LG has gained quite a positive reputation over the years for quality electronics, which makes it rather surprising that they have only recently released a smartphone that utilizes the Android operating system. That phone is the LG GT540, or Optimus for short. It is the next step up from the GW620 which allowed LG to limit developmental costs and pass those saving down to the customers.

The Optimus now features a QWERTY keyboard, a feature that people who don’t like T9 and word functions will be happy with. This causes a need for slightly larger construction, but the Optimus is still modestly sized at 109 x 54.5 x 12.7mm and fits in any small pocket users desire. The handset is fashioned from lightweight plastic that is sturdy in structure and features smooth, sleek curves cut from the shell that gives the phone a sleek appearance.

A resistive touch screen presents the images on the Optimus. Some may be distressed to learn that the 5-inch screen is not capacitive, but the phone provides nothing to worry about. The screen is much more accurate than most resistive screens leading to very few mistakes. The display is TFT and carries HVGA resolution. This creates impressive imagery for a phone that enjoys a mid-range price. The resolution is 320 x 480 pixels and supports 256K colors.

The LG Optimus provides customers with two types of home screens. Those familiar with the Android OS will recognize one, while the other is customized by LG. The one created by LG allows customizable buttons found at the bottom of the screen that grant access to shortcuts, widgets, and folders. Messaging is instantly accessible from this screen as well. Three to seven home screens are available and the theme can be completely changed.

Some LG smartphones have suffered short battery life, but the company has greatly improved battery performance with the Optimus. Around 7 hours and 20 minutes of talk time and 500 hours of standby time are obtained from the 1500mAh lithium-ion battery. Not many smartphones can claim such life.

Other enhancements found on the LG Optimus include both alarm and world clocks. Users who have left pencil and paper behind will find the voice recorder and organizer quite handy. Anyone seeking to kill time with some fun will enjoy the dedicated Youtube plug-in. A PDF viewer is another nice addition amongst many other application available.

Although it is LG’s first attempt at using Android technology, they have created a user-friendly experience with the LG Optimus. Users already familiar with Android smartphones will not be insulted and new users will not cry out of frustration. The Optimus offers a good balance of complexity and simplicity.