By LG’s launched the nice pair of Android phones we’ve been talking about for some time now – the LG Optimus One and their Optimus Chic – today. Powered by Android 2.2 with LG’s custom launcher sitting on top of it, these phones aren’t the powerhouses we once thought them to be, but they still look quite decent sitting alongside some of today’s other midrange offerings. Specifically, the Optimus One has a 3.2-inch HVGA touchscreen, a 600MHz processor, a 3-megapixel camera with face tracking and “smile shot,” 170MB of internal storage, and a 1500mAh battery.
The Optimus Chic (pictured below) is nearly more of the same, but LG’s dubbing it the “Best Smartphone for Style-Conscious Buyers.” I think it’s just a subtle way to say “Look at the name, you buffoon, it’s for chicks and guys who want chicks to dig fake sophistication and style!” That isn’t a bad thing, though. Its battery capacity sits a bit lower than the One’s, as well, clocking in at 1250mAh. It also only has 150MB of internal storage compared to the One, but has a 5-megapixel camera.
We should be seeing these phones launched sometime soon, with the Optimus One specifically seeing a European launch this October, and the Middle Eastern, African, and Asia-Pacific countries seeing it shortly after. The Chic will come a bit later, though, as LG doesn’t expect it to hit Europe until November and other Asia-Pacific markets soon after. Let your eyes wander below for the full press details.
LG LAUNCHES NEW OPTIMUS SMARTPHONES WITH LATEST ANDROID PLATFORM FOR UNIVERSAL APPEAL
LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic Deliver Winning Blend of Optimal Performance, Latest in Google Mobile Technology and Stylish DesignSEOUL, Sep. 14, 2010 — LG Electronics (LG) today launched LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic, two smartphones from the company’s Optimus series of smart devices. Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) and optimized for Google Mobile Services, the handsets will deliver the ultimate smartphone experience while offering easier accessibility for the growing number of consumers looking to purchase their first smartphone.
LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic are among the earliest smartphones to launch with Android 2.2, Froyo, the latest version of the Android platform, which allows for two to three times faster and smoother internet browsing, web-page loading, application pop-ups and multi-tasking.
The devices also enable professionals to easily sync with Outlook Calendar for improved productivity, while offering portable Wi-Fi hotspots to easily share a single 3G connection. The devices are optimized for popular Google Mobile Services including Google Voice Search™, Google Voice Actions™, Google Goggles™, Google Shopper™ and Google Maps™ with Navigation, and also offer access to Android Market with more than 80,000 applications.
LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic are developed based on consumer insight that first-time smartphone users have strong needs for obtaining information and handy application services. As a result, these two devices focused on offering instant information search and versatile application packages including Google Mobile Service and even quality application advising functions.
“LG is offering the gateway into the smartphone world with the LG Optimus One and the LG Optimus Chic that offer the distinctive benefits of smartphones, in intuitive, approachable packages,” said Skott Ahn, CEO and president of LG Mobile Communications Company. “LG has a vision of helping people access information fast and easily, no matter where they are. We believe the Optimus series will play a significant role in accomplishing our vision.”
LG Optimus One: Building a Newer, Better Smartphone Experience
In creating the LG Optimus One “with Google™”, a team of R&D experts at LG incorporated and optimized the device for the Froyo platform and Google Mobile Services. What transpired is a smartphone that blends superb design and with ease of use, making it the perfect entry point for prospective smartphone owners.
Featuring a fun, user-friendly user interface, LG Optimus One also includes the exclusive LG App Advisor, which recommends 10 highly rated applications every two weeks. The uniquely designed LG UI (user interface) and sleek new accessories such as carkit cradle offer users easier and more intuitive ways to enjoy all the benefits of the brand-new Froyo.
The phone also features a camera with face tracking and smile shot, a 3.2” wide HVGA screen and a long-lasting 1500mAh capacity battery.
LG Optimus Chic: Best Smartphone for Style-Conscious Buyers
LG Optimus Chic’s, curved lines provide a solid grip and the two-color variants make the smartphone as stylish as the person carrying it. LG Optimus Chic’s touch-sensitive buttons complete the device’s sleek and minimalist look.
LG Optimus Chic also offers a unique on-screen phone feature which allows users to remotely control the device from their PCs. Plus, via LG Air Sync, it keeps users up-to-date with its ability to wirelessly sync contacts, photos and other vital information with computer and cloud database. Compatible with DLNA™ (Digital Living Network Alliance), multimedia content can easily be shared with other DLNA certified devices such as TVs, AV systems and laptop computers.
To announce the launch of LG Optimus One and LG Optimus Chic, LG hosted a unique interactive virtual news conference from Seoul. The video of the event can be viewed at both the LG Mobile Global Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/LGMobileHQ) LG Mobile Global YouTube Page (http://www.youtube.com/LGMobileHQ).
LG Optimus One will be available in over 90 countries via 120 partners. It will arrive in most of Europe in October followed by other EMEA and Asia-Pacific countries. LG Optimus Chic will be available in Europe starting in November with other markets in Asia-Pacific to follow soon after.
anyone know if the original optimus will get an update to 2.1? – and why there are no forums for the LG’s on here
Forum for lg
http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-gt540/
I don’t know a single man who would carry a phone named “chic” I don’t care how good the phone is. Rename any of the droid series of phones or galaxy series of phones to “chic” and they would only be owned by women. Seems to me LG lost half of their buyers before it hits the market.
I was expecting more from LG. LG said they were going to sell Optimus One to 120 countries (more than Samsung’s Galaxy S), so I was hoping that they will have at least similar specs, but apparently no.
Both of these devices are using “600MHz” processor. Given what’s available on the market, it is probably Qualcomm MSM7227, which is also used by HTC Legend and LG Optimus GT540. Although much better than yesterday’s 528MHz processors, those are slow by today’s standard:
http://smartphonebenchmarks.com
(Look for results for HTC Legend/GT540)
Much less memory too. I think LG should try harder!
Fail. Where are the Tegra phones?
Ok seriously now , can anyone tell me why these phones are practically the same as the GT 540 but are running 2.2 when the GT 540 is rumored to get 2.1 sometime this month? It only has 140 mb of internal memory and i ve already had to delete several apps in order to install new ones and i am running out of apps to delete pretty quickly.We need to get 2.2 on the GT 540 !!