LG Optimus F6

Targeted towards the budget market, the LG Optimus F6 offers a fairly basic smartphone experience from its design to its hardware. Measuring in at 5.04 x 2.59 x 0.4 inches at a weight of 130 grams, which is similar to other budget phones like the HTC Desire 601.

According to reviewers, the design does little to stand out from the crowd and, despite its good build quality and comfort, is easily forgettable.

The focal point of the phone is its 4.5-inch IPS display. With a resolution of 540×960, it only offers a 245ppi pixel density. Reviewers did notice some slight pixelization around icons and texts and when watching trailers, though they go on to praise the device’s color accuracy and good viewing angles. Still, Phone Arena says, “…it does not compare to even last year’s flagship devices and their HD displays.”

Running the Optimus F6 is a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Although not as fast as any flagship phones, in everyday use experts did not notice any lag when going scrolling through the home screen or when opening and using apps. However, when put through various benchmark tests, the phone scored much lower than all of the category averages and even lower than the similarly priced Hydro Edge.

The device also offers much less storage than the average smartphone at only 4GB. With the OS and added software, that is further reduced to only 1.1GB out of box, though this can be expanded thanks to a microSD slot.

The 5 megapixel camera was a mixed bag for many reviewers. In even lighting conditions, some critics noticed issues with depth of field and background accuracy. PC Mag also notes problems with focusing and overexposure. Pictures taken in low-light condition were, “basically worthless” according to Phone Arena as they turned out soft and lacked crispness.

The one area that the Optimus F6 does excel is call quality. Reviewers were pleased with the volume and voice reproduction, comparing it to an actual landline when using the earpiece. Phonescoop did notice distortion once the calls were routed to speakerphone.

While LG might have skimped out on key features to lower the price tag, reviewers still consider the Optimus F6 a solid phone for budget-minded consumers. CNET states, “Users can get themselves a great Android smartphone without breaking the bank.” Laptop Mag adds, “If you’re looking for a lightweight phone with…plenty of handy apps, the LG F6 is a solid pick.”