The LG Optimus Vu 2 is LGs newest creation, released last year in South Korea, where its headquarters is based. It has a very wide touchscreen, and allows users to swipe and tap as though their phone was a tablet. These new “phablets” are taking the cellular industry by storm.

The dimensions of the device are 132.2x 85.6x 9.4. The added girth of the phone is hidden by its sleek design, and although it may be a but wider than other phones, it maintains a modern look and appeal. It weighs a stout 159 grams and comes in black, white or pink, with colored and customizable cases also available for purchase.

The Vu 2 comes equipped with a 5 inch HD-IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 768x 1024 pixels. The screen supports multitouch and is great for games and movies, although the wide girth of the device can get some getting used to for smaller phone gamers.
The Vu 2 also has an exceptional memory bank. 16 GB of data can be stored on the phone, with a micro SD slot also available that supports up to 32 GB cards. The Vu 2 has doubled its predecessors RAM, as it comes stock with 2 GB of it. All this storage is necessary for a phablets, as it is expected to be able to download data from a multitude of sources and still function as a portable device.

The camera of the Vu 2 is an eight MP camera with basic features such as an LED flash, autofocus and image stabilization. It is video capable, and shoots at 30 frames per second, not bad for a smaller device. The quality of the video and the photos taken with an Optimus Vu 2 is crystal clear when viewed on the devices display, or when transferred to another monitor via the A/V outputs.

The Optimus Vu 2 runs on the android program v4.0.4, also called ice cream sandwich. This system is not state of the art. In fact, phones this year are being released with v4.2. This is one place where LG could have done better. More advanced software systems were available when they were developing the device, but LG opted for this rudimentary software. This is one area that leaves consumers wanting when it comes to the Vu 2.

The CPU and GPU are both up to date, as the Vu 2 is fitted with a dual-core 1.5 GHz krait and an Adreno 225. The battery is a non removable lithium ion battery and has 400 hours of stand by power available, just over 8 hours when the phone is being used.
Some of the neat features that the Optimus Vu 2 offers are a true HD movie editing program. This program allows users to turn their home videos into projects. With a little patience and know how, a family trip to Disneyland can become an opportunity for a professional art project.

The Vu 2 also boasts standard voice controls. Do everything from make a memo to call a friend with only your voice. This feature makes the Vu 2 especially adept in the car, as no hands are needed to use it. If that weren’t enough, the Vu 2 also comes with a “one key” accessory. This waterproof accessory is meant to be used as a keychain that, when pushed, will make the Vu 2 it is linked to beep. This will alert the owner to its location in the event that it is misplaced. The Q remote is also a nice feature, which allows the Vu 2 to be used as a universal remote for televisions, DVD players, ect.

The LG Optimus Vu 2 was released in Korea for $864.00, a price that may come down in the coming months. There are reports form India that the phone is going for just over $600.00. Still, $864.00 may be a fair price to pay for such a useful and unique device. LGs smart innovation such as the Q remote and the one key accessory will undoubtedly be seen on future models.