LG’s replacement for the PM-325 brings MIDP 2.0 and flip-phone design to the device. But, does a shift in market cause the 350 to go from popular to stale? Read more for a complete review…
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The Post-PM Class
Sprint has moved away from their past convention of affixing classes to devices. However, the LX-350 clearly is meant to be a part of the new, if not promoted, generation of picture phones. The requirements for this class are simple; megapixel camera, MIDP 2.0, and Bluetooth. As we�ve previously reported, the two other devices that fit this mold are the Nokia 6165i, and the unreleased Samsung A640.{mospagebreak}
Clearly, this class of phones is not meant to be Pro in nature. These phones are aimed at mid-range consumers who want a phone that can take pictures, use a wireless headset, and take advantage of GPS services, without the need for multimedia or high-end functions such as EV-DO.
In short, the LX-350, while building on the groundbreaking PM-325, is not targeting the same audience. The 350�s feature set is no longer aimed at the high-end market, but rather at the mid-range.
First Impressions, Basic Phone Functionality
Quite simply, we were impressed. This phone has improved build quality, and appearance over the PM-325. The keypad on the device is completely reengineered, and feels much more natural. The form is an improvement over the older slider design. The PM-325�s slider, while revolutionary, was not perfect. We�d rather have a great flip than a slider that needs some re-tooling. Still, the LX-350 has the same glossy finish that the PM-325 had. The 350 does have an antenna, which despite its appearance, does not extend. The metal cap on the top is reflective, but sealed into the antenna. It is secure though, and requires removing a screw to detach the antenna.
Our only complaint with the new build quality is the difficulty in accessing the last row of the keypad. Many times dialing attempting to dial a zero resulted in dialing an eight. However, after making this mistake a few times, the learning curve ended. Some will like the new keypad, others will hate it, and we don�t ding a phone on personal preference.
In terms of basic phone functionality, the PM-350 is almost perfect. Reception is markedly improved over the PM-325, and we�re ready to call it good without any qualification. Many criticized us when we considered the PM-325 as having good reception, however, the PM-350 outperforms many more-expensive EV-DO phones in fringe reception environments. Audio quality both ways is clear, without any noticeable distortion or static.
Data services are also improved. The LX-350 is the first Sprint phone to have built-in support for data roaming, complete with a data roaming guard should Sprint chose to impose a data roaming rate in the future.
One thing that impressed us with the LX-350 was the speakerphone. Immediately following the PM-325, LG removed the ridiculous Monitor Mode (which actually was a software-hindered speakerphone imposed by the fine folks of SEBU within Sprint). The LX-350 however has a speakerphone that performs extremely well. Callers on the other end of a conversation reported being unaware that we were even using a speakerphone during test calls.
Battery life performed well, giving us a few days of standby time (including normal usage), as well as a whopping four hours and 30 minutes of talk time in a good signal environment with constant two-way audio transfer. This compares to LG�s advertised capacity of (a more modest) up to four hours of digital talk time. The battery life on this phone rivals even GSM phones, which trade reception for longer battery life. Also, the LX-350 is only outranked currently by the Treo 650 and Sanyo RL-4930.
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Advanced Phone Functionality
First off, for PM-325 owners, the LX-350 finally lets you know when there is indeed no firmware update available. This is one of the many quirks that should be fixed on the PM-325 that Sprint and LG have simply chose to pass on to the 350. Fortunately for the 350, this isn’t a review of Sprint business practices.
As to Picture Mail, the LX-350 has the same policy of new Sprint phones of uploading pictures in the background. While this is supposed to be a “cute” feature to make HTTP picture pushing on-par with GSM MMS, its implementation is terrible. This is a problem on all new Picture Mail phones, not just the LX-350. There is no reliable way of confirming a picture was actually sent without carbon copying yourself as a recipient of the message. The phone will notify you if the picture didn’t send correctly, however, that can take up to five minutes in a timeout situation. And, if you don’t have the phone open, the error message disappears without you seeing it.
The simple resolution would be to add an option in Picture Mail settings to give you a status bar if you want one. Most users want to know if there picture didn’t get there, and most savvy users believe in a policy of trust-but-verify when it comes to wireless data.
As to MIDP 2.0, it is always hard to gauge the quality of Java on a phone just-released, especially when there is no older model to compare to. Java works best when developers add small bits of code to “customize” their application for a particular device. When a device is just released, those customizations usually are not yet available in an updated version of the program.
That said, the LX-350 had no problems running any generic MIDP 2.0 app we ran on it. This included Sprint’s internal 3D diagnostic apps (yes, we have those), , Opera Mini, and many other programs. Unfortunately, GPS applications are not yet available for the device, so we have no reliable way to test the performance of live GPS applications on the device.
The only quirk with Java is in confirming the entry on data fields. It is hidden below the text entry options on the right softkey menu when in a text field. Hitting the OK key does not always result in confirming data entry. This is not consistent with a functional workflow for average phone users, in other words, many people will spend a few minutes tearing their hair out to find a way to confirm text entry in Java.
Bluetooth is better, but still lacking. LG has added vCard transfers, but still lacks full file support. This means that you can send and receive contacts on the 350, but, you cannot send pictures or files to/from the device. Better, but room for improvement. That said, as a mid-range phone, most people will never use OBEX, let alone OPP until carriers design iSync-like applications for all their phones to attract users. We aren’t going to knock the 350 too much for missing features that most target users will never use. LG has shown they’re improving consistently with Bluetooth, that’s good enough for us.
Unfortunately, the LX-350 hails an unpleasant policy shift from Sprint. Previously, Sprint was electing only to deploy Modem NAI on Power Vision phones. Modem NAI is the technology that allows Sprint to deny the ability to use the device as a modem with your PC, requiring you to select a Phone-As-Modem (PAM) to use the device as a modem. Previously, Sprint was allowing 1xRTT-only devices to be used as a modem without a PAM plan. If you are a PM-325 owner considering upgrading, and you do use your phone as a modem, this clearly can be a deal-breaker. It is not something that we are faulting the LX-350 for however, as both the Nokia 6165i and Samsung A640 have received similar treatment.
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The Drop Test
The LX-350 did not perform well at our drop test. Dropping the unit at pant level to sidewalk caused the device to fall open and do damage both on the outside of the unit and the inside of the unit. While all the damage was cosmetic, there are clear scuffing marks on the bottom of the unit, on the side of the unit, and on the keypad. This is a step back from the PM-325, which had a recessed display that was unlikely to take damage in a drop, and did not as easily show abrasion damage upon impact.
Another contributing factor is the lack of grip on the device. When holding the phone normally, the phone is relatively secure. However, when using it as a camera, flipping it, or transitioning it between hands, the phone is not secure. The lower case should not have the same glossy finish, as it makes the device very easy to drop at the worst possible time (when the flip is fully open, exposing the display to the most damage). We had hoped LG would have learned from the PM-325 in this regard, clearly they did not.
Camera Performance
We decided to compare the LX-350 to the all-new Nokia 6165i as well as the HTC PPC-6700. We chose these devices because they all have 1.3 megapixel CMOS lenses, and the 6165i is in the same class of device, providing direct competition with the LX-350.
Shot 1: Distance, LCD Capture
One of the things we like to see in a camera is how it performs at capturing an LCD image. This gives us a good idea as to how it will adjust to bright lighting quickly and act to a difference in focus-versus-ambient lighting. We chose our trusty Satellite 5005 to take a view at a particular place of interest in the world (just take a wild guess where).
Full Resolution: LX-350, Nokia 6165i, PPC-6700
As you can tell, the LX-350 didn’t do so well. The picture does look acceptable when dropped down to �� resolution, however, at full resolution the picture simply appears blurry.
Shot 2: Night, Distance Shot
Here we took a look as a part of our running trend of Starbucks-benchmark-photos at one in the night.
Full Resolution: LX-350, Nokia 6165i, PPC-6700
As you might expect from a CMOS camera, no phone did well here. The LX-350 comes out looking grainy at full resolution. However, the 6165i’s Night Mode performed particularly poorly, and the PPC-6700 had nothing positive to claim either in its shots.
Shot 3: Text Capture
Capturing text is an important function on a camera, but it’s also the one CMOS lenses usually butcher.
Full Resolution: LX-350, Nokia 6165i, PPC-6700
Shot 4: Macro 1
Macro pictures are important. They’re what people put on their blogs the most. So, we had to oblige and take a moment to show off our love of the all-new Coke Blak.
Full Resolution: LX-350, Nokia 6165i, PPC-6700
CMOS cameras love light, and the LX-350 is no exception. The more light we shine on a subject, the better the LX-350 appears to perform comparatively. The LX-350 comes out a winner here without much doubt.
Shot 4: Macro 2
In the we-have-too-many phones shot, the picture was taken with flash and at an angle. This brutal macro shot is aimed at confusing the focus and light capturing of the device.
Full Resolution: LX-350, Nokia 6165i, PPC-6700
Once again, the LX-350 comes out on top. The flash is not over-exposed as it is clearly on the PPC-6700, and the focus is able to capture images in a distance with clarity as well as in front.
Camera Conclusion: The LX-350’s camera is about the only mixed bag on the device. It has difficulty at distance shots, but excels in CMOS macro shots. If you don’t mind having to walk closer to objects than they normally should appear, the LX-350’s camera simply will take some adjusting too. This is not meant to be a high-end phone, so we aren’t expecting high-end quality.
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Overall Conclusions
The LX-350 is a good device. That’s the first time we’ve said that about an LG phone without having to add some sort of note. It does everything it claims to do, and does it well. It’s not a high-end phone, but it doesn’t aim to be. Without any software updates, there aren’t any lingering issues with the device, something that weighs heavily in our review as well. In the end, this is a phone you can suggest to non-power users without having to worry about complaints later on.
Pros: Consistently Bug-Free, Improved Performance, Reliable, Excellent Battery Life
Cons: Still Slippery, Keypad Learning Curve, Sub-Par Drop Performance, Bluetooth OPP MIA, Java OK Key Problematic
Last Minute Note: Sprint is currently testing an updated firmware for this device that fixes some issues in this review.
Final Score: 5/5
Buy a LX-350 at Amazon (PCS Intel Wireless Store)
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