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LG Optimus 2X P990 Review

My latest handset purchase is the LG Optimus 2X, dubbed as the world’s first dual-core Android smartphone which made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. Check out our full review of the Optimus 2X after the jump and see if it lives up to expectations and hype.

The Optimus 2X is the 2nd handset we’ve reviewed that sports a dual-core processor so we’ve had a good idea on what to expect.

optimus 2x

The handset sports a pretty solid design and construction, has a bit of heft due to the metallic parts and thick glass display panel. With a respectable 4 inches display, the Optimus 2X is large enough although not as huge as the other 4.3-inch smartphones we’ve been seeing since late last year. The 10.9mm thickness is just about right — not too thick nor too thin.

The display screen has that dark, rich quality that offers vivid and clear images. It’s not the brightest we’ve seen but the amount of luminance is just right.

The glass for the display stretches out to the edges of the front panel and was shaved nears the side to give it a concave glass shape. As such, there is no room left for physical buttons except for some space at the bottom reserved for a touch-panel menu.

optimus 2x

The back panel is mostly covered in plastic with a rubbery feel to it. There’s a stainless steel meta strip (with an engraving that says “with Google”) in the middle that protrudes a bit towards the top center housing the 8-megapixel camera and LED flash.

The volume controls are found on the upper right side while the power button and 3.5mm audio jack are found on top along with the mini-HDMI port hidden between the two. The two speakers are found at the bottom end along with the micro-USB port.

The device runs Android 2.2 Froyo out of the box but LG says it will be upgradeable via OTA once they release 2.3 soon. LG also added the Optimus UI as a skin on top of Android. The Optimus UI isn’t the best UI we’ve seen skinned on top of Android (and it’s very similar to the TouchWiz UI of Samsung) but that should not stop users to be able to load their own custom Home theme or Launcher.

You should be able to see the difference in the UI on the video below where the Optimus UI is shown from 0:17 to 0:57 while the LauncherPro is shown from 1:51 to 2:15. Notice that the apparent lag in the Optimus UI is not present in the LauncherPro skin which is snappy and very fluid.

Performance of the Optimus 2X is at par with most of the 1GHz Android smartphones already in the market. I am not seeing any noticeable advantage of the dual-core proc on the OS level alone. Apps run quite fast and switches smoothly and the device can also play 1080p full HD videos without much effort.

On the contrary, the amount of RAM the unit is allocated might be its biggest issue if anything else. On paper, it says it’s got 512MB but the actual available RAM is just 372MB only. In comparison, the HTC Desire has 220MB, the SE Xperia X10 has 280MB, the Galaxy S has 304MB while the Galaxy S2 has 833MB.

The amount of RAM now becomes a huge factor once the device loads up a lot of applications and services in the background. That should not be a huge bother though as long as you got Advanced Task Manager running as well so you can kill apps if you feel the device is already slowing down.

optimus 2x

LG Optimus 2X
(LG P990) specs:
4.0″ IPS LCD display @ 480×800 pixels
ARM Cortex A9 1.0GHz dual-core processor (Tegra 2)
ULP GeForce GPU
8GB storage, 512 RAM
up to 32GB via microSD
3G/HSDPA
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n; DLNA
8MP autofocus camera w/ LED Flash
1080p @ 24fps video recording
1.3MP secondary front-facing camera
GPS w/ aGPS support
HDMI port
1500mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 2.2 Froyo

Where the dual-core Tegra 2 chip really excels is in the multimedia and gaming department. Only very few smartphones can do 1080p video playback (and also record one as well). The Optimus 2X easily does both.

I loaded up TegraZone Games and downloaded a THD (Tegra HD) game called RipTide GP. The graphics on this game is almost console-quality and the handset renders them quite nicely (the rendering of the water is pretty impressive).

Sample 1080p videos recorded using the 8MP camera of the Optimus 2X below.

The recorded videos look good but is sometimes a bit choppy at 24fps. Recording at close range is a little harder since the camera could not focus well. Stills can be shot at 15cm away (the closest focusing distance).


Photo quality is good but not that great. There’s no on-screen focusing or a dedicated camera button n the side. I love the fact that they included a manual focus though (as a touch slider on the screen).

Another great add-on is the HDMI port built into the device that allows you to hook up the phone to an external display. That means you can watch the HD movies directly on a bigger screen or play Angry Birds on your TV. LG was nice enough to include a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable in the box.

The pre-installed browser does a nice job at rendering websites, music quality is great with a pretty loud volume coming from the two speakers at the bottom.

Battery life is decent with a good two days on a single full charge with light internet use. Of course, that could easily change depending on individual usage pattern.

Over-all, the LG Optimus 2X is in for a good start. The Tegra 2 chip has great promise especially in the gaming department as well as HD videos coupled with HDMI out. The low RAM allocation is a bit of a drawback but it’s not really a bother if you’re used to other previous smartphones in the same caliber. Yes, it feels a bit rushed just to get that Guiness title so LG needs to do some more work with the UI and tweak it to be more responsive. I hope that the Android 2.3 update would come soon and fix some of the little nitty-gritty details that needs polishing.

At a retail price of Php27,990, the LG Optimus 2X is a good buy and is so far the only dual-core smartphone currently available locally so there’s nothing else to compare it with. My guess is that it will still probably be the cheapest in its class even when the Samsung Galaxy S2 and HTC Sensation are launched next month.

Disclosure: LG Philippines is an advertiser on this blog. The unit used in this review was personally purchased by me with the Php5,000 promo discount.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

101 Responses

  1. Avatar for coollearner coollearner says:

    H E L P … to all LG Optimus 2x/Froyo users

    My school require proxy to avail of free fast wifi. I believe our phone don’t have that option by default. Is there a way without rooting the device? Read of a way which needs to root the device.

    In case none, i’m considering to root my LG optimus 2x coz i found out that i can have admin access on the phone. I’m excited about the pros. I just want to be careful with the cons. Will it void the warranty? What should I do to avoid bricking my phone?

    Thanks dudes

    • Avatar for kebbot kebbot says:

      just use your laptop…. madali din ma drain kapag palagi mo on wifi mo sa phone…..
      mag unli ka nalng sa sun….. use edge not 3g f light surfing lng kilangan mo,

    • Avatar for coollearner coollearner says:

      thanks for replying…i wan’t to use this where and when it’s not practical to open my laptop like after eating sa canteen or while walking along corridors…ilang minutong productiveness din yun

    • Avatar for batteryperformance? batteryperformance? says:

      how is the battery performance of this phone?
      when using wifi?
      when using 3G?

      somebody made a comment about not using 3G as it drains the battery. can someone else confirm that.

      if true. then it seems that this gadget at Php27,990 seems meh.

    • Avatar for coollearner coollearner says:

      battery i guess is just like normal android phone, at full charge you can use it to use wifi for a day by turning gps and lowering down brightness…wireless connectivity if your wireless AP is 802.11n is faster than my expectation…never tried 3g yet

    • Avatar for coollearner coollearner says:

      correction* by turning GPS off

  2. Avatar for 21 21 says:

    Nakita q si Sr, abe sa channel 11 QTV. Pop talk ! sobrang mahiyain. lol

  3. Avatar for LameXcuzes LameXcuzes says:

    Just got my optimus 2x at 50% off it’s price. Very accomodating yung company na partner ng LG. Napatagal pa yung kwentuhan namin dahil sa kulitan. The phone performance is very good, the screen display is very pleasing to look at. Thumbs up to the company(SunCross Communications) and to LG for considering cash transaction in their office.

    • Avatar for kebbot kebbot says:

      you mean si mell? or d mo na tanong ung name nya, at first nag ma’am ako sakanyan, akala ko babae hindi pala…. his nice, when he called he was surprised kasi 2 times na daw ako nakapasok… sa 5k less and 50% off.,,,, hehehe

    • Avatar for coollearner coollearner says:

      i agree they were very accomodating and very nice service too… c mel din cguro yun… hope LG company will continue to have the same level of service

  4. Avatar for heckiboi heckiboi says:

    I also got a 50% discount ^_^
    http://www.hectorlegaspi.com/2011/06/i-am-certified-lg2xpert.html

  5. Avatar for kebbot kebbot says:

    i am one of the top 100

    for sale lg 2x p990 for 23,000 free shipping… i have 2 lg 2x thats why ill sell the other one, brand new

  6. Avatar for red red says:

    “The two speakers are found at the bottom end along with the micro-USB port.”

    Mali ata ito. One houses the speaker and the other one is a dummy that hides the microphone.

    Battery life is below average, hoping 2.3 will fix that. No lags, no random reboots so far.

  7. Avatar for friend.com.ph friend.com.ph says:

    which is much better between Samsung Galaxy S II and LG Optimus 2x?

  8. Avatar for shine shine says:

    hi im intrstd to avail the 50% off for lg optimus pls let me know thanks

  9. Avatar for Kenneth Kenneth says:

    Just to clarify … (wrong choice of word earlier)

    What I meant with the word “horrible” is “not properly setup & optimized”.

    • Avatar for marvin marvin says:

      Nope. I have one and the lg apps are behaving okay. Been monitoring the system apps through watchdog to see how much ram and battery they use. Just like any other android phone, you just have to turn off wifi, 3g, gps, automatic syncing, background data when not in use. thats basically the best way to save battery. :)

    • Avatar for coollearner coollearner says:

      ditto

  10. Avatar for Kenneth Kenneth says:

    I read somewhere that the default settings and apps of the LG O2x is horrible and that one user after he rooted the phone and fixed the settings and the apps that are launched by default his battery life improved from 1 day, and reached 2-3days before a recharge.

  11. Avatar for wilmost wilmost says:

    I don’t know if I got a lemon. The battery life of this phone is horible!!! It can’t last half a day with only native LG apps running + SKYPE and WiFi on.

  12. Avatar for kebbot kebbot says:

    AKO rin isa sa top 100 optimus2Xpert, this will be my 2n LG 2x phone, i got my 1st LG 2x less 5000 pesos and now less 50% wow,,,,,,,, hehehe

  13. Avatar for Hiei Hiei says:

    Ang cool. Mabibili ko narin sya anytime of this month dahil isa ko sa nanalo sa tmsmanila nakakatuwa naman :) I really like this phone. :) Thanks sir Yuga ganda ng review mo.

  14. Avatar for wreek888 wreek888 says:

    well im so happy to be one of the top 100 to win the contest to pay it half the price, you can beat it for paying 13,990 for this phone. I really wanted it even at a discount of 5k. My friend got this phone and its fast brilliant display amazes me. Thanks LG, at least i dont have to line up for hours like last year at megamall for that optimus p500 its traumatic.

  15. Avatar for jp jp says:

    :D isa ako sa top 100 na makakadiscount ng 50% kaso wala lang pera pambili :(

    • Avatar for Mice Mice says:

      Sayang naman . Di ako nabunut…I really wanted the fon…sell it to me LNG if ud.t

    • Avatar for verns verns says:

      I found this link somewhere: http://lg2xpert.tmsmanila.com/top100.html
      I haven’t tried it though.

    • Avatar for Marvin Marvin says:

      lol. wala ka pala pambili. sayang yung slot… haha!
      benta mo isa mong mata… hehehe!!!

    • Avatar for light light says:

      haha. I really want that phone rin. sayang naman kung wala ka pambili.. kung gusto mo bilin ko sayo? ;)

    • Avatar for Mice Mice says:

      Sayang naman . Di ako nabunut…I really wanted the fon…sell it to me Nalang

  16. Avatar for Cesar Noel Cesar Noel says:

    Nice Review. I’m sure some of the earlier releases will drop their prices. Been longing so an Android Phone for some time now.

  17. Avatar for Cesar Noel Cesar Noel says:

    Nice Review. I’m sure some of the earlier releases will drop their prices. Been longing so an Android Phone for some time now.

  18. Avatar for MyMaria MyMaria says:

    Really want to give this phone to my mom.

    http://www.bastaigatsikat.com/2011/06/what-makes-smartphone-genius-phone.html

  19. Avatar for jalvaran jalvaran says:

    I bought this one the week it was released.

    I would give it a passing mark on visuals, though its a rushed device trapped on a froyo 2.2 its still pretty neat. Vibrant and very responsive capacitive screen. Its snappy on games, browsing, etc..

    My complaints would be the lower RAM, and the “tin can sounding music” it produces. Most reviews/reviewers like this one tend to neglect “what you hear from a device” and focuses much on “what you could see and feel” from it.

    As a music nut Optimus 2x gave me the biggest disappointment. On the same headset LG provided, (same song, bitrate, quality etc…) I compared how it sounds versus Iphone, IpodNano and it turned out a very disappointing blow for LG. Not only its PC suite will trap every song you have to a caveman 192kbps maximum quality, it will sound weak, fluffy even on the highest volume it could offer. It will turn guitar solos into sawmills and drums to clashing tin cans. This phone one is a big no no for a music critic.

    • Avatar for Zo Zo says:

      thanks for the great heads up man! appreciate it alot!

    • Avatar for light light says:

      Have you tried using a different pair of earphones? (like the one that came with your ipod) Maybe it’s just LG’s earphones that sucks.

      Though it sucks if that weren’t the case :|

  20. Avatar for techieszoo techieszoo says:

    http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_ii_vs_lg_optimus_2x-review-585.php

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