on it — but meanwhile customers might be committing themselves to a new device with an antiquated OS. The carrier’s also chosen to Rethink Possible by throwing in bloatware and a small handful of UI tweaks so tiny that they are only noticeable when doing a right away side-by-side comparison.

As for the distinct qualities this Froyo-based phone may possess except for the Optimus 3D, there are a small few shall we see. As we alluded to, the joy 4G doesn’t skimp at the preloaded apps — the same old suite of AT&T services apply, in addition to Kindle, YPmobile, Polaris Office, Qik Lite and Let’s Golf 2 (we’ve a robust suspicion that nobody’s actually played the 1st game within the series). The device also offers the stock Android keyboard besides LG’s customized version.

An in-depth examine the worldwide edition’s hardware and software are available in our 5 Optimus 3D review 5 , so head over to work out the entire extra details.

3D

Okay, we’ll come right out and say it: 3D still appears like a gimmick. Not everyone drinks the 3-dimensional Kool-aid, or even we’ve got mixed feelings in terms of the topic. Disregarding the polarizing effect it has on anyone, the phone’s talents on this area were the foremost fun for us to check because it is a truly unique spec that’s offered by just one rival within the country: the HTC EVO 3D. Naturally, the 2 are destined to fasten horns with one another, as they’re the simplest handsets that provide this defining feature. Which one comes out as conqueror? Is there even a transparent winner? We took both phones for a spin to get an entire side-by-side comparison; interestingly enough, the original quality the fun and EVO share at the moment are significantly different. Let’s explore how.

Both devices offer glaringly obvious differences on this category. For starters, the EVO offers a two-stage shutter button and a hardware toggle for you to easily switch between 2D and 3D modes when you feel the necessity to get another angle. The excitement? Oh, it has something that appears a lot like a shutter button — complete with “3D” inscribed in plain sight — but it surely carries the load of 2 separate roles, neither of which involve taking the image. Within the camera app, this button acts because the 2D / 3D toggle switch; outside of the camera, however, it takes you to a 3D menu screen that gives your various three-dimensional apps within the type of a way 3.0-esque carousel (more on that during a moment). The camera is definitely one of the menu options, but alas, it’s an extra step between you and snapping an image.

The excitement 4G’s 3D menu can come in useful… sometimes. As we mentioned before, you’re taken right into a carousel that attempts to utilize the glasses-free parallax barrier display by having the choice “float” above the screen. You are able to make a choice from the camera, gallery, games and apps, YouTube and a 3D guide. Having these options incorporated into one cleverly designed folder is sweet, but we doubt it’s worthwhile to enough to dedicate a whole physical button to its cause; the identical menu could be accessed by a default icon in your home screen, when you have the will to envision it out. No such feature exists at the EVO, though every option continues to be accessible in a single way or another during the phone’s app tray (YouTube 3D vids, case in point, are viewable inside the regular app).

As well as the hardware buttons, the EVO 3D also has a camera quick-access button at the lock screen. When a very opportune moment comes along — because it often does — drag the camera into the hoop on the bottom of the screen, and you’re in. The excitement, however, doesn’t have such an option; your best alternative is to position the camera app icon to your home screen. That isn’t a terrible thing, obviously, but it’s one extra step within the process — a step that the EVO can easily bypass.

Viewing 3D images and videos could be a different experience on each device, and we won’t say with a surety that one was better than the alternative. Shots interested by the EVO had a way more realistic appearance that make it appear as if the picture really is turning out of the screen — in case you can align your eyes with the screen on the precise angle, that’s. The fun, nevertheless, offers a broader angle and more variable distance wherein it is easy to achieve the 3D effect, nonetheless it takes a more “layered” approach; rather than the picture protruding of the screen, it’s as though one portion of the image was pulled out of the image slightly and is just floating. It still has that third-dimension feel, but lets definitely tell a difference. Try out the galleries below to determine for yourself; in case you do not have a 3D display to view them on, however, you have to have a couple of glasses handy.

After all, those who’re wondering why the 2 phones contrast rather a lot need only turn the devices over and examine the cameras’ intra-axial distance — the quantity of space between each set of lenses. The EVO’s lenses are farther apart than the Thrill’s, which provides the previous a hyperstereo effect. In other words, the greater distance ends up in a better perceived depth and an enhanced 3D experience — let alone a much better potential of eye strain and the infamous headaches that oftentimes go with viewing 3D content.

The buzz 4G has a pair tricks up its sleeve: first, it may take standard 2D images and tack on a 3rd D, a feat that’s almost slightly too easy to achieve. All it is advisable to do is view the image within the gallery and press the “3D” toggle switch button at the right side of the telephone. The converted images don’t prove in addition to those shot in 3D, as we expected, but we’ll likely see the thought spread to devices with 2D-only cameras (reminiscent of the 8 Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S 8 ) and improve upon its quality over the years. The opposite unique feature thrown into the camera is a 3D intensity filter to regulate the picture once it’s captured and viewed inside the gallery.

Interestingly enough, we also discovered that the joys simply refuses to snap 3D shots with the flash on. We searched through every little setting lets find, and still were unable to make this work. Taking low-light shots with the EVO, however, was far more enjoyable for the reason that 3D feature offered easy accessibility to the phone’s flash.

Another question arises as to how these 3D images are saved, as two formats — MPO and JPS — are regular. JPS images tend to be easier to view and edit than MPO because they place the left and right pictures side-by-side into one singular JPEG containing additional metadata. The EVO provides you with a decision between both within the settings, while the joys automatically snaps the shot in JPS and offers you the choice to transform to MPO directly at the phone.

Both devices shoot third-dimension video in HD at 720p and 30fps. In comparing the 2 flicks side by side, we determined that the EVO produced smoother 3D video and had slightly better audio. Unfortunately, we were left unimpressed with the Thrill’s video performance (despite its ability to capture 720p 3D and 1080p 2D), as we noticed we couldn’t create a smooth movie to save lots of our life — we needed to double-check the settings to be certain we were recording at the highest setting, as it just didn’t appear to be it was playing in true HD. Finally, the audio was only a tad rougher than it was at the EVO. They could look an identical at the spec sheet (1080p 2D video at the Thrill excepted), however the video performance was decidedly better at the EVO.

Thrill 3D Sample

EVO 3D Sample

2D

With any such crazy unique feature like 3D thrown into the telephone, we aren’t entirely shocked that the regular, plain vanilla 2D camera isn’t pretty much as good as most other top-of-the-line handsets equipped with dual-core CPUs. Sure, the pair of five megapixel image snappers aren’t the pits, but LG isn’t exactly known for placing the best quality sensors in its mobile devices. As with the Optimus 3D, the joys takes satisfactory pictures in most settings, with one exception: the automated exposure seemed to have difficulty making adjustments in direct sunlight, causing several washed-out photos in an inconsistent manner. As an upside, pictures taken on cloudy days or under the canopy of trees were actually excellent, macro shots turned out fantastic and pictures in low light scenarios were average — let’s just say your images of that sunset at the beach won’t be getting re-tweeted.

The camera has the standard settings you’d come to expect in a feature-packed phone. It delivers the average suite of scene modes, white balance effects and focus options for macro, continuous focus and face tracking, or even offers custom exposure settings to assist improve those paltry noonday shots. It also offers touch-to-autofocus (just for 2D mode). Notably lacking, however, are ISO adjustments and panoramic shot options.

Performance

Nevermind for a moment that the excitement appears like a gimmick with its 3D capabilities. Forget — only for a short time — that its 2D and video qualities are somewhat lacking, and that the phone’s running on software in desperate need of being updated. The device is a powerhouse, thanks primarily to its 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 CPU and 512MB of twin-channel RAM. Seldom did we now have any issues with the system lagging or delaying thanks to our multitasking, which involves emails, Twitter, using the browser with Flash, playing games etc. It was incredibly responsive and didn’t crash a single time during our tests.

Benchmark	Thrill 4G	EVO 3D
Quadrant (higher is best)	2,415	2,134
Linpack (higher is best)	43.12	45.79
Nenamark (higher is best)	58.0	42.0
Neocore (higher is healthier)	57.9	59.2
Sunspider (lower is best)	3,961	5,655

Of the above benchmarks, there’s one especially that stands proud the foremost: the joy 4G’s Sunspider speeds zoomed right past the HTC EVO 3D and didn’t bother waving goodbye. Actually, we typically don’t see devices register a score beneath 4,000 when using the stock Android browser — a feat we saw the 5 Droid Bionic 5 achieve– yet this device consistently passed that milestone. Additionally, Quadrant and Nenamark also cranked out very respectable results, with Linpack and Neocore ranking not far behind.

Its stellar performance is superb news, after all, until we consider the phone’s battery life. It’s going to perform like a top-notch handset, but you cannot enjoy it for terribly long. The excitement lasted barely over four hours in our video rundown test, and we weren’t ready to get so much more than ten with moderate usage (emailing, social networking, occasionally calling and taking 2D / 3D pictures and videos). Understand that, it’s essential to become good friends with the duty manager and pay it a trip regularly.

Lastly, the decision and audio quality was similar to the Optimus 3D, with reception almost consistently one bar above an iPhone 3GS tested at the same network. Voices, similar to its lookalike, were loud though slightly tinny, and calls were pleasant otherwise.

Wrap-up

Reviewing the buzz 4G was essentially an entire rehash of the LG Optimus 3D, with the plain exception of AT&T branding and cost ($100 with a two-year commitment). While we didn’t notice an outsized improvement over the worldwide model to rate it a special score, we’re willing to provide major brownie points since it is a high-performance phone offered at an inexpensive cost. Here is one of the vital low-priced dual-core handsets available to buy, and its performance is phenomenal for the associated fee point. Sadly, the phone’s still a small step behind the EVO in 3D capturing abilities but it is not a disappointment whatsoever. We were, however, let down by its miserable battery life.

You’ll be tempted to contemplate the excitement a distinct segment product, and rightfully so. In the end, there isn’t any mistaking that it’s — in the beginning — a 3D camera hunkered inside a phone. But in exchange for a Benjamin, you’re getting an honest dual-core device that uses good (but not great) components inside the rest of the telephone. Even if you approve of this pioneer’s adventure into unexplored territories, you can do far worse than the fun 4G.

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This post is tagged: american counterpart, european counterpart, minor adjustments, special effects, three dimensions