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This is probably the first 3G-based handset from LG to receive so many additions and changes in one go! So if you're after a more-than-better reason to upgrade your current model, specifically those using an LG of course, then the U8380 could be the answer you've been waiting for! :)

In short, LG has given this latest model the updates in features that it requires to keep up with its rivals – specifically those recent models from Motorola and, especially, Sony Ericsson. But has the Korean manufacturer come up with this solution a little too late?

All will depend on just how well they present these newly added features on the U8380. And the fact that it is the seventh LG model created for 3G operator ‘3' doesn't necessarily mean winning the preferences of its ever-growing userbase, which is becoming far more demanding, as well as educated, to the 3G product and its offering.

Physical aspects

After six models, we finally see a redesign of the clamshell platform that LG has used for their previous six 3G models. While each model may take on a different look, physically it is not all that different from its siblings.

Technically, there are several reasons for the change – including:

• the implementation of dual loudspeakers around the clamshell hinge area, possibly being the prime reason for the re-design;

• a new dual-camera setup – resulting from the change in clamshell hinge design;

• the addition of a hot-swappable external memory slot; and

• the use of a new headset connector design – to support new audio control features.

LG has also changed the type of mechanism used for the clamshell hinge – a fully variable type that's similar to those used on many similar Japanese designs. This change is to accommodate the new internal VGA camera lens located on the right of the earpiece, which would be primarily used for video calls.

Overall impressions

While there are countless changes on the micro level, the U8380 is virtually similar to previous U81xx models when it comes to its overall physicality, weight and – more importantly – the resulting ergonomics from such a design.

As many of you readers may have realised by now, I'm a person who strongly believes in a design that's both comfortable and practical to use – whether it's to conduct a voice or video call, type a message or take a picture with, or even just simply holding the clamshell in the palm of your hand. And in the case of their clamshells, I've been extremely pleased with how each of the LG models (including the U8380) has managed to successfully fulfil this design element.

Aesthetics may be an important consideration – but that doesn't mean the comfort of users should ever be sacrificed, just so that a product would take on a far-better look. But in the case of their 3G-based clamshell designs, I have to agree that they've taken on a back seat mentality for far too long.

The UI gets an update too!

Another aspect of the U8380 that also got revised was its phone menu system. It was finally good to see LG giving its latest model a bit more respect than simply porting over an already-existent system – which has been their usual practice for all of their U81xx models.

As with all UI upgrades, this latest one offered various cosmetic changes (e.g. menu layouts, slight re-sizing of typeface), as well as minor usability improvements – specifically with items included inside the various “options” context menus found throughout the system. And in terms of functionality and usability, the U8380 is pretty much the same deal as those models offered in the previous series.

Displays offered remain similar to U8180

The U8380 will share exactly the same display setup as the U8180 – a bright, 262,144-colour TFT panel with a 2.2-inch viewable diagonal on the inside, and a 65,536-colour TFT sub-LCD on the exterior. The display resolutions of the two screens will be 176x220 and 128x160 pixels respectively – with the latter one being considerably higher than what most other clamshell sub-displays would use, leading to higher-quality output.

And because of this higher output fidelity, LG has made it possible for users to view received messages with the sub-LCD, and even conduct video calls without needing to open up the clamshell.

Messaging

Support for the four previously-supported messaging standards – SMS, EMS, MMS and e-mail – remain for the U8380. But LG has enhanced the e-mail offering by adding security-based support – including SSL encryption support for the transmission of messages, as well as password-based authentication for accessing mail servers.

UI-based changes have also been applied – specifically with the message composition displays for text, multimedia and e-mail messaging, which are far more self-explanatory to use than on previous LG 3G models.

Another small, usability-based, improvement that I picked up through general use was the U8380's improved ability to cache/buffer keystrokes during a message write-up. On previous U81xx models, I usually find myself having to go back every now and then to re-type various words because the phone couldn't keep up with the pace of my fingers at times.

New headset setup – to accommodate the new audio playback support

An upgraded headset interface has been introduced onto the U8380, which is somewhat similar to the one being used on Samsung's newer handsets – such as models like the SGH-D500 and SGH-E630. Rectangular in shape and guaranteeing a secure fit, this new connector provides the headset with an enhanced level of functionality as opposed to the older, one-button setup.

With the added audio player support, it was only logical for LG to provide the necessary facilitators for this feature to become practical/usable. So in addition to providing a pair of integrated loudspeakers, a remote control setup has also been offered – integrating a back/forward and play/pause set of buttons, volume control and a “hold” switch into a clip-on mini controller, which also houses the microphone used for calls.

On one end of the mini controller is the wire that gets connected to the U8380, while on the other is a 3.5mm socket that has been designed to accommodate the use of standard headphones – those that can be plugged into a standard MP3 player. Although the sales package does come with a set of dual-ear stereo headphones, I don't recommend the use of these in the long term - where I personally found them to provide poor audio quality, as well as a slight level of discomfort.

Dual loudspeakers – double the sound?

Well, I wouldn't say that the new two-speaker setup has actually bolstered the sound output by twofold, as compared to its predecessors. But I did find the handsfree speakerphone performance, for both voice and video calls, to have improved slightly because of the new design.

And apart from using them just for calls, the dual speakers are also available for the U8380's internal multimedia features – including the playback of audio and video files, as well as the streaming of clips through the native WAP browser.

Video calls – open or closed

As mentioned previously, users of the U8380 can make/take video calls using either the internal or external displays. For the latter, a headset needs to be connected before this method of dialogue can be used – which I've found to be a far-better way of conducting such calls when I'm out and about (rather than having to balance an opened clamshell in my hand!)

Connectivity

Bluetooth is possibly the biggest advent on LG's 3G models so far, where it finally provides users with the ability to wirelessly connect up devices such as audio accessories and data-based devices. The hidden benefits of this close-range wireless capability are slowly getting the attention that it much deserves.

On the U8380, however, Bluetooth data-based services are still considered unstable at this point in time. During its review, I encountered various issues with trying to share and exchange files and other information to/from the device – and on those occasions that it failed to work, I reverted to copying the files over using the TransFlash memory card instead.

For network-based data access, the U8380 supports standard dial-up (GSM Data), always-on GPRS (Class 10), and high-speed WCDMA connectivity when a 3G network is being used.

Build quality

Korean-built (and designed) phones have always had a good reputation of being very well-built. And in the case of the U8380, this was no different – even after getting a makeover of sort.

Battery life

On average use, the U8380 was able to offer approximately 1.5-2.5 hours of talk and up to 2-3 days standby time on a single full charge. And even with Bluetooth activated, the high-capacity1400mAh lithium-polymer battery did an extremely good job in providing a longer-than-expected per-charge usage time – as compared to other phone models.

The LG 3G models have always been strong in this department. It's a good choice for those individuals who want something that'll last them as long as the typical 2.5G-based GSM handsets of today. One of the biggest downsides with 3G is the greater battery power required to utilise this technology, irrespective of whether it's accessing multimedia-based services or even just conducting a typical voice call.

Camera performance and quality

LG may have finally included a 1.3-megapixel (1.23 effective) camera with the U8380. But if you were expecting it to produce those “better-looking” pictures, maybe you should broaden your search to include other brands of phones instead – and even possibly forget about what LG has to offer for the time being.

Yes, the U8380 does come with a set of revamped features – which includes:

• a dual, white LED photo light setup – for improved illumination;
• EV-based controls (-2 thru to +2) for more “proper” picture/video brightness;
• manual white balancing controls (4 available);
• picture mirroring; and
• a more streamlined interface (icon-based menu bar) for adjusting camera-related options.

But in spite of all the bells and whistles, LG hasn't made any effort into bringing picture quality up to the standard that many other manufacturers of camera phones have managed to achieve so far. With the U81xx series, all models shared exactly the same camera setup as well as picture quality.

In other words, I would say that the U8380's camera performance is pretty much relative to that of its predecessors.

(To view samples of the pictures, click on the links below the thumbnail – where a pop-up window of the original (untouched) image will be shown.)

Problems/issues

Audio quality questionable

I gave that new audio player feature a whirl – after having copied a few of my frequently-listened-to MP3 and AAC files onto the removable TransFlash memory card.

And the verdict after just five minutes with the player: appalled.

Within that time, I tried the original dual-ear headset that was included with the U8380's sales package, my own Pioneer in-ear buds that I use with my iPod, as well as trying to see how well the pair of integrated loudspeakers could handle music. And in every situation, I was far from satisfied with the resulting audio quality.

As for the audio equaliser, which ‘did' change how the music sounded, this is a feature that wouldn't make things better when you have a player that can't even make your music sound proper!

Bluetooth – file transfer functionality seems somewhat dysfunctional

Looking into the Bluetooth profiles supported by the U8380, the “OBEX File Transfer” was clearly listed as being available. However, when I tried to bring up the file listing on my PC, I was presented with a “bad request” error instead.

Even after trying to un-pair the phone and re-add it to my PC's (and Mac's) list of Bluetooth devices, the same error message was shown to me – leaving me in a state of bitter disappointment.

Fortunately, I was still able to “push” files between phone and PC/Mac. But ultimately, I would've preferred the convenience of being able to remotely access files from a listing instead, rather than having to select files and send them individually.

Bluetooth – transmission speeds drop considerably when phone is actively used

Whenever the U8380 gets actively used during a Bluetooth data transmission, the overall speed can drop considerably – being dependent on how much resources are required to support the user's active use of the phone. For other phones, such an occurrence is far from being typical.

On average, data transmission speeds between the U8380 and a standard PC is around 28-30kB/s – where this can drop to as low as around 9kB/s when the amount of activity on the phone reaches a high level (e.g. when simultaneously using its camera function).

It is obvious that Bluetooth is still something that LG needs to get well acquainted with.

Design – external memory slot cover seems flimsy

The cover that shields the TransFlash slot from the elements seemed rather flimsy when fitted over the slot – and can become quite clumsy to replace after a TransFlash card has been inserted into the slot.

Normally, a user would push the replaceable cover inward so that it resits itself properly inside the slot. But if it was pushed too far in, this can lead to the inserted TransFlash card to end up in an “ejected” state – even when the cover may seem secured.

A design oversight perhaps – or maybe they just couldn't come up with a better idea?!

TransFlash – hot-swappable design a good one, but the process can become quite clumsy

Because of the minute size of the TransFlash memory card footprint, making it hot-swappable presents a number of issues relating to the practicality of such a design.

Measuring in at just half the size of a SIM card, the ability of a user to properly hold this memory module in between his/her two fingers is questionable – let alone, trying to properly insert it into the provided slot on the side of the phone. In such a situation, there is a very high possibility of the user failing to properly insert the TransFlash module – or even just dropping it in the process is a grave matter of concern.

This is one of the biggest concerns with the TransFlash/MicroSD footprint. In the case of Motorola, where they've maintained their position on having the card slot located behind the removable battery, this is probably the best design – as well as the most practical given the situation.

In summary...

Whether or not the U8380 is a feasible upgrade for your current handset is a question that only you, the user, could really answer.

But for someone who has had the opportunity to give each and every 3G-based LG handset a good workout, I have to say that the U8380 is indeed one that brings more new things than any of their previous models have so far. In other words, if someone was to ask me, “so what's new about this LG”, I would have no difficulty in pointing out the new features – rather than having to frantically think up one that's good enough!

At the end of the day, the U8380 is just another LG mobile phone. Yes, it is probably a very practical phone for the heavy phone user – or even those who are after something that'll last them longer than a day without another charge. But come those fun and exciting features, the Korean manufacturer still has a bit of learning to do (i.e. from its competitor's products) before being able to truly offer something that I'd truly consider as being an eye-opener.

Major features

• 2G/3G-compatible handset – dual-mode WCDMA & GSM900/1800/1900 support
• Primary 262,144-colour and external 65,536-colour sub TFT LCD screens
• Dual camera setup (1.23-megapixel primary/external and VGA secondary/internal)
• Voice and video calling capabilities
• External memory card support (TransFlash/MicroSD support)
• Bluetooth and USB data cable connectivity
• High-speed data capabilities via either GPRS or WCDMA networks
• SMS/EMS/MMS/e-mail messaging capabilities
• 72-chord polyphonic (MIDI) and digital music ringtones support
• Java application compatibility
• Playback/streaming of digital audio and video files through media player
• Integrated dual loudspeakers (for voice/video calls and media player)
• Basic organiser features, with local and remote synchronisation capabilities (SyncML)
• Internal multi-detail phonebook with support for avatar or photo caller ID
• Customised “3” menu for access to multimedia content

Problems/Issues

• Audio quality questionable
• Design – external memory slot cover seems flimsy
• Bluetooth – file transfer functionality seems somewhat dysfunctional
• Bluetooth – transmission speeds drop considerably when phone is actively used
• TransFlash – hot-swappable design a good one, but the process can become quite clumsy

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