LG Optimus M+

If you’re a MetroPCS customer looking for a good entry-level handset that won’t break the bank, the LG Optimus M+ is worth a look. It may have a somewhat dated processor and a smallish touchscreen display, but it’s still a pretty good Android handset overall. With the M+, you’ll get a bunch of basic hardware and software features, plus the chance to experience Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich some time in the future. Though even at its default configuration, it’s already a pretty useful device.

It comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen display, 5MP autofocus camera with flash, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Add an 800MHz processor, 512MB RAM, and 2GB of internal storage, and you’ve got yourself a capable entry-level smartphone. When it comes to battery life, it’s quite the performer, offering over 6 hours of talk time with every full charge. And while the lack of 3G on MetroPCS means that its users are effectively stuck with 2G speeds, at least it has Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity.

If and when a free upgrade to a later version of the Android software becomes available, it stands to become an even better smartphone. But since the default OS still enjoys plenty of official and third-party software support, users might as well just take the Optimus M+ as it is now and make the most of it.

Need to Know: LG Optimus M+

1. 5-megapixel autofocus camera with built-in LED flash. (The Good)

2. 6+ hours of talk time per full charge. (The Good)

3. Only a half a gigabyte of on-device RAM, which may get in the way of multi-tasking. (The Bad)

4. Stuck at 2G data speeds. (The Bad)