LG Optimus L7 Review

Introduction:

Coming with the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, the LG Optimus L7 is the top shelf representative of the company's new line of affordable handsets with supposedly more appealing L-Style design.

Top shelf in the L line doesn't mean much in terms of specs, as the Optimus L7 still rocks single-core processor, WVGA screen resolution and 5MP camera, but it won't break the bank either.

Now LG promised to introduce a new design paradigm with the new L series at rock-bottom prices, but did it succeed in achieving that goal with the Optimus L7? Read on to find out...


In the box:

• Travel charger
• microUSB cable
• In-ear stereo headphones
• Sleep Mode, Car Mode and Office Mode NFC tags
• Warranty and information leaflets

Design:

Despite LG's ruminations on the new L-Style design for the handsets of this series, the chassis of the Optimus L7 seems like your regular rectangular slab of black plastic. Still, all of the five elements that  LG envisioned for this design are here: "Modern Square Style for a comfortable grip, Floating Mass Technology for a slimmer look, Seamless Layout for a more intuitive arrangement of keys, Harmonized Design Contrast utilizing metallic accents and Sensuous Slim Shape that naturally draws one’s attention".



You can compare the LG Optimus L7 with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

“Modern Square Style”? Check – the phone is rectangular and with sharp edges, but that is fairly neutral for holding it more comfortably. “Floating Mass” and “Sensuous Slim Shape”? Well, the handset is indeed very thin at 8.7mm, but those sub-10mm slim profiles are not sight unseen nowadays, even on flagship handsets. The “Seamless Layout” of the keys is an acquired taste – the power/lock key at the top requires moving your finger from the side to the top, whereas if it was on the right under your thumb it would have been more “intuitive”.

We can agree on the “Harmonized Design Contrast” part, as there are indeed some metallic elements in the design, like the lock key and the 5MP camera module plate on the back, but the rest of it is really just black plastic. The plastic is at least patterned on the back for better grip and a slightly more interesting look.

We found the volume rocker on the left and the power key too small and flush with the surface to be comfortable for finding and pressing, and with a shallow travel to boot. The home key underneath the display is well-positioned, for that matter, and very comfortable to press.

The phone feels solid overall, and it is fairly easy to operate it with one hand, especially if you have larger palms.


Display:

The “Floating Mass” technology for the 4.3” IPS-LCD “NOVA” display that LG utilizes in the Optimus L7, means that the screen is closer to the protective glass, allowing for a slimmer device and a brighter display. Still, it comes with 480x800 pixels of resolution, and 217ppi pixel density is about the bare minimum we expect from this screen size now.

The display sports decent viewing angles and vivid colors, plus its brightness is above average at 450 nits, so outside visibility is decent. Of notable absence is an ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness automatically, so you'll have to make do with the handy toggle in the notification bar.