LG Mobile launches new Optimus smartphones

MANILA, Philippines - LG’s latest smartphone featuring glasses-free 3D technology — the Optimus 3D Max — was officially introduced in the Philippines recently.

First seen at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012, the second-generation 3D smartphone boasts an enhanced chipset and more enticing 3D entertainment features in a slimmer and lighter body.

“We are deliberately pushing the limits of mobile entertainment innovation with the Optimus 3D Max,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Co.

“This device has evolved significantly since we introduced the first Optimus 3D at MWC in 2011. Our second-generation glasses-free 3D smartphone is as thin and light as any other high-end smartphone while still delivering a spectacular picture in either 2D or 3D,” he said.

The Optimus 3D Max now includes a new 3D Converter which allows for a greater variety of 3D content as it converts 2D content from Google Earth, Google Maps and other mapping apps into 3D.

Visitors at MWC 2012 remarked about the device’s unique 3D video editor which allows the editing of 3D video on the phone in real time. The 3D Hot Key mounted on the side of the phone enables users to easily toggle between 2D and 3D.

The Optimus 3D Max includes 3D-style cubicle icons in addition to its customizable icons which can be amended by applying the users’ own photos through the Icon Customizer feature.

Additional features, which will be available through an upcoming maintenance release, include an HD Converter to offer high-resolution content to be viewed on a TV connected through MHDL (Mobile High-Definition Link) and Range Finder, which calculates the distance between the camera and a subject as well as the dimensions of an object through triangulation.

As for its new form factor, the Optimus 3D Max is 2-mm slimmer and 20 grams lighter than its predecessor, measuring only 9.6-mm thin and weighing 148 grams. The 5MP camera on the rear captures both photos and video in 3D using its dual lenses.

The recorded material can be viewed directly on the smartphone in glasses-free 3D or on a 3D-capable computer monitor or TV.

The Optimus 3D Max is a smartphone with impressive mobile 3D technology encased in a slim and sleek body. It retails for P26,990, and is available at all LG Concept Stores and authorized dealers nationwide.

Its key specification include a 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor, a 4.3-inch 3D WVGA IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 2, 8GB of internal storage, and 1GB internal memory (with MicroSD support of up to 32GB).

It has two cameras: a 5MP rear-facing one and a VGA front-facing for the other. The NFC-enabled Optimus 3D Max runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS and has a 1,520mAh battery.

Launched side by side with the Optimus 3D Max was the LG Optimus L7, which is part of LG’s L-Series lineup.

Sporting premium design with its 4.3-inch IPS display, the Optimus L7 offers Google’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) Android 4.0 OS.

At 8.7 mm, the LG Optimus L7’s slim and sleek body embodies the design-focused L-Style philosophy with an elegant look accentuated by metallic-decorated edges, a seamless key arrangement, and the expansive 4.3-inch wide display providing optimal readability and viewability.

With the smarter and faster ICS OS, users can enjoy the more intuitive user interface and advanced multi-tasking capabilities.

The Optimus L7 also comes with an advanced six-tenth-of-a-second autofocus camera, allowing users to capture precious scenes quicker and more accurately, whenever and wherever they may be.

“For consumers desiring high-end style and sophistication in a smartphone, LG Optimus L7 offers beauty and performance in one smart package,” said Park.

“The L7 is a significant addition to our L-Series portfolio and we are confident that it will prove highly attractive to users. We expect it to be one of our most popular smartphones,” he added.

Launched in Europe in early May, the LG Optimus L7 rolls out in the Philippines with a retail price of P15,990.

Key specs include a 4GB internal storage (with MicroSD support of up to 32GB), a rear-facing 5MP AF camera with LED Flash, a front-facing VGA camera, a 1,700mAh battery, and dimensions of 125.5 x 67 x 8.7 mm.