LG Optimus Vu: odd-shaped handset teased

The Gadget Show  Thursday 09 February 2012

LG has been teasing us with a most peculiar-looking handset. It’s called the LG Optimus Vu, and has a rather unique shape. It appears that rather than go widescreen, LG has opted for a near square 4:3 screen for its powerful new phone, set to compete with larger screened phones and the smallest tablets. Who says you need to follow trends, eh? Here’s what else we know so far.

We know that the LG Optimus has a 5-inch display and a powerful 1.5GHz processor, an 8-megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. Great specs there, let down only by its outdated Android 2.3 operating system – not the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich soon to hit future Android phones.

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The most unusual bit about this handset is the LG Optimus Vu’s 4:3 ratio screen, lending the Optimus Vu a square shape that, while not entirely suited to viewing films on, should be great for viewing webpages. However it’s likely that the LG Optimus is more of a rival to other large-screen functional handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy Note and smaller-sized tablets such as the Dell Streak than, lets say sexier handsets such as the forthcoming Samsung Galaxy S 3.

It is also believed that the LG Optimus Vu will be one of many new handsets this year carrying NFC technology, letting owners share date between handsets simply by touching them together. Given that LG’s new ‘Miracle’ and LG Prada 3.0 phone will feature the technology, this looks a given.

However, we’re still scratching our heads over that 4:3 screen. Would anyone buy a smartphone that isn’t widescreen these days? Let us know what you think.

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