LG Optimus One P500 (Black, 170 MB)

The LG Optimus One P500 is one of the very few entry-level smartphones to come preloaded with Android v2.2 Froyo. The OS features multiple upgrades like enhanced Microsoft Exchange integration and optimised CPU utilisation. Aside from having a higher-resolution HVGA screen (compared to QVGA), the P500 also scores over other budget Android handsets in that it comes with a fast 600 MHz ARM11 processor and 512 MB of RAM.

The 3-megapixel camera on the Optimus P500 allows full autofocus and supports multiple shoot modes. The P500 comes with a 3.2-inch HVGA (320 x 480-pixel) LCD capacitive display. The screen supports multi-touch, pinch and zoom and for seamless web-browsing.

Design

The LG Optimus One sports a soft-touch plastic body with thin metallic trims and a chrome like bezel. Below the capacitive touchscreen are the standard Android buttons, Menu, Home, Back and Search. LG has separated out the often used Home and Menu buttons and clubbed them together for faster navigation. The Optimus P500 packs an accelerometer for auto-orientation and a proximity sensor for auto-display turn-off.

Storage and Battery

A 1500 mAh battery powers the Optimus P500, and gives 8 hrs of talk time on 2G and 7 hrs on 3G networks. The P500 can go unplugged for up to 700 hrs in standby mode on 2G networks and 550 hrs on 3G networks. The Optimus One comes with 170 MB of internal memory which is shared between your apps, texts and contacts. The phone accepts microSD cards up to 32 GB.

Connectivity and Features

The Optimus One P500 features dedicated widgets for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Orkut. The mobile can also integrate your social network contacts to your phonebook. The P500 is preloaded with an Android Webkit browser and supports IMAP4, SMTP and POP3 email protocols. The LG Optimus One can also serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot allowing connectivity for up to 5 devices.

The Optimus P500 supports 3G, A-GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and comes with bundled maps for turn-by-turn directions. There is a standard micro-USB port on the base of the phone and a 3.5 mm port on the top spine.

LG has left the Android UI untouched for most part, except for a few minor cosmetic skinning. The sole major change is that the downloaded apps get added to a separate section in the menu. Also included is a row of shortcuts on the top of the notifications bar that allows for easy toggling of wireless radios. The LG App Advisor is preloaded on the Optimus One, its a useful software that sifts through millions of apps from the Android Market and gives you relevant recommendations.