This device has been suggested to be tagged also with the name Nexus 5 – that implying that it’d take the place of the current LG-made Nexus 4 device on the market right this minute. One rather important point against this possibility is the slightly larger photo of the device that’s been leaked with an LG logo at the bottom of it. If this device were, in fact, headed for a Google release, it’d have no branding up front at all.

This device has also been tipped – and seems to check out – with a 5.5-inch display with 1080p resolution. This device could very well be a new variant or an upgrade of the LG Optimus G Pro, that coming forth with a very similar display up front but a bit thicker body behind.

Because the LG Optimus G Pro is sill relatively new, on the other hand, it does make the most sense that this would be the long-awaited follow-up to the original Optimus G. This upgrade would place its screen between the original Optimus G and the Optimus G Pro and would upgrade processor power to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, just like what’s found in the Optimus G Pro, HTC One, and Samsung GALAXY S 4.

This device, while suggested to be coming with a Google push for their developer conference next week at Google I/O 2013, will much more likely be appearing the week after, at its earliest. There LG can avoid any entanglements in news blasts for the week from the conferences goings-on.

Meanwhile the LG Optimus G Pro launches on AT&T in the United States today – we’ve got our LG Optimus G Pro review ready for you to have a gander at if you feel so inclined as well. This device should very well lead the way to the Optimus G2 which may be coming presently.

SOURCE: Evleaks

The iPhone 5, LG Optimus G, Samsung GALAXY S 4, Sony Xperia Z, and HTC One all had their displays put under a digital microscope, with comparison images of text taken between different combinations of the aforementioned smartphones being assembled together into slider images, allowing users to slide back and forth over the close-up shots and see them in a way their naked eyes can’t.

According to the folks who did the test, they chose to image text specifically because they felt a close-up look at the letters is one of the best ways to compare the displays. What you’re looking for is the curvature of the letters: smooth, round curves on the letters are preferable over ones with rougher curves. So which display is best among them?

Not to be disappointing, but the answer is, “It depends.” As you can see in the images, which we have in the gallery below, you can see the individual differences in the technologies used in the displays, but aside from that the subtle differences between the text is still obvious, and largely open to interpretation. For example, the Xperia Z and the GALAXY S 4 both offer 441ppi, but when looked at up close, one would be tempted to proclaim Sony the best of the two, with its lettering coming in very clear and smooth.

You can check out the interactive version of the comparisons at the link below. Which display is best? Let us know what you think!

[via Gadget Guy]

Hardware

Up front of the LG Optimus G Pro is a 1080 x 1920 pixel display across 5.5-inches of IPS LCD. This equals 400 PPI resolution and the same amount of pixels the HTC One and the Samsung GALAXY S 4 have spread over a slightly larger area. The display reaches out to the sides of the device with a bezel that’s extremely narrow, this giving the phone the illusion of having a near-edge-to-edge screen.

The front of the device is covered by a single piece of reinforced glass from top to bottom with a bent-in flat edge that, with flat sides and rounded back, give the whole package a unique feel. While the design comments in our LG Optimus G Review suggested LG’s hardware to be a bit more slippery than the average phone, the Pro’s shape and size allow for a bit better grip.

The front panel is interrupted only by a single plastic bit up top to make way for the earpiece for phone calls and a physical button on the lower front surrounded by multi-colored LED light. This pulsing spectrum of color is easily one of the most well-implemented bits of finesse ever implemented on a smartphone. This feature alone pushes the hardware design over the edge: from Pretty Good to Unique and Cool.

Along the sides of the device you’ll find two mic holes (one on top, one on bottom), a standard-sized headphone jack with Dolby Digital audio technology for all your headphone music blasting adventures, and a microUSB port below. Also on top you’ll find a tiny black piece of plastic – this is your IR-blaster, aka your key to using this device as a remote control for a variety of electronics around your home, including but not limited to your television (most televisions, not just Smart TVs), stereo system, projector, Blu-ray player, and air conditioner.

On the right you’ve got your power button and on your left you’ve got your volume rocker below a third button. This last button is what LG calls a Quick Button. With this Quick Button you’ll be able to “get quick access” to whatever app you like. If you’re a photo-taking sort of person, set it to your camera. If you’d rather it connect to Google Search / Google Now, that’s an option as well. If you do decide to set it to Camera, the Quick Button also acts as a shutter button inside the camera app – just as it should.

This device feels nice to hold and, unlike some of its competitors, isn’t larger than the average adult’s hand grip. Where the LG Intuition fell a bit flat due to it’s massiveness, the aspect ratio of the LG Optimus G Pro allows it to be even larger yet fit in your hand far more naturally. Here we’ve got a phablet with a size that’s not too wild.

Software

Inside you’ve got LG’s newest approach to Android, complete with their complete utilization of the full processor power under the hood with oddities galore. One example of a simple – yet impressive – use of the power this device’s processor presents is the massive bubble that pops up when you unlock your screen. It and flipping through screens with a door-like drag happen so seamlessly that you’ll scarcely realize how slick it is. Until you use a phone later on with a lesser processor, of course.

LG’s software here keeps with the nice parts of Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, including Google Now, and push forward with features like QSlide apps. While I’m not entirely sure when the ability to have an app appear above the fold and accessible as a window in a desktop operating system app would be, here you’ve got the future right in front of you. This sort of floating app functionality is also seen in the Samsung Galaxy and Note line of smartphones and tablets in a just-as-mystifying implementation.

The notifications pull-down menu is utilized by LG in a variety of creative ways the likes of which no other hardware company has pushed to a smartphone. You’ve got brightness control, notifications, access to full settings, quick settings (toggles), QSlide apps, Music control (when music is playing), and Quick Remote. Each of these is customizable too, of course.

QuickRemote is LG’s current app interface for remote controlling your home hardware. This app allows you to work with the infra-red blaster that sits at the top of the device and allows you to control your TV, Cable box, Audio system, DVD player, Blu-ray player, Air conditioner, and projector. You’ll have to go through a short trial-and-error process to connect this control to each device around your home, but in general, anything that’s controlled by a normal universal remote can be controlled here.

Though you don’t have the Rubberdium Pen you did with the LG Intuition here with the Optimus G Pro, you still have access to apps like Note Pad and Notebook, both of which allow you to draw and take notes on your display with your finger. You also get a simple task manager to keep yourself on-point with notifications of to-do items, Video Wiz to edit your own self-filmed videos, and LG Tag+ to create your own unique NFC tags (not included in the box this time around).

In display settings you’ll find Smart screen, similar to a feature Samsung has been pushing with the last several smartphones it’s released, here detecting your eyes and keeping the device’s display awake so long as you’re looking at it. You can customize your home button LED light colors and alerts from this screen as well.

In Share & Connect in the device’s Networks tab in Settings you’ll find an NFC switch (off and on) aside Direct/Android Beam. With Wi-Fi direct you’ll be able to share files between mobile devices (that also have such connectivity abilities) and with NFC this connection is made extra-easy. You’ll also find File Networking to connect to your local network (if you’re sharing files via your PC, for example), and with SmartShare Beam you’ll be sharing files back and forth between LG devices specifically.

Then there’s Miracast – this being the first time we’ve seen the system named specifically since Google implemented this connectivity in Android Jelly Bean earlier this year. With Miracast you’ll have a new industry standard for wireless connectivity of devices, in this case allowing you to mirror your Optimus G Pro’s display to your high-definition television at high speed.

Have a peek at a demonstration of LG’s “World’s First Wireless Ultra HD Transmission Technology” filmed earlier this year at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona. You’re seeing this hands-on with the LG Optimus G, this letting us know that the ability isn’t just there in the less-powerful of the LG hero devices, it’s ready to go for 4K televisions as well! Now we just need a 4K television to test it on with LG’s final implementation of the connection between on device and the other.

You’ll find the LG Optimus G Pro out-performing most devices on the market today regardless of the slightly larger display size it works with. Above you’ll find a gallery of benchmark results run on the device, many of which we’ve run for similar devices in the past. As you’ll see, this device’s biggest competitors are the HTC One and Samsung GALAXY S 4, the whole bunch running the same Qualcomm processor under the hood – the battle continues!

Camera

While we’ve done a slightly more extensive exploration of the abilities of this device’s camera earlier this year in our LG Optimus G Pro Photo Tour: Barcelona, you’ll also find a new set of examples below. This device uses a 13 megapixel camera on its back, a 2.1 megapixel camera on its front, and a set of odd abilities you’ll have a good ol’ time working with. NOTE: we’ll be including further examples of the Dual Recording feature in the near future. For now: courage!

Battery

With a 3,140 mAh battery it’s not easy to knock the power out of this device in one go. That said, if any display was going to do it, it’d be this beast’s. As you can see in the example here, you can either keep the device running actions for hours on end and kill it in less than 8 hours, or you can let it sit idle for many days. This appears to be the case with most devices running Qualcomm processors in this newest generation – we’re expecting this trend to continue.

Wrap-up

The LG Optimus G Pro is a rather fine piece of machinery. It’s offers you an alternative to the HTC One and/or Samsung GALAXY S 4 here up on the top tier with its similar display (larger, though again, with the same amount of pixels), identical processor, and surprisingly similar set of features. It also offers you a unique hardware build and a camera that’ll go very nearly toe-to-toe with the leaders.

You’ll find the LG Optimus G Pro costing the same or less than the competing top-tier smartphones out with AT&T right this minute and/or in the near future, and its feature set makes it a solid package in the battle against the other titans of this mobile industry. Here in this massive smartphone, LG has created an amalgamation of elements that’ll satisfy legacy LG lovers and newcomers to the size, all the same.

Some of the more notable specs of the Optimus G Pro include a gargantuan 5.5-inch display with a full 1080p HD resolution, and a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor on the inside, along with 2GB of RAM. The phone also has a 13MP rear camera, along with a 1.6MP front-facer for those selfies we know you love taking.

AT&T says that the Optimus G Pro will be eligible for the carrier’s recently-revamped $100 trade-in program, where you get at least $100 towards a new phone if you give them your old AT&T device, no matter how beat up it is. This means that you’ll get the new LG phone for $99 or less if you bring in your old phone to trade in.

We first laid hands on the phone back in February during Mobile World Congress in Spain, where we also took it on an adventurous photo tour, where we tested the phone’s camera to no end, and we received some pretty impressive results with the pictures that we took. You can check out our photo tour with the new device, as well as our hands-on session.

While the LG Optimus G was so impressive that Google hired LG to make them their own in the Google Nexus 4, the G2 has to step things up a notch. With the 2013 wave of smartphones out-doing the G with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 processors (in the HTC One and Samsung GALAXY S 4), it wont just be the body that’s getting a cut. LG has also been tipped to be including Qualcomm’s best yet: the Snapdragon 800.

The LG Optimus G2 is being quoted as containing the following today, straight from the source speaking with MyDrivers. The physical design of this device may be the biggest change, but the final build will be one heck of a whopper!

LG Optimus G2

• 5-inch display, 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution
• 13 megapixel camera back-facing, 2.1 megapixel front
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• LG User Interface
• Worldwide Launch

Have a peek at our LG Optimus G Pro hands-on experience as well as our original review of the LG Optimus G and get ready for the next coming of LG. This device should be revealed by the time Summer has begun, but no confirmation has yet been given by LG. Stay tuned!

What we’ve seen of the LG Optimus G Pro thus far is a release on one side of the ocean, a push on the other, and signs of a USA release in recent weeks. With the LG Optimus G Pro and the Google Nexus 4 by LG continuing to make waves on AT&T, T-Mobile, and off-contract here in the USA, the LG Optimus G Pro (and its recent FCC appearance) has us guessing we’ll be getting at least an AT&T 4G LTE iteration before summer time.

The “Share the Genius” line in the invite suggests either that the device they’re about to show will be riddled with share-friendly features or that the name, Optimus G, is ready to share the spotlight with the bigger version of greatness. The LG Optimus G Pro takes the finer points of the LG Optimus G and amplifies them – not only do you get a larger display, you get a much more powerful processor from Qualcomm and photography features that had us giving the thumbs up back at MWC 2013.

Have a peek at the timeline below of recent LG mobile tips, suggestions, and otherwise excellent hands-on experiences to see if you can piece together this puzzle for yourself. LG will one way or another need to bring some heat now that the Samsung GALAXY S 4 and the HTC One are about to hit the market – make it count!

Jelly Bean comes with some impressive improvements compared to Ice Cream Sandwich. Jelly Bean users can take advantage of improved notifications, Google Now, and some UI tweaks that make performance a lot smoother thanks to Project Butter. However, the AT&T update specifically comes with support for Isis Mobile Wallet, which is available to use in Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah.

AT&T also mentions that the LG Optimus G is the “official mobile device of NCAA March Madness,” which is still going on now, with the final four teams ready to face off this Saturday. As for what this means for Optimus G users, you’ll be able to watch the games using the March Madness Live app, and the only requirement is that you have to login using your cable subscription credentials.

In any case, if you don’t see the update automatically hitting your Optimus G, you can head to Menu -> Settings -> General -> About phone -> Software Update and see if the update has made its way to you. If it has, simply connect to a WiFi network and off you’ll go. Be sure to tell us how you like it in the comments below.

[via Android Community]

You’ll find this machine humming along nicely with 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot for storage expansion. If you’re all about the wireless charging, you’ll have to make sure you pick up the separate removable battery cover – that’ll cost you $40 USD. This will pair nicely with your wireless charging dock, both this and that being bits and pieces we’ll be reviewing for you later this week!

Above you’ll see a bit more of the LG Optimus F5 as we saw it earlier this year at Mobile World Congress 2013. There in Barcelona we saw LG bringing the fight to multiple display sizes with iterations of devices in this Optimus wave all ready to be LG’s 2013 front. You’ll see not only LG’s custom user interface, but another showing of LG’s own Starter Mode – made perfect for those using a smartphone for the first time.

You’ll be able to purchase this device online on the 4th of April while this device’s retail appearance will be at least one or two more weeks away. Let us know what you’d like to know about this device right now!

As you’ll know well by the looks we’ve had at the LG Optimus G Pro, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor is an absolute beast. It’s the second-highest most powerful processor Qualcomm makes today – so great, both the HTC One and the Samsung GALAXY S 4 have opted to employ it. Then there’s the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, a step up, a quad-core processor intended only for the most dominant devices of this generation, complete with a fabulous Adreno 330 GPU for graphics superiority.

That’s the processor we’re seeing here in the GLBenchmark results found today to be showing the LG D801. This is a device that’ll be hitting up T-Mobile to start with, bringing with it a set of specifications that’ll blow your mind.

• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
• T-Mobile 4G LTE
• 1080 x 1794 pixel display
• MSM8974 (aka Snapdragon 800)

The benchmark list you see above also shows the “HTC 6435LVW” – note here that this is the HTC DROID DNA, while the LG E975 below it (with the same score) is the LG Optimus G (the original.) Right along with it is the LG Optimus G Pro which gets a similar score because of its massive display – note that the DROID DNA and the LG Optimus G Pro should, by all means, be getting different scores because the G Pro has a more advanced processor – but again, this isn’t an all-encompassing benchmark, it’s only showing Offscreen 1080p processing – no worries!

Have a peek at our archive of bits and pieces surrounding this upcoming LG Optimus G2 as it makes its way to T-Mobile soon – stay tuned!

As it’s been discovered by Engadget, the LG Optimus G Pro phantom is running on the bands that AT&T does indeed use. That’s 4G LTE and all, ready to rock with all the Optimus G Pro excellence we’ve seen come out of this device just this past month internationally. When we had a look at it, we made sure to test out what LG let us know it was very proud of in its photography skills.

The LG Optimus G Pro works with a massive 5.5-inch display that’s sharp as a tack – 1080p and working with the Qualcomm Snadragon 600 quad-core processor. That’s the same beast we’re seeing work some real magic in the HTC One, this time also packing heat with 2GB of RAM and Android 4.1+ Jelly Bean up front. We’ve seen this device in white and in black – and they’re both rather fabulous.

Have a peek at our LG Optimus G Pro tour of Barcelona and let us know if you’d be all about this smartphone if it’d be released by AT&T super, super soon. Or better yet, if you’re thinking about getting a massive smartphone such as this but want to wait to see if IFA 2013 is home to the release of the Samsung Galaxy Note III! Or maybe just a Tab or two.

Have a peek at the LG Optimus G Pro timeline below as well for more up-to-date massively LG action than you can handle!

Whereas Samsung’s ad reads “Be ready 4 for the next Galaxy,” LG’s ad reads in a similar, but mocking tone with “LG Optimus G is here 4 you now!”. Of course, LG has occupied that billboard space for quite some time, while Samsung only recently bought the advertising space right below it, but it’s pretty obvious what LG is doing here.

However, we’re not sure if LG did a great job in this case, since both of the ads look almost identical, meaning that someone just driving by and glancing at the billboards may not notice that they’re actually different from one another, and due to Samsung’s viral marketing of the number “4″, most people may just quickly assume that LG’s ad is a Samsung ad at first glance.

Either way, while this may not turn the heads of most people walking along Times Square, it may certainly ruffle some feathers at Samsung headquarters in Korea. Plus, we doubt the ads themselves will persuade anyone from getting an Optimus G. Marketing and advertising is a tricky industry, and it takes more than just a few billboards to persuade someone to buy a specific smartphone.

[via Android Community]

This technology is working via a wi-fi connection – especially amazing here at Mobile World Congress as massive amounts of connections are being blasted to and fro from device to device without end. The transmission of graphics here are said by LG to be superior to all other similar technologies that’ve appeared in the past – we’ll have to see about Miracast when it takes hold in the near future to compare. LG also maintains that it uses “less than 50 percent” of the power that competing services offer.

LG makes this claim saying that the amount of power needed by the smartphone’s processor and associated hardware is less with their solution, therefor draining the battery slower. They also say that the picture looks correct each time you connect because of instant screen formatting – no matter what display you’re connected to, your picture will be optimized. A compression of video is also claimed between the camera and the television – though how it works when it’s a live-in-action game, it’s not quite clear.

We’ve seen some rather beastly things coming from LG this week, and more than just phones, mind you. Have a peek at the timeline below as well as at the LG tag portal for more information on LG’s releases in the recent past. And don’t forget to check the Mobile World Congress 2013 portal for more up to the minute news blasts and hands-on action than you can handle!

With this version of Jelly Bean, the LG Optimus G will be nearly up to the newest edition of the Android operating system currently available on the market. The only devices available with more advanced software from Google are the Nexus 7 from ASUS and Google Nexus 4 – also made by Google. Incidentally, the Nexus 4 is built with the same design foundation as the LG Optimus G, having many of the same features both inside and out.

The LG Optimus G launching in the European markets listed above will be working with enhanced features in its software build unique to the LG family. One of the biggest additions is an enhanced QSlide function – here allowing users to operate more than one app at a time with transparent screen layers. That’s one app on top of another, operating at the same time – weird stuff!

Another update in this release of the LG Optimus G is in Safety Care. With this upgrade you’ll see Safety Care providing pre-designated users information about the device’s physical location when certain emergency situations arise. This can be used for those that are forgetful and need a reminder of the device’s location (this activating after prolonged periods without use), with an emergency service is dialed, or when you’ve completed a call with a designated contact.

Privacy Keeper for hiding caller information, Google Now (with its newest edition up now), Filmstrip View (for galleries), and Expandable Notifications will also be available for this new release. Pricing and exact release dates will be coming soon – for now have a peek at the timeline below with more LG Optimus G information than you can handle!

The device we’re seeing here is an extension of the excellence we’ve already seen both inside and outside of the United States with the LG Optimus G. That device worked with the first quad-core processor in a smartphone to hit the United States and also became the basis for the design of the multi-national ultra-popular Google Nexus 4. With sales of the LG-made Nexus 4 and Optimus G remaining strong several months after release, LG clearly hopes to extend their success through to Spring.

This LG Optimus G Pro comes with a beastly 3,140 mAh battery that’ll last you all night long and will be popping up with a 13 megapixel camera on its back. Inside you’ll also find 2GB of RAM, 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot for memory extension. This device is bringing on native 4G LTE connectivity for South Korean carriers as well.

BONUS: This device will be coming in Platinum White and Indego Black via NTT Docomo – how those shades differ from regular white and black, we do not know!

Have a peek at the timeline below for more information on the LG Optimus G series and be sure to check out the other bits LG has revealed this week. The LG Optimus L7 II, L5II, and L3 II have all been shown off to take on the 2013 mainstream market. We’ll be getting our hands on these devices without a doubt when we head to Mobile World Congress 2013 – join us later this month!

[via Unwired View]

This LG Optimus Pro+ device (as it’s temporarily being code-named here) will be appearing in China with a fabulous 5.5-inch HD display with IPS LCD technology running at a monstrous 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. With 2GB of RAM under the hood, this Optimus G Pro+ would be bringing the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor once again, this time clocked at 1.7GHz per core with all the best connectivity to back it all up.

Also inside you’ll find 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot capable of holding 32GB cards (with the possibility of 64GB cards before this device hits the market), and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box. This device will also be appearing with a 13 megapixel camera on the back, 2.1 megapixel camera on the front, and a 3140 mAh battery inside.

Of course this device will be working with NFC as well as Bluetooth 4.0 and will be revealed soon. While it’s not officially been announced by LG, we’re expecting to see this model at Mobile World Congress 2013. Catch us there in Barcelona later this month in our fabulous MWC 2013 tag portal!

[via PhoneArena; via Android Community]

Last year the big reveal LG made at Mobile World Congress was a fabulous seven smartphone torrent with everything from the LG Optimus 4X HD to the LG Optimus Vu! The first was one of the first devices in the world to work with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor while the latter was LG’s answer to the phablet fad – 5 inches of massive smartphone action. These two beasts were so radical that they were worth covering multiple times at multiple venues!

Here in 2013 LG has their already successful LG Optimus G to top off. They’ve also got the Google Nexus 4, a smartphone that’s selling so well that Google has had trouble keeping it in stock! How could LG possibly bring on another series of smartphone devices that tops what they’ve already got out?

We’ll be seeing at Mobile World Congress 2013 without a doubt – you’ll be able to follow along with SlashGear in our massive MWC 2013 tag portal. Also be sure to hit up the LG tag portal for more information between here and then. And let us know what you’re expecting as well – we’d like to know! It may be time for more than just dual-sim action here in the near future – dual, quad, and octa!

[via Android Community]

Motorola will continue to produce devices exclusive to Verizon with the DROID RAZR name attached: this branding has kept them in the limelight for the past couple of years. Samsung will stick with the Galaxy branding (as they have for more than just a couple of years) and will continue to run with the branding (and with the iPhone mocking) through the foreseeable future with both the Samsung Galaxy IV and the Samsung Galaxy Note III. HTC brought the fire in 2012 with their HTC One series (starting with the hero HTC One X) but didn’t exactly see the massive sales they’d hoped for – because of this, HTC’s strategy for 2013 remains a bit hazy.

LG made two fantastic decisions – or were granted the ability to go through with them, however it ended up going – the first being a team-up with Qualcomm for the Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor for their Optimus G smartphone. While they’ve not reported extensive numbers for the sales of this machine quite yet, it’s clear that the ultimate victory was the modified version of the handset in the Google Nexus 4. This machine has most of the features that the Optimus G does, but rounds its corners and makes its Android perfectly pure with a Google-only vanilla flavoring – this means that LG didn’t modify the software for their own, just Google. Because of the feature set and the surprisingly low cost off-contract this device came with (though a T-Mobile version does exist, mind you), it’s been a massive hit (or supply blunder, however you want to see it) compared to the rest of the Nexus devices Google has released in its lineup history.

That machine came with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean+, that being an updated version of the same Android revealed earlier this year – that was also code-named Jelly Bean. This version had a collection of new features that included quick-access to basic settings as well as connectivity that didn’t even exist yet for most users – wireless projection with Miracast.

In 2013 we’ll continue to see the change-over from a specifications race in hardware to a more solid offering in software with brand ecosystems at the heart of the race. Samsung took this battle to heart in 2012 with the Samsung Galaxy S III – see the Chris Davies article by the name of The Galaxy S III is Samsung’s Coming of Age to see what this release was all about. More evidence that the Galaxy Note and S lines are doing stellar: the response to flip covers and TecTiles given away by the OEM for free.

Manufacturers aside, Google will be making at least one big unique push to stand out on their own as a force in mobile. Not just as a creator of Android will Google be pushing, but as a service provider for mobile devices. Google has confirmed their once-axed phone service plans already, and we’ve had Chris Davies’ column making it all too clear, as well: “A Google plan to kill carriers with wi-fi is all too believable”. Google won’t purchase T-Mobile as our good pals at [Android Community] suggest, they’ll continue to tie close bonds between themselves and wi-fi hotspot companies – or something to that effect – that’ll allow their smartphones to function completely independent of the mobile carriers.

See the column “Smart device specs are over: Long live the Ecosystem!” for a good look at 2013.

Making Android smartphones (and tablets) affordable by everyone in the world will continue to be Google’s goal through 2013, rest assured.

Hardware

I had major reservations about the LG Nexus 4 after having experienced the strangely slippery hardware of the LG Optimus G (see our full review here). I’m not talking about any sort of slipperiness in an ephemeral sense – I mean the plastic and glass that makes up the bulk of the device is literally slick. As it turns out here with the LG Nexus 4 though, any little bit of grip friendliness lost is more than made up for by the fabulously well-crafted curved edges of the front-facing panel.

Both the front and back panels on this device are made of Corning Gorilla Glass 2, the newest in undeniably tough glass action from the biggest name in reinforced glass panels for mobile devices today. Under the back panel you’ll find the same Crystal Reflection pattern that the LG Optimus G has, many different squares of reflective material creating an ever-changing pattern of light and dark. The name “NEXUS” sits on the back in big clear letters so you know what you’re using, too.

The display on this device is a lovely 768 x 1280 pixels across 4.7-inches of IPS PLUS LCD. That’s 320 PPI, just above Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus at 316 PPI (PenTile* in that case), and the Nexus S which was all the way back at 235 PPI. For comparison purposes: the iPhone 5 (and 4/4S) sit at 326 PPI and the highest sharpness on the market today exists on the HTC DROID DNA at a massive 440 PPI (across 5-inches of display, no less).

*See more on Samsung’s PenTile choices here: “PenTile keeps you happy for Longer” – as spoken by Philip Berne for Samsung (Philip is also a columnist for SlashGear, mind you.)

The Nexus 4′s display is as bright, sharp, and vibrant as your eyes can handle – so says DisplayMate. Touch sensitivity on this display has been nothing less than top-notch, and viewing angles are essentially perfect. This device works with an RGB subpixel arrangement rather than the PenTile we’ve seen on several recent device including the Galaxy Nexus. LG’s choice here means that that any pixelation you might have noticed in the Galaxy Nexus is gone here and the display experience is easily one of the best you’ll find on any smartphone or tablet out today.

This device also works with not just wireless mirroring in the near future with Miracast, but SlimPort as well. With SlimPort accessories you’ll be able to mirror your display via full-sized HDMI while your device charges at the same time – quite similar to what the HDMI converter accessories for MHL-compatible devices do. Here though you’ve got compatibility with HDMI, VGA, DVI, and DisplayPort too – though just the HDMI accessory exists at the moment.

Also note that the Miracast standard wireless technology exists on several devices at the moment, also including the Samsung Galaxy S III. You wont find so much as a peep from this technology in the Nexus 4 at the moment, though – we must assume that it’ll show itself once more accessories working with the Miracast standard hit the market. It is strange that Google would market the device as having said abilities without them being utilized right out of the box – isn’t it? Have a peek at a column by the name of Miracast Accessories: don’t jump in head first just yet for more information on the future of this technology – the imminent future, that is.

Camera

The camera is a vast improvement over the Samsung Galaxy Nexus’ clunky 5-megapixel shooter, and not just because you’ve got a few more megapixels to toss around here. It would appear that LG, Qualcomm, and Google have come together to create a camera experience here that’s sharp and clear. It’s not perfect, and we’re not quite ready to say it beats out the Samsung Galaxy S III, Nokia Lumia 920, or iPhone 5, but it’s certainly a contender.

The panorama mode as well as Photo Sphere create images that are impressive to behold, but again, are not perfect. While the stitching of images together to create a whole are rarely done without error, the final product is almost always worth keeping. Have a peek at a couple of Photo Spheres in action in the following: [Mall Parking Lot], [Gas Station], [Arcade] – each are posted to Google+ in full-on exploration mode so you can see them in their natural state. Google cross-promotes their social network and the software here as Android 4.2 Jelly Bean+ will bring on this Sphere ability to all devices that run with it from that point onward – fun stuff!

Initial Cost and Data Plans

Once again, let’s not forget that you literally get the same device from T-Mobile that you’d get from Google here, packaging and all. That said, the off-contract price for the T-Mobile-sold Nexus 4 is up at $499, that being approximately $150 more than the off-contract model you can buy from Google Play. Considering the fact that the Google Play online store is completely sold out of the device right now, with a 4 week wait (for some) before device delivery, you might want to drop that $150 to get it sooner.

The device is available from T-Mobile attached to a 2-year contract for $199.99 (this being that $150 less than the Google Play $349.99 price), which you might as well go for if you’re planning on working with T-Mobile one way or another. T-Mobile has a large collection of monthly plans for data, text, and talk, with the largest being a lovely $124.99 per month for unlimited action for all services with 10GB of data working at full speed (with throttling after that). This plan also includes hotspot abilities so you can share data from your smartphone to your other devices as well as 10GB of cloud storage.

Though T-Mobile does have several unlimited data plans, its worth mentioning that you will be “throttled” after the specified amount of data is used each month. Throttling data speed means you’ve got significantly slower data delivery than, in this case, T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network normally delivers. You’ve also got a $79.99 per month plan that includes unlimited data, text, and talk, this time with 2GB of high-speed data before throttling.

Wrap-up

The LG Nexus 4 is just as awesome a Nexus device as any that’ve come before it. Google continues to bring forth stronger and stronger devices, amalgamations of power here in addition to standardization for developers. With this generation comes one of the most powerful processors on the planet along with one of the strongest cameras on the market and a rather top-tier experience for not just the expert Android user, but the average smartphone lover as well.

The only thing you’ll want to keep your eye on is the fact that this device does not work with 4G LTE – if you need data speed in a mobile way, this isn’t your best bet – not yet, anyway. If you’re in the shade of the great wi-fi gods on the regular: no worries. Outside of data speed, this is easily one of the most fabulous smartphones on the market today.

While “Optimus G2″ may not be the device’s official name, it’s been reported that the phone is already being worked on, and will include some pretty impressive specs which would make it the company’s next flagship phone to take on the Samsung Galaxy S IV, which is rumored to be released sometime in February, or possibly even March of 2013.

With HTC’s 5-inch 1080p DROID DNA out of the way, competitors are now trying to match it with 1080p smartphones of their own. The Galaxy S IV is rumored to have one, as well as the Optimus G2. On top of that, the G2 could come packing with a 2.0GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM or more, and a high-MP camera (possibly larger than 8MP). If reports are true, LG may take the spotlight away from Samsung.

LG has never been considered a top contender in the smartphone market, but they have recently been throwing themselves into the ring several times, and it seems to be working. Releases like the Nexus 4 and the Optimus G are shedding a positive light on the company, and many users may soon look to LG for a powerhouse handset.

[via Android Community]

“In order to provide the best possible specification for Nexus 4, LG utilised the same powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset as can be found in its 4G LTE product, namely LG Optimus G,” a spokesperson said of the modem’s presence. ”This powerful chipset is only available with a combined processor and modem and cannot be implemented separately.”

Even with the modem in place, that’s not enough to ensure 4G support even if the drivers from the Optimus G were ported to the Android 4.2 handset. The Nexus 4 is missing vital hardware to actually take advantage of that modem.

“The modem contains 4G LTE capabilities but is only effective when combined with other essential hardware parts such as a signal amplifier and filter in order for it to work” the LG spokesperson explained. “It therefore cannot be upgraded to 4G LTE capability through software.”

LG’s comments are at odds with discoveries made by Android modders earlier in the month, however, who discovered that Canadian LTE support could apparently be enabled with a relatively straightforward hack.

The decision to leave out official 4G support in the Nexus 4 met with disappointment from many, though Google has its reasons for the omission. In addition to making the phone cheaper – important, since Google is placing an emphasis on unlocked, SIM-free sales – it also bypasses the carrier collaboration required to test and certify LTE devices on the newer breed of 4G networks.

It also avoids the headaches of supporting the various LTE bands in operation around the world; so far, there’s no one single LTE modem that can play nicely with all of the 4G networks currently deployed. As Apple has discovered with its multiple versions of the iPhone 5, currently the only feasible option for a manufacturer is to offer several variants of a device, each catering to a handful of the 4G frequencies in use.

Given the last-gen Galaxy Nexus was offered in 4G form on Verizon, however, there’s still the expectation – so far unconfirmed by Google itself – that an LTE Nexus 4 will be offered at some point in the smartphone’s life cycle. So far, though, despite the frustration of the 4G-addicted, out-of-control demand for the Nexus 4 means that even with only 3G onboard, the handset has been a sales success for Google.

Of course there’s always the international flavor of the HTC One X with the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor under the hood, but that device trades its motor in for a dual-core Snapdragon when it comes over the sea to AT&T. So here it is: the Galaxy Note II, with what may very well be the most powerful set of innards in a smartphone in the USA. This is the Galaxy Note II working with the game Asphalt 7: Heat.

You’ll see not just relatively swift loading times here, but undeniably fluid and lag-free transitions as well as gameplay throughout the race. This game is a racing game primarily, but also has many quick transitions between live-action gaming and cut-scenes as you crash into walls or crush your opponents into those walls to advance. The Samsung Galaxy Note II makes sure there’s no waiting to matter what you’re getting into.

We’ve got a full review of the Samsung Galaxy Note II as it appears here in the USA as well as a review of the Samsung Galaxy Note II international edition. They’re both essentially the same, as it were, with different apps and some different features included on each different iteration. The benchmark results we’ve been seeing with this device, again regardless of carrier, have been suitably impressive as well: it’s only competition has been the LG Optimus G (see our full review here) – but of course that device has a smaller display, too.

Judge for yourself with a bonus video of the LG Optimus G playing Asphalt 7: Heat as well! It’s a fight! Notice that all of the swiftness remains just as hot here with only slight variations in how each processor and machine run by said processor handles the load. You’ll have both options available to you very, very soon at AT&T, as it were – can’t wait!

We heard that there could be as many as 24 different iPad Mini models when Apple finally gets around to revealing the device, and we got to see the insides of the new iPod Nano thanks a teardown from iFixit. Excited for the Padfone 2? If you are, you’ll be pleased to know that its tablet dock can stand up to some abuse. We found out that Intel’s Q3 profits were negatively influenced by slowing demand for PCs, and heard that the average screen size is on the rise for all types of devices except for “mobile PCs.”

A mysterious Texas Instruments-made chip was found lurking inside Apple’s Lightning cable today, and Verizon is catching some heat for monitoring user activity. PlayMG revealed a dedicated Android gaming device called the MG, and AVADirect put a number of Windows 8 PCs up for pre-order today. We heard that T-Mobile might be getting the iPhone 5 early next year, and were told that LTE customers in the US pay 10 times more than LTE customers in Sweden. If you’re a hardcore gamer, you might be pleased to find out that the rechargeable battery in the Wii U Pro controller could potentially last up to 80 hours on a single charge, and you also might want to check out this snazzy Black Ops II launch trailer.

Bethesda might be working on a new piece of Skyrim DLC called Dragonborn, and controversial company Foxconn admitted to hiring underage workers today. The Xbox 360 was given a new dashboard update, Beats Audio unveiled a new portable speaker that has been aptly named “The Pill,” and Boxee announced a new service called Boxee TV. Finally tonight, we have a review of the LG Optimus G and the Motorola DROID RAZR HD, both by Chris Burns, and Vincent Nguyen talks with Microsoft to get the inside scoop on what makes the Surface such a game-changer. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night!

Hardware

The LG Optimus G’s display resolution of 768 x 1280 pixels across 4.7-inches of real-estate rings in at 317.6 PPI, right between the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the iPhone 5 for pixel density. The iPhone 5 (also the 4/4S, being that they’re all the same) works with 326 PPI, and the Galaxy Nexus is literally the next densest display-toting smartphone in the world on the grand chart of them all at 316 PPI. The Samsung Galaxy S III, just so you know, has a screen density of 306 PPI, while the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha has the densest display of them all with 355 PPI, (this followed closely by the HTC Rezound with 342 PPI.

But enough of that display hubub – what we really want to know is if LG can back it up with power to make it blast forth! Of course it can, in this case, with Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor under the hood. With this beast of a system-on-chip rolling out at a clock speed of 1.5Ghz with 2GB of RAM to devour and the Adreno 320 graphics core, you’ll not be left wanting. This device allows the shutting off of two cores if you like – if you only need two cores for normal everyday action, that is – this allowing you to save a whole heck of a lot of power if you’re just an average power-consuming citizen.

You’ll find that this device is slightly larger than your hand unless you’re a giant. In combination with the glossy front, back, and sides – that are also rounded – you might be dropping this beast more than once before you even turn it on. Beyond that, it’s a gorgeous model of an LG, that’s for sure. There’s a notification light that rings around the power button, the cover that sits above your microSD and SIM card slots is held more securely than we’ve ever seen on a smartphone before, that the back panel is a collection of multi-faceted gems under a panel of polycarbonate (LG calls this “Crystal Reflection”). And it all looks nice, very nice.

You’ll be working with 16GB of internal storage with 16GB additional via your microSD card slot (with a 16GB card in it right out of the box). This slot is able to work with a card that’s up to 64GB large, so go big! You’ve also got NFC, BLuetooth 4.0, and a microUSB port on the bottom center that also doubles as MHL for HDMI if you’ve got the right adapter – through it you’ll be able to play 1080p video like a charm. The single speaker appears at first to be the same delivery as in past devices with the tiniest of slits revealing its energy, but here we’ve got rather loud delivery and balanced sounds on the whole.

You’ll be working with an 8 megapixel camera that’s capable of collecting 1080p HD video on the back while you’re front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera is fairly standard, made best for working with video chat. The battery inside is a lovely 2100mAh and is non-removable. The entire back of the device is non-removable as well, the only access you’ll be given being the door with the cards previously mentioned. This device feels and looks extremely solid and high-quality, top to bottom.

Software

This device comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with LG’s newest and most high-quality user interface over the top. As LG likes to say, it’s more of an integration and pairing with Android’s system than it is an overlay as many devices have had in the past – regardless of manufacturer. Here LG presents a rather unique look at the abilities of Android 4.0 with customization, organization re-arranging, and features that Google hasn’t yet moved to their core system- but you wont be surprised when they do in the future.

The apps that come with this device are abundant, and as AT&T is want to do, you’ve got every single angle on the carrier tip. Telenav-powered AT&T Navigator, AT&T Locker (cloud storage), and AT&T Messages are all welcome additions – they all work extremely well and make me glad to be using an AT&T device specifically. LG also adds a collection of their unique apps and features that’ve been appearing on devices of all kinds over the past few months. One example is QuickMemo, allowing you to take a note on a blank page or a screenshot, this app revealed in all its glory back on the LG Optimus Vu (as reviewed by SlashGear as the Verizon-carried 4G LTE LG Intuition).

The app known as LG Tag+ makes full use of this device’s NFC capabilities with instantly-working profiles based on how each of your NFC stickers (sold separately) have been programmed. We’ve got a tag here programmed for “Office” mode which means we’re on wi-fi and want our mobile network shut off so we’re not using up precious data. You can see this ability working in this first hands-on video below – along with a lot of user interface excellence as well.

Another app is Video Wiz, this being the first time we’ve seen it working like a charm – it’s a rather strange (yet appealing) montage-making app that shows not only how silly the mobile universe has become, but how awesome the video-processing powers of this phone are. Watch the video below to see this as well as a feature called QSlide – here allowing you to watch a video in varying levels of transparency while you do other tasks. It only works for videos that are actually on your device, and has us completely baffled on why it exists at all – if someone can explain why someone would want to have a half-transparency video playing while they do any other task, please let us know.

Of course there is one obvious reason, as it was with the video editing app: QSlide might be best at showing the power of the processor in this device. You’ll also see this power existing in a variety of HD games we’ve got on tap right this minute. Start your gaming journey off right with a bit of the ol’ Asphalt 7 from Gameloft:

Next have a bit more car-on-car action entertainment with Indestructible from glu – it’s all the destroying of automotive with more guns than you’ve ever seen in a racing game before! This would be because it’s not a racing game at all, but a destruction derby with death wishes and wishes for murder ready for hours of fun. And it’s got a collection of rather-smart bots running around in it that not just any processor would be able to handle.

The final game you’ll see here is Wild Blood. This is another game from Gameloft, this time working with the Unreal engine for massive graphics power from top to bottom. Notice the hefty sword wielding and screen utilization – and all the killing of the monsters, to boot!

Benchmarks

This device destroys the competition almost without fail. Qualcomm brought on their Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor earlier this year and it very much appeared to have NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor on the ropes (see the HTC One X AT&T review to see that match-up). Now we’ve got four cores from the same company and they’re burying the rest of the processor architecture left and right. Have a peek at a few examples here.

And of course pay attention to the hands-on videos most of all throughout this review to get a real example of the true power this device has. Benchmarks can say a lot, but it’s the real working and playing that you’ll want to know the most.

Camera

The camera on this device has been changed ever so slightly coming over the sea, with our first look at this smartphone being in its international edition with 13 megapixels backing it up. There is another iteration of this device on a different carrier here in the USA with the same (or a rather similar) 13 megapixel camera as the original, but from what we’ve seen, this 8 megapixel camera is the winner across the board.

Ever so slightly truer colors in low-light and what appears to be a bit more ease in executing a final product – the 13 megapixel camera, needless to say, should not be your deciding factor when deciding between iterations here (data speed should be). The camera here is not perfect on the AT&T version of the device, but it certainly benefits from Qualcomm’s dedicated image processing power in the Snapdragon S4 Pro inside, and you will be able to knock out quality shots along the same lines as your favorite smartphones on the market today.

If you’re looking for the nicest smartphone camera on the market, this isn’t it (it’s the Nokia PureView 808) but you will not be let down if you’re willing to take the time to get the hang of it. For you camera addicts out there heading to AT&T specifically: try this device, the iPhone 5, and the HTC One X+ (or the X if the X+ isn’t out when you get there) to decide between the best. There’s also the Nokia Lumia 920 which we’ve not yet gotten to test – we shall see soon for the final Autumn battle.

Have a peek at a few different sorts of shots here in this section and in the final gallery below as well. There are a vast number of effects and shooting modes you can use, filters, panorama, non-stop shot, and a special feature shooting mode that takes photos “before” you take your final shot – that’s called “Time catch shot” and the only time it’ll come in handy is if you’re standing still and you want to capture the precise moment at which your child is smiling perfectly. Have a peek at this cat example first, then see some standard shots right after, along with some video as well.

Battery

With a quad-core processor and 4G LTE running with an ultra-bright IPS+ LCD display up front, it’s not difficult to see how this device’s 2100mAh battery would have trouble keeping up with day-to-day activities. If you’re worried about how quickly you’ll drain your battery, you can worry yourself right into a less-than-a-few-hours complete drain situation – stream some video, play with some benchmarks, and keep that display at full blast.

If however you’re thinking about conserving your battery, you’ve got several options. This device comes with an Eco mode that’s rather expansive in its options for how your phone will react to you reaching a low battery level. Once you’re down to 30%, for example, you could potentially be using 2 CPU cores instead of 4, your display brightness could be at near-zero, and your app syncing could be turned off entirely. You can also, of course, set your display to automatic brightness (with an added bonus of a brightness base to start with) – all that will do you great favors right alongside Qualcomm’s power-conserving abilities inherent in the S4 Pro – you just have to be smart about it, that’s all.

Wrap-up

This device is the most well-refined package that LG has ever delivered, with a generous amount of processing power, a high-class physical feel, and a final product that finally does justice to the display power LG has been bringing on for months in past devices. This smartphone has a display that’s viewable from all angles – there’s no bad way to see it – and if you’re not against having a glossy front and back, you’ll have a great time feeling like you’ve got a piece of slightly rugged jewelry in your palm.

That’s a bit of the problem though at the same time, with LG appearing to get into a space where they know their design identity, but they’ve not quite perfected setting the device in a human hand. This smartphone is just slightly too wide for my adult male hand, which would be perfectly fine if it weren’t for the gloss across the back and up the sides of the device. With a case or with some grippy backing, this unit will feel great. You’ll certainly be willing to make that extra jump when you see how powerful the heart of this device really is.

By now, you’ve probably heard plenty of iPad Mini rumors, but today we found out that Apple may reveal a new Mac Mini alongside the bite-sized tablet. Today we saw some pictures that appear to have been snapped by the camera on the yet-unannounced Nexus 4, and Apple has managed to bring former Amazon executive William Stasior on to oversee the continuing development of Siri. Android 4.1.2 was sent out to eager Galaxy Nexus owners today, and just in case you missed Felix Baumgartner’s death-defying jump over the weekend, you can see the highlights again today – complete with terrifying shots from his helmet cam.

LG delivered its Jelly Bean update schedule for a few of its devices today, and speaking of LG, AT&T announced that the Optimus G goes up for pre-order tomorrow with a price tag of $200. We heard that Windows 8 is getting an underwhelming response from vendors today, and Nintendo dropped the price of the original Wii down to just $130 in anticipation of the holiday rush. A new study is claiming that file sharers actually buy more music than people who don’t partake in that rather controversial activity, and Microsoft released a brand new Windows 8 ad today.

Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition players found out that they’re in for a treat tomorrow, while Notch was busy showing off new footage from his upcoming game 0x10c and Microsoft was handing out Xbox Live bans to Halo 4 pirates. Activision announced today that Call of Duty Elite will be free with Black Ops II, and we were told that the Wii U gamepad boasts a latency of only 1/60 of a second. Google is in trouble in Europe over privacy concerns again, and we got to take a look at a new robotic wheelchair that can actually walk up stairs. How cool is that?

Finally tonight, we have quite a few original articles for you to have a look at. Chris Burns puts the Optimus G through its gaming paces with Wild Blood, and we pit Xbox Music, Spotify, iTunes, and Google Music against one another to see the strengths and weaknesses of all four. We’ve got a new review of the Huawei Ascend D1 quad XL by Chris Burns, and a review of the Motorola Electrify 2 by your humble wrapper-upper. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night folks!

With Wild Blood you’ll see the Snapdragon S4 Pro working to keep you on the run between cut-scenes and actual massacring of monsters in no time at all – you’ve got lovely special moves and bashing on your side as well. This game takes a bit of time to load when you first fire it up, otherwise there’s nothing to complain about in the least here on the LG Optimus G. Expect to be waiting a bit longer on devices with only a single core, and for multi-core devices you’ll still want to make sure you’re not pushing any other tasks at the same time – here with the S4 Pro we’ve got no concerns.

Next have a peek at Asphalt 7, a game that if you’re not used to dragging your tail end whilst racing you’ll have a difficult time not crashing into walls with. When you’re playing this game outside an optimized-for-gaming environment, you’ve got definite lag in graphics. Inside the LG Optimus G, everything is smooth as butter.

Finally there’s the many-independent-minds game that is Indestructible. Here we’ve got a Twisted Metal vibe going on with more little vehicles than you’re going to be able to handle. With so many bots coming at you with minds all their own, it’s only your ultra-powerful processor that’s keeping everything working so smoothly.

Stay tuned for more LG Optimus G action as we complete our review this week – the device goes on pre-order for $199 starting tomorrow with AT&T. Will you be picking one up right out of the gate? If you’ve got one whole heck of a lot of questions, be sure to let us know what you need to know in the comments section below! We’ll do our best to answer all queries!

We heard earlier this month that AT&T would be bringing over the LG Optimus G to its own network, but as with many announcements, pricing and availability were yet to be known. To say the least, we’re excited that they finally decided to give us the details that really mattered. And in just three weeks, the phone can be yours

The best part is, AT&T will begin receiving pre-orders starting tomorrow. Just visit their Optimus G page, and you’ll be able to reserve your phone as much as almost three weeks in advance. If the phone lives up to the hype, pre-orders should go pretty quickly, so you may want to stay on top of reserving your own before they end up possibly selling out.

To review, $199 will get you a 4.7-inch 1280×768 True HD IPS Plus display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, an 8MP rear camera (sorry, no 13MP version like on the global model), 2GB of RAM, and dual-band AT&T 4G LTE. For just a dollar under $200, this doesn’t sound like a bad deal. Be sure to hit up our hands-on to learn more about the phone.

In addition to the Optimus G, the Optimus LTE II will also be getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean inside December 2012. The Optimus Vu and Optimus Vu II will be grabbing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean inside the first quarter of 2013. These devices have been on the market only a very short while, with the first Vu being here in the USA as the LG Intuition on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

The Jelly Bean upgrade will more than likely hit each of the devices that have been mentioned here in due time inside the USA. It doesn’t mean they’ll be here soon, and it’s not a definite guarantee just because the international version of the phones we’re seeing here have it, but it’s certainly a good sign. WIth the Optimus G right around the corner here in the USA we’re more than pumped up that it’s nearly ready for an upgrade right out of the gate!

Stay tuned for more LG Optimus G news from us very, very soon here on SlashGear, reviews are also right around the corner. Be sure to let us know if you’ve got any questions or concerns about the device so we can give you as full a review as you could possibly desire!

[via Android Community]

Dell is getting in early on the Windows 8 action, opening up pre-orders for a handful of new machines today, and we learned that a staggering 6 billion people around the world are now using a mobile phone of some type. A leaked T-Mobile release roadmap gives us an idea of when the carrier expects to receive a bunch of different devices, including the Windows Phone 8X. We received a rather in-depth look at an LG Nexus prototype today, and LG delivered a brand new Optimus G “product movie” that aims to get us familiar with the new handset’s features. Netflix released a Windows 8-compatible version of its app today, just ahead of the launch of the OS.

Google could be headed for an antitrust case from the FTC, and it seems that the Apple Maps controversy hasn’t done much to damage consumer enthusiasm for the iPhone 5. Speaking of the iPhone 5, Apple’s latest mobile offering has managed to overtake the Samsung Galaxy S III in web traffic despite being available for a much shorter amount of time, and Google is getting the Play Store ready for the holiday rush. SoftBank is looking to secure $23 billion to buy a majority stake in Sprint, and industry insiders are claiming that the long-rumored iPad Mini will be revealed on October 23 – just a couple weeks from now.

Star Citizen has already managed to raise an absurd $500,000 in funding, while Borderlands 2 was seen outshining its predecessor in a pretty significant way. We learned that the games industry is still on the decline, and ASUS unveiled a brand new Windows 8 VivoBook today. Amazon is now posting a disclaimer about the Kindle Paperwhite’s backlighting, YouTube is rethinking the way it ranks videos for search results, and Anonymous has cut ties with Wikileaks after the website started restricting access and asking visitors for donations.

Finally tonight, we have an unboxing and hands-on with the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD for you to check out, and Chris Burns tells us why every little piece of Apple news seems to matter so much these days. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, here’s hoping that this weekend is a good one!

The video is fairly odd in a way, and features dancing, archery, and weird hand-waving. However, it all has a purpose, and that’s to show off the LG Optimus G in an artsy kind of way that viewers might enjoy. The “movie” is four minutes long, and is split up into different advertisement spots of various lengths.

The device itself doesn’t get a lot of camera time, so we’re mostly succumbed to the interpretive dancing and the shirtless, muscular archers. However, throughout the video LG gives us a quick briefing of all the features coming to the new device narrated by wavy hand gestures that would put a magician to shame.

The LG Optimus G will come packing with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. The display is a 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ screen that offers a 1280×768 WXGA resolution. We certainly wouldn’t mind one of these devices in our hands, and you can check out the device more by checking out our hands on.

With an international release date of the 29th being tipped here, we must assume that Google will have the device for sale up on its Google Play web store rather quickly afterward with world phone capabilities. Here in the USA we’re expecting at least a device capable of working with AT&T and T-Mobile bands. If the past is any indication, this LG smartphone will also be sent to Verizon with 4G LTE in addition to AT&T’s 4G LTE network early on.

This LG device has been tipped as being based on the LG Optimus G, a quad-core processor-toting smartphone introduced rather recently internationally as well. The LG Optimus G is also coming to AT&T here in the United States as well as Sprint, the former getting an iteration with an 8 megapixel camera and the latter grabbing the 13 megapixel version of the device. Here with the LG Nexus 4 we’re expecting another 8 megapixel shooter simply based on the alleged leaked photos of the device and its thinness compared to the 13 megapixel toting Optimus G.

The All Things D conference Dive Into Mobile will be hosting Andy Rubin at the end of this month, this very possibly being the location at which the LG Nexus device will be revealed. If this is true, Google may have made an extraordinary effort with LG to not only keep this device a secret, but to release it at the same time as announcing it as well. This is relatively unprecedented in the Google/Android univer.

[via Android Community]

Specifically, the Optimus Nexus is said to come in 8GB and 16GB flavors, but there will not be a microSD card slot anywhere on the phone, nor will there be a removable battery. This definitely comes at surprised to us since it’s almost a standard that all Android devices come with a microSD slot and a removable battery nowadays — two features that are huge selling points for Android. However, we might see wireless charging capabilities in the Optimus Nexus, so not all is lost.

We already know the Optimus Nexus will be based on LG’s Optimus G that we heard about a few weeks ago. The upcoming Nexus device is said to have most of the same specs as the Optimus G, including a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and an 8MP rear camera, all packed in tightly under a 4.7-inch 1280×768 True-HD IPS display.

The Optimus Nexus is said to hit the market mid-November. The Optimus G is already confirmed for AT&T, no price or availability details were disclosed, but if rumors are true, we should be seeing it sometime next month. Hopefully we’ll see the next Nexus device by then as well.

[via MoDaCo]

Inside you’ll find 32GB of internal storage expandable up to 80GB with a microSD card slot that’ll allow up to a 48GB card – you’ll have to buy that separately, of course. This device is slightly different from the international version of the device in that it’s not working with the 13 megapixel camera on the back, here bringing an 8 megapixel shooter to the show. This camera does bring on some features that LG is still very proud of, of course, those including:

• Zero shutter lag
• Live Shot, to capture simultaneous video and still images
• Time Catch Shot, which takes the perfect shot even if the shutter was pressed at the wrong time.

This device has a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display with Live Zooming. You’ll be able to zoom in up to give times while a video is being streamed – strange stuff, for certain. This device also has Dual Screen Dual Play for content sharing with other electronic devices like televisions while you continue to use your device however you like. It’s also got QSlide which allows you to text or browse the internet while you continue to watch a video – split it up!

You’ve got a 2100 mAh battery inside for extra-long battery life, this enhanced by the Snapdragon S4′s battery conservation powers, mind you, too. You’ll also be working with QuickMemo as it was with the LG Optimus Vu, this bringing on your ability to draw on screenshots you’ve just taken. These screenshots can instantly be shared as an attachment or as its own uniquely hosted URL-based image.

Again this device is not yet priced or dated on AT&T’s 4G LTE network – stay tuned for final details as they arrive! Also BONUS: Check our hands-on with the international version of this device, and make sure you NOTE that this is slightly different from the AT&T release we’re speaking of above.

Usually we’re not impressed by software tweaks to Android, but some of LG’s modifications do make some sense. The smart zooming – where you can pinch in and out of gallery grids, album art, and other lists, and the display automatically snaps to fit properly – is clean and useful, and while there’s no digital stylus, the quick-note feature to annotate screenshots could be useful.

LG’s approach to multitasking during video playback – adjustable fading to see two screens at the same time – is a different one to Samsung’s Pop Out Play video, which floats a small video window on top of the rest of the interface. Neither system exactly turns their respective phones into a true multitasking option, but it does mean you can keep up an IM conversation on the Optimus G without having to keep pausing video playback.

If you’d like our take on the LG Optimus G, check out our full hands-on for all the details. There’s more – including launch plans – in the timeline below.

Samsung today denied rumors that its Galaxy S IV will be launching in February 2013, and we found out that the LG Optimus G will be launching in the US by November. Speaking of the Optimus G, we went hands-on with its QSlide picture-in-picture feature today, and the iPad Mini was spotted in some leaked images today, suggesting that a launch may be coming up soon. Motorola announced the new RAZR i today, and we were right there to go hands-on with it, so be sure to have a look at that.

Apple’s new EarPods were the subject of a new iFixit teardown today, and the sales ban on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will stay in place for the time being, despite Samsung’s requests to have it lifted. AT&T has some new net neutrality worries today over its 3G FaceTime restrictions, and Twitter got a pretty big UI update on iPad today as well. Even though Nintendo won’t be offering standalone Wii U GamePads at launch, it assured prospective buyers that they can get replacements if their GamePad breaks (for a fee, naturally).

With iPhone 5 hype as high as its ever been, Apple’s stock price rose above $700 for the first time today, and McLaren unveiled its ultra-sleek P1 Supercar (if you buy one, can we take a ride?). ioSafe needs your help bringing its N2 fire and waterproof NAS to market, while RIM and Microsoft shook on a licensing deal that will give RIM access to Microsoft’s exFAT system. ZTE started teasing a new Windows Phone 8 handset and a Windows 8/Windows RT tablet in a rather strange way today, and 20th Century Fox struck a deal that will see 600 of its movies up on the Google Play Store. Finally tonight, we have a couple of interesting space and science stories for you: scientists are saying that warp drive may not be as unrealistic as it once seemed, and the Dark Energy Camera has returned its first images of deep space – prepare yourself, because they are amazing.

That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up! Enjoy the rest of your night, folks!

According to folks on the ground we’re hearing it should be traveling across the waters and arriving for the US market sometime in November. Details of the phone were originally announced last month, then fully detailed yesterday as we enjoyed some hands-on with the smartphone. While the folks from LG are stating a November US launch we’ve heard a few different stories. For now take a peek at the Korean model being unboxed:

According to Qualcomm, who confirmed the quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro was powering this new smartphone earlier this month, it will actually hit Korea in September and then arrive for the US in October. Maybe they know something others don’t. Secondly, this device has leaked more than a few times for those in the US on AT&T.

The recent rumors are calling the 4.7-inch quad-core 4G LTE Optimus G the LG Eclipse 4G LTE for AT&T. It will feature the same massive True HD IPS+ (768×1280) display, 2GB of RAM, 13 megapixel camera, 4G LTE, and a decently sized 2,100 mAh battery. The smartphone is currently running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich but hopefully by the time it makes it stateside we’ll see an update to Jelly Bean. If it indeed is coming as the Eclipse 4G LTE for AT&T we should be seeing and hearing more soon. Hit the links below for full details.

We’ve recently seen this feature from the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S III and their new Note II, but this time around the show is all about LG. Instead of just offering picture-in-picture they have a complete dual-screen simultaneous mode. This will allow you to not just view a movie while browsing the web — but send a text message while viewing an email, or write an email while enjoying some YouTube videos. Here’s the explanation from LG themselves”

QSlide Function shows two different screens simultaneously on one display. As it doesn’t show a part of the screen but the entire screen of both functions, the user can complete two tasks concurrently – such as sending a text message or searching the web while watching a video

What they want to get across here is you don’t get a watered down floating window of the second app. With their implementation you have the entire screen and full functionality of both apps — simultaneously. Essentially one (or both) are slightly transparent allowing you to see both at once. This is true multitasking and just one of many features LG’s brought to the table with their “groundbreaking” new features. Take a peek below.

Pretty neat right? How useful or effective in daily usage remains unknown but we like the different approach. Some of their other new features include Live Zooming for up to 5x zoom in video playback and record, QuickMemo to jot down a note or info right on the display and add to a text or email, and even the option to edit icons to your own personal preference for size. You’ll surely want to check out our LG Optimus G hands-on, then stay tuned for a full review coming soon. Are you impressed with this 4.7-inch quad-core powered Android smartphone?

Since the LG Optimus G is the newest to join the pack lets take a loot at its specs first. LG’s calling this smartphone their new flagship device full of “groundbreaking features.” They’ve improved their display technology that brings the TrueHD IPS+ 1280 x 768 resolution 4.7-inch display closer to the glass for an in your face vivid and colorful experience, and added Qualcomm’s latest and greatest 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro for absolute power. This is the first device powered by Qualcomm’s new S4 Pro “krait” processor and we have high hopes for it considering how well it performed on the developer tablet.

LG’s tossed in 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a massive 13 megapixel camera on the rear for what they’re claiming will be the best smartphone camera in the world. Just reading off that initial spec list this smartphone is clearly near the top spot. On the back is a unique battery cover with LG’s own patented Crystal Reflection process, which gives a 3D illusion that makes it a beauty to hold — according to LG. This covers the 2,100 mAh battery under the hood that will be powering Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

So how does this fair against the competition? Pretty darn good. Nothing can compete with this except for the Samsung Galaxy S III and maybe, just maybe the HTC One X. The original dual-core S4 processor held its own against the Tegra 3-touting HTC One X and it’s 4.7-inch SLCD display — so it’s safe to say this quad-core version should outpace the One X in all areas. Add in the thinner design, larger battery, and better camera on the Optimus G there really isn’t a need for discussion.

So that leaves us with the Galaxy S III, the current flagship and talk of the Android atmosphere — if you don’t count the Galaxy Note II. This is where things get a little interesting because the Galaxy S III competes with or beats the Optimus G in all hardware areas except the camera. Samsung’s flagship phone rocks their own in-house Exynos 4 Quad 1.4 GHz processor that performs extremely well, while their US Galaxy S III is powered by Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4. The Optimus G has that same Snapdragon S4 only its been doubled and is the quad-core Pro version. This makes for truly a one-of-a-kind smartphone with unparalleled power.

The Galaxy S III has a slightly larger 4.8-inch (1280x720p) resolution display while LG’s is 4.7-inches and offers a slightly higher pixel density coming in at 1280×768. Samsung’s AMOLED tech has always looked great but so does LG’s IPS+ displays with stunning viewing angles and deep, rich colors. It’s tough to really say what is best or will continue to be the best at the moment especially with Samsung already having a clear lead in the market with 20 million sales strong. Until we get more time with the all new LG Optimus G we’ll have to leave it to you guys to decide and debate.

Do you own the Galaxy S III or HTC One X, or have you been waiting for the next level of smartphones to arrive — like the LG Optimus G?

It’s hard to fault the hardware, certainly. The 4.7-inch True HD IPS+ display, offering 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution, is bright, vividly colorful, and contrast-rich, a solid alternative to Super AMOLED Plus. The in-cell touchscreen technology leaves graphics floating right beneath your fingertip, and the whole thing is responsive and swift. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro helps here; LG may not have its own chipset, but the new 1.5GHz processor at the heart of the Optimus G is a hugely capable one. LG has sensibly paired it with 2GB of RAM and at least 32GB of storage.

There are a few obvious blots on the scoresheet, however. Ice Cream Sandwich is better than Gingerbread, certainly, but it’s not Android 4.1 Jelly Bean; the absence of the latest OS is unlikely to pacify those who have been stung by late or entirely absent software upgrades on previous LG phones. At least it runs with no real noticeable lag on the S4 Pro, though it does miss out on Google’s latest Project Butter improvements to UI performance.

It’s hard not to be a least a little impressed by the overall Optimus G package, though. It’s a handsome phone, and while the shifting, refracting rear glass effect may not be to everyone’s taste, it’s certainly leagues ahead of the dull black plastic of some earlier high-end LG devices. It certainly raises the bar for future PRADA collaborations, with the designer phone now feeling somewhat fussy in comparison.

In the hand, it’s surprisingly compact given the size of the display. LG has managed to edge ahead of the Galaxy S III in terms of thickness, coming in at 8.45mm versus the Samsung’s 8.6mm, but more usefully it’s a slightly narrower, shorter device, which makes for something more comfortable to hold and easier to fit into a pocket. The Optimus G feels solid, too, and flex-free despite the slimline profile.

LG still has plenty to prove with the Optimus G, and it won’t be able to do all that on launch day. Delivering consistent software improvements is an integral part of the Android experience now, and LG needs to prove that it can deliver on that rather than leave its new flagship behind. We’ll have more on the LG Optimus G in our full review.

Unboxing Optimus G – Korean Version

Optimus G demo by Dr. Nho

This brand new smartphone works with a 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS+ display at 1280 x 768 pixel resolution with a 15:9 aspect ratio. Inside you’ll find 2GB DDR RAM, internal memory at 32GB, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich running the whole beast. The back of this device has a 13 megapixel camera on its back and a 1.3 megapixel camera on the front, and inside you’ve also got Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, USB2.0 HS, A-GPS, MHL, DLNA, and NFC wireless connectivity abilities.

This device works with a 2,100 mAh battery and is 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm in size, 145g in weight. The display works with Zerogap Touch and True HD IPS+ Display from LG Innotek and LG Display, this bringing on a picture that’s right up there as close to the surface of the glass as you’ve ever seen it. On the back is a unique panel made with LG’s own patented Crystal Reflection process, this bringing on an intricate polarized pattern under its surface. With this physical build you’ve got a three-dimensional illusion that is, as LG notes, “exquisitely reminiscent of a jewel.”

Inside you’ve got a collection of features that also recently appears on the LG Intuition (see our full review here) in both the camera and the user interface. You’ve got Time Catch Shot allowing you to choose whichever shot you like best out of a series, Cheese Shutter activated by you saying the word “cheese” out loud, Smart Shutter with automatic adjustment of shutter speed based on movement, and Low Light Shot Noise Reduction as well. And of course the camera on the back of this device is massive at 13 megapixels – we’ll see how fabulous it is when we get our hands on it soon!

This device will also be working with Cross-Tasking, a new term from LG that covers all the different ways in which the LG Optimus G will be able to work with multiple complex tasks at once with no compromise on one another’s ability to work at top quality. This environment currently supports the following abilities:

· QSlide Function shows two different screens simultaneously on one display. As it doesn’t show a part of the screen but the entire screen of both functions, the user can complete two tasks concurrently – such as sending a text message or searching the web while watching a video;

· Live Zooming enhances the video-watching experience as users can zoom in up to five times while the video is being streamed for a close-up of one’s child while watching a recorded video from a school recital;

· Dual Screen Dual Play not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen wirelessly. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes;

· QuickMemo allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo with their finger directly on the captured screen for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL. The QuickMemo can also be used as an overlay feature – like jotting down a number using the QuickMemo and directly dialing the number while the number is on the top layer;

· Screen Zooming allows for the zooming in and out of lists in music player, email, text messages and photo gallery. It also offers the ability to change the font size and screen layout;

· Application Link launches preset applications (Email, calendar, weather, etc) when the alarm is turned off – making your preparation time in the morning go a little faster with all the information prepared on your screen;

· Icon Personalizer allows users the ability to customize icons by editing size and adding images so the most frequently used apps can be most easily accessible.

As Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG notes, “The Optimus G is a groundbreaking premium device not only in the history of LG but also in the smartphone industry – With the Optimus G, users will be able to experience unsurpassed UX features that will allow them to perform tasks that really enhance their daily lives.”

This device will be appearing in stores soon – starting in Korea next week with an October release in “key global markets” – the USA we hope! Stick around our LG tag portal for more as the Optimus G gets closer and closer!