Android Phone and Tablet Review Compendium

The world cried out for a dual-core smartphone and LG and NVIDIA answered the call.

Actually, the world only ever dreamt about multicore mobile architectures up until late last year, but sometimes that’s all it takes to get those zany engineers engineering. So here we are, in early February 2011, beholding the world’s first smartphone built around a dual-core processor, the Optimus 2X. This is a landmark handset in more ways than one, however, as its presence on the market signals LG’s first sincere foray into the Android high end. Although the company delivered two thoroughly competent devices for the platform with the Optimus S and T in 2010, they were the very definition of mid-range smartphones and the truth is that Samsung, HTC and Motorola were left to fight among themselves for the most demanding Android users’ hard-earned rubles.
Nothing much has changed since we first met this phone under its codename of Star a couple of months back. One uninterrupted slate of glass covers the entire front, broken up only by the earpiece grille at the very top. Four capacitive touch buttons keep the 4-inch WVGA LCD company, along with a front-facing camera just to the right of the LG logo. As we said in our preview, this is an uncomplicated and restrained design, evidence perhaps that LG chose to spend its time and money on what lies beneath the skin.

The glass front slopes off on its left and right edges before being engulfed by a metallic frame that wraps around the whole handset. Fit and finish between the two is absolutely perfect. The third component to the 2X’s external setup is a flexible matte plastic cover that accounts for its entire rear section. It’s stupendously easy to remove and replace while still forming a very good seal with its surrounding elements. The austere black back (there’ll be brown and white versions too) is decorated with a silver column running through the middle brandishing a “with Google” slogan, which ends in a slight bump near the top, designed to accommodate the 8 megapixel camera module. We’re happy to see another little glass cover here protecting the lens from accidental damage.

Overall, the Optimus 2X feels very well put together. It is rigid and unyielding, and although its construction materials are nothing special, the cumulative result is a highly pleasing one. Attention to detail is evident throughout….
The skinny: Awesome hardware specs but wonky software implementation hold this beast back

• Read full review from http://www.endgadget.com/
• Date: Feb 7, 2011
• Score:(1-10): 7