LG Optimus S

“There's absolutely no doubt that the Optimus T and Optimus S offer incredible value. With nice hardware, up-to-date software, and most importantly, solid performance, there's a lot to like for both first-time Android users and smartphone aficionados on a budget. T-Mobile's version seems to be the winner here, with a lower price, a better camera implementation, useful extras (FM radio and WiFi calling) and wordwide roaming, but we're also madly in love with the purple finish on Sprint's model -- so it's a tough call. No matter which one you end up picking, the Optimus T and Optimus S paint the same picture the Comet did: the days of the dumbphone and feature phone are numbered. In our book, that's a good thing.”

“There are a lot of things to like about the LG Optimus S. It's one of the cheapest Android 2.2 phones on the market, and the newer version of Android definitely makes a significant difference, as this phone easily outpaced the faster Samsung Transform, which uses the Sprint ID interface on top of Android 2.1, instead. This boost makes the entire experience better, especially downloading and switching between Sprint ID packs. I also really like the hardware design. The soft touch paint is classy, even in the regal purple hue, and I liked the phone's pocketable small size and real hardware buttons beneath the screen, instead of wonky touch controls. Call quality and network speeds were about average, though the phone did have some battery trouble, but hopefully this will be fixed in the future. In terms of features, the LG Optimus S can go toe-to-toe with some of the baddest phones around. It can handle Live Wallpaper on the homescreen. It can generate a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, for a huge monthly fee, of course. It's got all the great Android features you want, except for Adobe Flash support in the Web browser. It even takes some great pictures, with dazzling close-ups, under the right circumstances.”

“The cheapest plan you can get this phone on is $25 a month – the only thing this limits you on is how long you can talk. Text messaging and data (how much you can download, upload, browse the web) is unlimited. This is an amazing deal, if you ask me, especially if you just want an email/music box in your pocket. Pandora and email everywhere you go, unlimited for $25 a month! This is super awesome.Then there’s the reasons you wouldn’t get it: you want a bigger Android phone. That’s it. If you need a phone and want one that’ll give you data, but you don’t care how big the screen is or how powerful the games you want to play are – this is definitely the little man for you.”