Monthly Archives: December 2009

LG 100c Review part 3

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This is the final installment of my review of the LG 220c. It is available for TracFone at $14.99, Net10 at $29.99, and Straight Talk for $29.99. You can find all of my content relating to this phone on the LG 100c Review Index.

Internal display/keypad

The display is clear but rather small for a phone these days; it’s smaller than the LG 220c but larger than the LG 200c and LG 3280. There’s also the old problem of distortion when the screen is viewed from an angle. It’s not so bad as to make the screen unreadable, but it can be annoying at times.

Picture of LG 100c

Picture of LG 100c

I’m not very fond of the keyboard on this model, either. The keys are separate, which is not in itself a bad thing, but I found them to be somewhat stiff. Both the 220c and the 290c offer a smoother keyboard.

On the other hand, the 100c is perhaps the most balanced in terms of composing messages one-handed. While the 220c and 290c each seemed a little top-heavy in my hand, the 100c was much more balanced. However, the rigid keyboard on the 100c offsets the advantage in balance, in my opinion.

Extras

The extras on this model are identical to those on the 220c, so I’m just going to paste what I’ve already written about that:

Another great feature on this phone is that it is NOT restricted only to the TracFone/Net10 ‘mobile web.’ Open the web browser and select “options,” then enter the url of your choice to go to that site’s wap version, a site designed to be viewed on smaller devices. I was able to view the mobile versions of espn.com and facebook, among others. I should note, however, that it’s not cheap. Using the net10 version of the 220c, it cost me six airtime units in the short time (less than ten minutes) necessary to load espn.com, browse the headlines, and read an article.

The alarm function can store up to 5 alarms at once. The tone can be customized from any of the available ringtones, but unfortunately these alarms cannot be labeled with reminders (such as wake up, feed the dog, take medicine, etc). For those functions, the calendar is a better bet. In fact, there’s really not much difference between the calendar and the alarm clock.

The only differences I noted were that the calendar allows for labels to be assigned to appointments, but only allows for single entry, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly repeats. The alarm allows for single entry, daily, M-Fri, and weekend only repeat. Both the calendar and the alarm functions have a snooze option, with the choice of a 5, 10, 30, or 60 minute snooze. The downside to this is that it requires a couple of key strokes to “press snooze” – first, right soft key for the snooze, then one or more arrow keys to settle on the duration of the snooze, then “ok” to finalize it.

Another function on this model that I love is the voice command. It works well, except it takes a minimum of four keystrokes to activate the voice command function. From there, you can speak the name of the person you wish to call if they’re on your contact list, or you can simply state the number you want to dial. This is pretty handy in certain situations, especially in states that require it by law for people who need to talk while driving. There are also several other handy shortcuts you can set up, such as voicemail, a readout of missed calls, or a playback of the current time and date. Interestingly, the voice commands also work with a bluetooth headset, further enhancing the hands-free aspect of the function.

Here’s a brief summary of the other extras on this model:

  • Notepad (limited to 150 characters, so not very helpful)
  • Tip Calculator
  • Calculator
  • World Clock
  • Stopwatch
  • Unit Converter

One other thing I forgot to mention in the 220c writeup is that all three of these new LG models allow the user to set an incoming call announcement. Using this function, the phone can be set up to announce either the name of the caller, if it’s in the contact list, or the phone number of the incoming call. People have asked me about this in the past, so I thought it was worth pointing out here.

Conclusion

The L G 100c is not a bad little phone. It is good at pulling in a signal and produces good voice quality. If you’re considering an upgrade from the Kyocera k126c, I would encourage you to do so as quickly as possible – it’s a definite improvement. However, I also encourage you to keep in mind that the LG 220c is just $5-$10 more, and I prefer that model for the following reasons:

it offers a bigger main display as well as a nice external display,

I prefer the flip phone design to the small candybar style because it’s a more reliable way of preventing accidental button pushes and because it brings the mic closer to the mouth,

the 220c includes bluetooth, which even if you don’t need it now, might be helpful in the future, such as for transferring contact lists or connecting to a navigation system in a future vehicle.

the keypad on the 220c is easier to use.

The only possible exception to this is if you do a lot of texting and have small hands, it might be easier to hold the 100c in your hand. So while I like the 100c, I like the 220c more and suggest that for most people. Click here for my review of the LG 220c.

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

LG 220c Review Part 3

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This is the final installment of my review of the LG 220c. It is available for TracFone at $19.99, Net10 at $39.99, and Straight Talk for $39.99. You can find all of my content relating to this phone on the LG 220c Review Index.

Internal display/keypad

Picture of the LG 220c

Picture of the LG 220c, published with permission from a reader of this blog

The internal display is just average on the 220c – it’s a good size for the phone, but it does suffer from a fair amount of distortion when viewed from an angle (Note that the 290c has a higher-qulaity screen – better than the 100c, 220c, or either of the Samsung QWERTY’s). If the phone is tilted even ten or fifteen degrees up or down, the colors get a little distorted. The problem was much less noticeable on side-to-side movement, however. And even at the widest viewing angle, the text is still readable. So on this phone, with no camera, and therefore few pictures to display, it would be more of an annoyance than a problem.

The keyboard works fine for me. The tactility is just right, in my opinion. There’s a definite click with each key being pressed, but not so much that it’s difficult to type.

However, I do have a minor gripe about the use of the keypad for texting. In my hand, the phone felt a little top-heavy as I tried to compose text messages. It helped me to spread out my fingers a little more and support the phone, and to hold the phone a little closer to the tips of my fingers. However, I could see how this could be a problem especially for people with really small hands.

Connectivity

I do not have an appropriate cable for connecting this model to a computer, and I was unable to find a compatible cable in my online searching. However, I did successfully pair the phone with my computer via Bluetooth. The 220c supports data transfer only for the exchange of contact list entries. I was able to both send and receive contact list entries using on the 220c. (I recently wrote a post about this.) This functionality can also be used to exchange contact lists with other Bluetooth-enabled phones.

The Bluetooth for voice calls also worked flawlessly on the devices I tested with. I do not have a GPS or factory-installed Bluetooth system in my car, so I couldn’t test whether the 220c would connect to those device types. However, my suspicion is that, like other recent Bluetooth phones, it will work for voice calls.

I know that some bluetooth devices support phone books and voice dialing from those phone books; I don’t know whether that will work with this model. However, I did test the voice dialing using the internal voice command system on the LG 220c, and it worked great. I was very pleasantly surprised this feature worked so well.

Extras

Another great feature on this phone is that it is NOT restricted only to the TracFone/Net10 ‘mobile web.’ Open the web browser and select “options,” then enter the url of your choice to go to that site’s wap version, a site designed to be viewed on smaller devices. I was able to view the mobile versions of espn.com and facebook, among others. I should note, however, that it’s not cheap. Using the net10 version of the 220c, it cost me six airtime units in the short time (less than ten minutes) necessary to load espn.com, browse the headlines, and read an article.

The alarm function can store up to 5 alarms at once. The tone can be customized from any of the available ringtones, but unfortunately these alarms cannot be labeled with reminders (such as wake up, feed the dog, take medicine, etc). For those functions, the calendar is a better bet. In fact, there’s really not much difference between the calendar and the alarm clock.

The only differences I noted were that the calendar allows for labels to be assigned to appointments, but only allows for single entry, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly repeats. The alarm allows for single entry, daily, M-Fri, and weekend only repeat. Both the calendar and the alarm functions have a snooze option, with the choice of a 5, 10, 30, or 60 minute snooze. The downside to this is that it requires a couple of key strokes to “press snooze” – first, right soft key for the snooze, then one or more arrow keys to settle on the duration of the snooze, then “ok” to finalize it.

Another function on this model that I love is the voice command. It works well, except it takes a minimum of four keystrokes to activate the voice command function. From there, you can speak the name of the person you wish to call if they’re on your contact list, or you can simply state the number you want to dial. This is pretty handy in certain situations, especially in states that require it by law for people who need to talk while driving. There are also several other handy shortcuts you can set up, such as voicemail, a readout of missed calls, or a playback of the current time and date. Interestingly, the voice commands also work with a bluetooth headset, further enhancing the hands-free aspect of the function.

Here’s a brief summary of the other extras on this model:

  • Notepad (limited to 150 characters, so not very helpful)
  • Tip Calculator
  • Calculator
  • World Clock
  • Stopwatch
  • Unit Converter

That pretty much sums it up on the LG 220c. I think it’s a great little phone for those that don’t need a camera or mp3 player. It produces excellent sound quality, and is excellent at picking up even the faintest signal. And as one of newest CDMA phones from Net10 and TracFone, it offers a welcome upgrade for many LG 3280c and 200c, and Kyocera K126c users.

Further, it’s among the cheaper phones offered by TracFone (at $19.99), Net10 (at $39.99), and Straight Talk (for $39.99). TracFone users should keep in mind that some Walmart stores offer this model as part of a special bonus back that includes DMFL as well as a free accessory kit. If you can find one of those kits, it’s a very good value.

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

Samsung r451c Review Update – Video

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Here’s an update I forgot to post about regarding the Samsung r451c for Net10 and Straight Talk. I published the last installment of my review written review a month ago. Around that time, I also recorded a review video. However, I forgot to post it back then. So, here it is now:

And, in case that didn’t work, here’s a link to watch the Samsung r451c review on YouTube’s site.

Samsung r810c Finesse – Straight Talk review update

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There was a mixed reaction among readers on whether I should review the Samsung r810c Finesse from Straight Talk. Some pointed out that it was much more expensive than any other phones I typically cover on this blog, which is true. Others made the point that it offers all the features that many people have been wishing for in a prepaid phone, which is also true.

Picture of Samsung r810c Finesse for Straight TalkSamsung r810c Finesse for Straight Talk

I don’t want to clutter up the pages of this blog with info that is uninteresting to those reading it, yet I also really wanted to try out the little touch-screen phone from Straight Talk. So, I made a compromise. I decided to buy the phone and do a full review, but I set up a separate site on which to publish that review and other content related to the Samsung r810c.

I’ve also created a Samsung r810c Finesse review index page on this site, to make it easier for people to find all the content I’ve created. However, about this phone again on this blog until the full review is complete. If you want more info about it in the mean time, please visit the separate Samsung r810c review site at r810Finesse.com.

Before I wrap up, I’ll give you my initial impressions: I think it’s a decent phone, but there are some definite drawbacks. It might be perfect for some people, but my guess is that a lot of people will be happier to stick with the Samsung r451c or LG 290c, and use the money they save there to buy something like an iPod Touch. Basically, I’m not blown away by the Finesse, and for over $300 I hoped to be. I have a lot more testing to do, but that’s my very early conclusion.

Free Overnight Shipping from Net10 and TracFone

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I just wanted to give everyone a quick heads-up on a last-minute shopping deal. Through December 21, both TracFone and Net10 are offering free overnight shipping on all phone purchases of $19.99 or more. This deal is not advertised very well – on either site, the notice does not appear until the phone listing page, after you enter your zip code.

On the TracFone site, it will appear as a blue banner above the the phone list; on the Net10 site, the ad is a small banner on the left side of the phone list page. In either case, it’s a pretty good deal as overnight shipping is normally a $14.95 expense.

Keep in mind that the shipping discount will show up on your order late in the checkout process, right before you finalize your order. Whenever I post deals like this, I get people telling me that they didn’t receive the free shipping discount. Just keep going with the checkout process, and the shipping charge WILL be deducted before you check out.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the free shipping offer will work in conjunction with previously-existing discount codes. For TracFone, use code 23444 at the checkout screen to save $3 off your order. Additionally, code 88160 will add a free accessory kit to your order (compatible with most, but not all, TracFone models).

Please click here to visit TracFone.com and shop for these deals.

Net10 customers can use a pair of codes to save $8 total. Code 44477 is valid for a $5 discount, and code 34567 will deduct another $3. Then use code 88124 for a free accessory kit (again, not compatible with all models).

Please click here to go to Net10′s online store.

Up next, I’ll be wrapping up my reviews of the LG 290c, LG 220c, and LG 100c, as well as revising the TracFone Promo Code database.

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

Review Part 2 – LG 290c, LG 220c, and LG 100c

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Please note that I am combining my comments for my review of the LG 290c, LG 220c, and LG 100c, as they are identical in some key respects. This article covers the comment elements. Below is a table indicating the cost of each phone from each provider, followed by my review.

TracFone Net10 Straight Talk
LG 100c 14.99 29.99 29.99
LG 220c 19.99 39.99 39.99
LG 290c 49.99 59.99 79.99

General Phone Function

In short, I’m very impressed with how well the LG 290c, 220c, and 100c accomplish the basics. The reception on all three of these new LG models is excellent, and call quality is as good as any CDMA phone I’ve tested. In one particular case, I was in a large building with a group of 6-8 other people. Both the LG 100c and 290c (I didn’t have the 220c with me at the time) picked up enough of a signal to make a call, while NO other phones could make or receive calls. This included several post-paid phones from various carriers as well as my Net10 Samsung T401g GSM phone.

Call volume was very good, though I did experience some distortion at higher volumes, just like any other cell phone I’ve tried. I’m fortunate enough to have pretty good hearing, so I sometimes struggle with putting myself in the shoes of someone with a hearing impairment, but I think these phones are adequate if not exceptional in terms of volume. The TracFone website lists them all with an HAC (Hearing Aid Compatible) rating of 3.

The hands-free speaker is a little quieter than I’d like, even at the highest volume setting. On the other hand, ringtones were very loud indeed – louder than either the Samsung T401g or r451c. There are also many ringtones to choose from on each phone – over 25 music tones, plus a handful of more basic tones.

Another great thing about the ringtones is the flexibility of assigning specific tones. For each contact, you can either add them to a group and assign a ringtone to that group, or assign a specific tone to that contact only. In the case of the groups, they are limited to the groups defined by the phone (Family, friends, colleagues, business, school). But it’s still a nice option to have.

Further, each contact can have a separate text message alert tone. This is something I really would have liked to see in the Samsung QWERTY phones, but it’s a nice plus on these LG models as well.

Another thing that really blew me away is that battery life is AMAZING! The 220c and 100c each gave me over two weeks on standby, and the 290c was over 10 days. I know standby time is very important to some people, and these CDMA phones are the best I’ve ever used in that regard.

Menus/Shortcut Keys

The layout and nagivation of the menus makes sense to me. Over the years of testing phones from Nokia, Motorola, LG, Kyocera and Samsung, I’ve come to prefer the LG menu layout to all others. For whatever reason, it always seems that LG puts the various menu options in the same place I would put them if I were designing the menus. In this case, the menus are very similar to all the other LG phones from Ne10 and TracFone.

One complaint, and a redundant one at that, is that these phones only display the sender of a text message AFTER the text is opened. When an unread text is in the inbox, only the first seven letters of the message show up. This might occasionally result in wasted minutes as you “pay” to see a text message that was really just spam or a wrong number. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any other phones instead, as all recent TracFone/Net10 models function that way as well.

Another thing I didn’t like is that like many previous models, the LG 100c, 220c, and 290c each have a browser shortcut (right soft key from the home screen). Also like many previous models, these phones do NOT allow for that shortcut key to be reassigned to other functions, leaving open the possibility that you might accidentally start the browser and have airtime deducted as a result. [EDIT 2/2/10: I stand corrected, there IS  a way to lock the browser and prevented accidental activation. This was posted by jkbond17 in the comments: 'You can disable the browser key to avoid accidental activation. Go to Menu:9:3, enter the last four digits of your phone number into the “Lock Code” screen, press “OK,” choose #2-Restrictions, then #5-Data, and “Lock.” The screen will display “Data is restricted.”' Thanks for the tip!]

Further, the four directional keys are shortcut keys, but also cannot be customized. The default setup is as follows:

  • Up: Compose Text Message
  • Down: Contact List
  • Left: Messages Menu
  • Right: Ringtone Settings

I think most users would prefer to have the option of deciding how to set up these shortcuts, but it is unfortunately impossible in this case.

That wraps up my “review part 2″ combined segment for these phones. I’ll be posting the rest of my reviews soon, and you can keep up with the new content as I post it by referring to my review index pages:

LG 290c Review Index

LG 220c Review Index

LG 100c Review Index

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

 

TracFone Net10 Straight Talk
LG 100c 14.99 29.99 29.99
LG 220c 19.99 39.99 39.99
LG 290c 49.99 59.99 79.99

LG 290c Review Part 1

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General Overview

Picture of LG 290cThe LG 290c is a another CDMA phone, but with a slide-out numeric keypad rather than the slab design of the 100c or the clamshell on the 220c. I’m using a Net10 version for this review, but 99% of the info I’m covering here will be the same regardless of which service it’s on. The 290c is available for TracFone at $49.99, Net10 at $59.99, and Straight Talk for $79.99.

The 290c is the heaviest of the three models, weighing in at 4.1 ounces. It’s also larger than the 100c and 220c, measuring 4.09″ x 1.94″ x 0.63.” However, the LG 290c is more compact than the Samsung r451c, yet offers a slightly larger screen.

The 290c also includes a camera, something the other two LG models do not. Other features include downloadable ringtones, voice recorder, voice dialing, hands-free speaker, web browser, standard organization tools, picture messaging, and bluetooth, though the bluetooth does NOT work for the transfer of pictures or ringtones. [Edit: it DOES work, and I posted more about it on part 3 of my review, here.]

External/Appearance

The most striking thing about the appearance of the LG 290c, in my opinion, is the large screen. It is larger than any other TracFone, Net10, or Straight Talk phone, with the exception of the new $329 Samsung r810c Finesse for Straight Talk. The screen is bright and sharp, and does not suffer from as much distortion as other models when viewed from the side. There is no carrier branding anywhere on the body of the phone, and the screen on my Net10 version also is completely free of any indication that it’s a prepaid phone. I’ve also noticed that this exact same model is being sold by Sprint, so I don’t think it will stick out as a “cheap prepaid” phone.

This is also consistent with my experience of the construction of the phone. It feels solid and durable, especially the slider mechanism. On the Motorola EM326g as well as the previous Samsung sliders, I noticed just a little “wiggle” when the sliders are extended. The LG 290c, on the other hand, feels very firm even when slid open. Further, the spring in the slider ensures that the device won’t accidentally come open or slide shut. I’m very happy with the build quality on this device.

Well, there’s a quick overview of the LG 290c – the next installment of this review will be a combined review of the LG 100c, 220c, and 290c. I’ll be joining the common elements of those three phones into a single review segment, and I’ll plan to get that posted before the end of the week.

Up Next:
The combined review will be the next article I publish, but I’m still planning on revising the bonus code list.

I also have an update on the Samsung r810c Finesse situation. After much deliberation, and with your input, I’ve decided to go ahead and purchase the phone for a review. However, I don’t be posting it on this blog, as I know that a $329 phone is not really consistent with the ideals of most readers here. Instead, I’m going to publish that review at a separate site, r810finesse.com. I’ll occasionally post an update here about the progress of that review. Also, when I have the review wrapped up and all your questions answered to the best of my ability, I’m going to auction off the r810 I’m using for the review. Stay tuned for more info on that…

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

LG 100c Review, Part 1

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As I mentioned previously, I’ll be combining some aspects of the 100c, 220c, and 290c into a single article, since they are identical in some important ways. But before I do that combined segment, I’ll be introducing each phone individually. Now, here’s the first part of my

LG 100c Review

General Overview

Picture of LG 100cLG 100c

The LG 100c is the lowest-priced of the three new LG CDMA prepaid phones released this fall, and accordingly has the lowest feature set. It’s just $14.99 for TracFone, $29.99 from Net10, and $29.99 from Straight Talk.

The LG 100c is a very basic candy-bar style phone, and it’s also VERY light and compact. It’s just 2.45 ounces, and measures 4.09 x 1.80 x 0.50 inches. It’s also light on features – it does have a browser, hands-free speaker, and some basic organizational tools, but that’s about it. It does not have bluetooth, camera, mp3 player, games or Double Minutes for Life, although you can get DMFL on this model if you look for certain specially-marked packages available only at a seemingly select few Walmart stores.

External/Appearance

The appearance, as with the feature set, is very basic. The keypad look maybe a little outdated, but not too bad in my opinion. The gray casing and buttons won’t appeal to everyone, but overall in my opinion it’s a pretty big step up from the Kyocera 126c in terms of appearance (as well as many other factors, which I’ll get to later).

As has been the case with most recent TracFone/Net10/Straight Talk releases, there is no carrier branding anywhere on the outside of the phone. However, the header at top of the screen displays the carrier name, and I could not find a way to remove this branding.

Because of the light weight of the phone, I’ve found it somewhat difficult to assess the “quality feel” of the LG 100c. Honestly, there’s not much to evaluate here. I don’t really like the buttons all that much, but they definitely feel more solid than the k126c. When comparing the 100c to the quality of the k126c, the LG 100c wins hands-down in my opinion.

Semi-Conclusion

I do like this phone better than its predecessor, the Kyocera K126c. However, I think that for just $5 or $10 more, the LG 220c provides some advantages, such as bluetooth and a larger screen, as well as a few others. I’ll addres those points in a future post, but for now suffice it to say that if you like this small candy-bar form factor and don’t need bluetooth, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the LG 100c. If you have a few extra dollars to spend on your next phone, I don’t think you’ll regret spending it on the LG 220c instead.

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

Samsung r810 Finesse – Breaking Straight Talk News

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I apologize for interrupting your regularly scheduled review of the LG series phones, but I have a breaking news announcement.

Samsung Finesse PicturePicture of the Samsung R810 Finesse

Straight Talk wireless has released the Samsung R810c Finesse phone, which showed up for sale on Straight Talk’s website yesterday. It is currently offered only in combination with a monthly card, meaning that you’ll need to pay for the first month of service at the same time you pay for the phone itself. It is also NOT available anywhere else yet, including Walmart.

Here’s the real news, something that I have a feeling will cause a lot of “sticker shock” among frequent readers of this blog: The price of the phone alone is $329. That’s not a typo – $329 is the price. As I’ve mentioned previously on this blog, though, it seems to be targeted not at those of us who like to chase the $20 refurbished phone + airtime bundles, but at current postpaid subscribers who would like to reduce their monthly costs without having to accept a significant downgrade in phone. For those people, it might be a bargain to pay over $300 for a phone, because they can then recoup those costs in just a few months of significantly lower airtime costs.

Another bit of news to consider with this phone is that, based on the info now available at Straight Talk’s site, it appears that the Finesse does NOT have a full HTML browser. Instead, the r810 tutorials show the same WAP browser that is available on all other Straight Talk handsets. This means that r810 users will likely only be able to access the “mobile” version of websites, not the full version. Websites that do not have a separate mobile version will be unaccessible to WAP browsers. It’s certainly possible that once this phone is distributed, we’ll find out that there is indeed an HTML browser, but that seems pretty unlikely. It’s also possible that users will find a way to work around this limitation, but that’s also unpredictable.

Lastly, I’m wondering what you think – I am considering purchasing this phone for a test drive, but it’s obviously much more expensive than any phone I’ve previously reviewed. I really don’t think I’d keep it for personal use, and if that’s the case I’d probably end up selling it, once my review is complete, to recoup some of the costs. However, if nobody is interested i a review anyway, I might just skip it and stick to the more moderately-priced market I’ve been focused on so far. So, I’m asking your opinion. Do you want to learn more about this phone? Should I take the time and money to do a Samsung Finesse review, or keep waiting for advanced features to be added to more reasonably priced models? Please post your opinions in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.

LG 220c Review Part 1

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As I’ve been promising, I’m finally ready to start posting my reviews of the LG 290c, LG 220c, and LG 100c. I’m going to be doing it a little differently than normal, though. Since these phones share many common characteristics, I will be combining portions of the review. I’ll start with an overview of each model individually throughout this week. Toward the end of the week or into the weekend,

Picture of the LG 220cLG 220c

I’ll post my review of the features the three models have in common. Next week, I’ll begin wrapping it all up with summaries for each individual phone. Here’ the first part of the

LG 220c review:

General Overview

The LG 220c is a clamshell phone using the CDMA network, which provides very good coverage and especially outperforms the GSM network in many rural areas. It is available for TracFone at $19.99, Net10 at $39.99, and Straight Talk for $39.99.

I really like the compact size and light weight of this model – it weighs in at a super-light 2.9 oz., which feels especially light in comparison to the Samsung QWERTY phones I’ve reviewed recently. It measures 3.5 x 1.8 x .75 inches, making it more compact than any other flip phone I’ve ever used. It scores very high on that “how does it slide in and out of your pocket” metric that many people seemed to be concerned with. On the other hand, I guess it could be easy to lose, for you ladies with a lot of stuff in your purse.

Part of the reason the 220c is so compact is that it does not have an mp3 player, memory card slot or camera. However, it does have bluetooth, speaker phone, and a nice color external display. For you TracFone users considering this phone, keep in mind that most versions do NOT include Double Minutes for Life. However, some Walmart stores in CDMA territory offer specially-marked packages including the LG 220c, an accessory kit, and DMFL for about the same price as the phone alone at other locations.

External/Appearance

The external appearance is, in my opinion, very clean and sleek. It reminds me a lot of the LG 600g, except the 220c is even sleeker looking. The metallic trim on the 220c might not appeal to everyone, but I think it’s minimal enough to be attractive without being too much.

As I mentioned above, the external display is quite nice. The color screen is fairly large as far as external screens go, measuring about one inch diagonally. On this display, you can get a lot of information at a glance, including current time and date, signal meter, text and voicemail message indicators, ringer volume setting (silent, alarm only, vibrate only, or regular ringer), and battery meter.

Some people don’t like light-weight phones because they think the phones feel cheap or flimsy, but that was definitely NOT the impression I got from this model. It seems to be durable and relatively high-quality. The hinge has enough “give” to it that there’s not much worry of accidentally breaking the hinge, but not so much that it’s wobbly or flimsy during use.

Semi-conclusion

I still have more to say about this model, obviously, but if you’re looking for my first impression, I really like it. I think it’s a nice update on the reliable but somewhat outdated LG 3280 and LG 200c CDMA models previously available for TracFone, Net10 and Straight Talk. If you don’t need a camera or mp3 player, I think the LG 220c is a bargain at the relatively low prices being asked.

In my review of the common features shared by these three LG models, I’ll go into more specifics on why I think this is such a valuable little device.

Note: I have a material relationship with one or more of the brands mentioned in this post.