This review covers the LG 8110 only and does not address the performance of 3's 3G Network.

 

Left shows the all new LG U8110.

The smallest and lightest 3G phone to-date. I have discounted the Nokia 7600 from this claim as it is not a true 3G handset.

This is a clam style handset looking like many non-3G handsets on the UK market e.g. Samsung V200.

This handset will slot in unnoticed alongside all the GPRS type phones in a high street phone shop. Is this just another nice phone to choose from ?

So what. We have a nice phone which 3 will promote as a 3 video mobile.

No mention from 3 that this is a 3G handset. This could become an issue alongside all those similar looking GPRS handsets !

Size does matter. Compare the new LG alongside the older NEC e606 to get a feel of the size of this phone.

Photo 1 :

Nec606 / LG8110 Clam Comparison

Photo 2 :

Nec606 / LG8110 Open Comparison

Photo 3:

Nec606 / LG8110 Side Comparison

This is an honest looking handset. Is that now possible, a 3G handset which you feel you can trust ?

This is a phone which will not attract attention because of its size or looks.

Likely comments from your friends to expect are - you have a new phone, nice.

My own personal dislike would be the external aerial. I never choose a handset with an external aerial. The protruding aerial measures 23mm beyond the top of the phone.

The phone itself is shiny silver made of durable plastic.

Imagine you are stranded on a desert island. This phone is shiny enough to act as an SOS mirror in sunlight.

Photo 4: Clam shot

Photo 5 : Open shot

Photo 6 : Side shot

 

The LG 8110 has a 4 way navigation key and another nine key buttons on the keypad for easy access around the phone. I am impressed with the navigation facilities on the LG.

The rotating camera ( for both camera pictures and video conferencing ) is located on the top of the clam phone. It has 180 degrees swivel ability i.e. for forward and backward shooting.

Photo 7A : Navigation key shot

Photo 7B : Navigation shot ( lit up )

 

Photo 8 : Rotating camera shot

Photo 11 : Rear shot

Photo 12 : Back off shot

3G UMTS 2100 Mhz 3GPP

GSM : 900/1800 MHz Class B/8

Will work on WCDMA ( 3G from 3 ) Data Speed ( CS : 64 UL/DL, PS : 384 DL, 128 UL ) and on GPRS ( O2 ).

The lightest UK 3G phone to-date (Nokia 7600 excluded as above). This phone is 86 grams lighter than the Motorola A925 and 42 grams lighter than the Motorola A835.

A big weight off ones mind and eyes.

95.7 x 49.5 x 23.1mm

Aerial adds another 23mm so total length is approx. 118mm

A comparison

LG 8110 : 95.7 x 49.5 23.1mm

NEC 616 : 103 x 53 x 26.4mm

NEC 606 : 109 x 53 x 32mm

Battery life

Battery is 3.7V Li-Polymer at 1200mH.

Standby: 120 hrs
Talk time: 140 mins
Video call: 100 mins

Battery life is affected by lower signal strength and to which network you are hooked up to.

An example : Maximum voice calls time on 3G is around 140 minutes whilst on GPRS is higher at 180 minutes.

Talktime comparison for three models

LG 8110 : 140 minutes

Motorola A925 : 120 minutes

NEC e616 : 93 minutes

Photo 16 : Battery

When you switch on the phone you get a bouncing 3 logo appearing. Cute, but what does the home screen give you.

The LG 8110 has a 4 way navigation key and another nine key buttons on the keypad for easy access around the phone. I am impressed with navigation facilities on the LG.

There is no doubt this is an excellent screen driven navigational system.

Home screen is spilt in 3 as the icon indicator bar ( top ) the home screen ( main screen area ) and the prompt bar ( bottom ).

Photo 15 : Home screen shot

 

Photo 15 : Navigational screen shot

Photo 16 : Navigation key shot

Comparison of main screen sizes

NECe616 : 35 x 43mm

LG 8110 : 35 x 44 mm

One on-board camera which rotates 180 degrees for forward and backward picture and video capture.

Camera: Built-in VGA camera, with 2 x Digital zoom and light.

Excellent quality camera.

Photo 8 : Rotating camera shot

Video camera is dual-purpose with picture camera. See above.

The speed is 10 frames per second.

With only 14MB of user memory I can see that people who like playing memory gobbling videos on their phones will have an issue with this.

Good video picture quality. Video conferencing picture quality is adequate to good.

Video capture can be varied from 10 seconds to 10 minutes plus more.

14MB internal memory

No expansion memory card is provided.

Photo 17 : Memory screen shot

Memory comparison

NEC e616 : 19MB dynamic phone memory. Up to 128MB Sony MemoryStick DuoTM support

LG U8110 : 14MB with no expansion facility.

Yes

2 Way Video Call
With an integrated digital camera and high speed data transmission, you can enjoy the next best thing to being there.

This review covers the LG 8110 only and does not address the performance of 3's 3G Network.

This phone is kitted out like many others today. Many people would not even know that this is a 3G phone the way 3 are promoting their services.

This seems to place it in direct competition with every GPRS phone.