By 
The long wait is finally over. The LG VX9900 (aka LG enV), an upgrade to the popular VX9800, has finally arrived. Skatter Tech readers are in luck since Verizon Wireless was kind enough to send us a unit a few days before the launch. With a ton of new features, a new body, new interface, and a reasonable price tag, the phone has definitely met our expectations.
The phone looked quite big at first since we recently spent time reviewing the Motorola KRZR and LG VX8600, but according to the specs is actually much sleeker and shorter than the original “The V” phone. In terms of basic features, the LG enV (pronounced “envy”) features an impressive 2MP camera w/ flash, microSD expansion, stereo speakers, bluetooth, a full QWERTY keyboard, and standard V Cast Music/Video functions. This phone might just be Verizon’s “best phone of the year”.
LG VX9900 Specifications:
- Provider: Verizon Wireless (1.9GHz CMDA)
- Form Factor: Laptop-like w/ QWERTY keyboard
- Dimensions: 4.64H x 2.08W x 0.78D (inches)
- Weight / Battery: 4.6oz / 4hrs 30mins talktime
- Screens: External 128×160 & Internal 240×320
- Digital Camera: 2 megapixel camera and camcorder
- Storage: ~50MB internal + microSD (2GB max)
- Others: Bluetooth 1.2 + Stereo Speakerphone
- Price: $150 with a new 2-year contract
LG enV Body: 4/5 stars
Although the VX9900 is larger and very block-like compared to most flip phones, it’s still more compact than the VX9800. The phone can not be placed upright since all sides are rounded or even placed down on its back properly since the camera bulges out. The inside of the phone is designed quite well and everything is where it should be. The keyboard keys are backlit and spreadout. Overall the phone is a bit bulky for average users and isn’t the best looking phone, but size and looks can be thrown out considering the features it has packed inside.
Displays: 4.5/5 stars
The outside display (65K 128×160 px) is a way too small, but luckily the enlarged interface allows access to most required functions. The internal display (262K 240×320 px) is pretty bright and the colors are just stunning. It’s one of the best displays we’ve seen in a while.
Music Playback: 5/5 stars
The VX9900 support playback of unprotected MP3 and WMA files plus purchased V Cast Music. Music can be browsed by Artists, Albums, Genre, or Songs, similar to iPods. A neat addition is “Music Only Mode” which disables incoming/outgoing calls limiting the phone to just a Mp3 player to save battery life. Although the music player takes a few seconds to load, with the right setup music can be started in just 2 clicks.
Speakers: 4.5/5 stars
The enV has dual speakers for stereo surround, which makes music sound a whole lot better. Even when the volume is loud, the sound is still clear. The phone also utilizes the same speakers for calls, making it probably the best speaker phone we’ve used. The only downside is that, since the speakers are on the inside, they only sound good when the phone is open.
Digital Camera: 5/5 stars
The enV features a 2 megapixel camera which can snap shots up to 1600×1200 px. The images are bright, clear, and crisp, which is pretty good for a camera phone. (click to enlarge sample) The camcorder can record up to 1 hour clips at 320×240 px, but only 15 second clips can be mailed. Photos can be taken with the phone closed and held sideways like a traditional camera, but can also be taken using the larger internal display when open. Since the cam is on the back, the outside display turns on for self-portraits when flipped open. Other than that the phone also has a mechanical lens cover, flash, night shot, self-timer, and some extra effects.
Interface: 5/5 stars
We have to congratulate VZW for finally giving the interface a huge make over. The ugly red bars and menus are gone! The new “communicator” style has a new layour, soothing blue colors, and some animated items. However the important internal menus are still organized the same way as regular VZW phones. Some items in the main menu seem misplaced, but it isn’t a big issue. VZW has also included another style which is very similar to the classic theme, but with new icons/colors.
MicroSD: 4/5 stars
Music can be transfered to the phone using the “Sync” feature, however we were unable to do so since Verizon hasn’t released the USB cables or drivers yet. (check back for that) We instead directly copied the music onto the microSD card using an extra card reader/writer. Card access is easy, it is right under a flap on the right-side. Update: We got our Music Essentials Kit, but there are still some bugs. When syncing with Windows Media Player 11, the software keeps detecting the phone as a new device each time it’s plugged in. (auto-sync won’t work) We were also unable to get the Album Art to display on the phone, which worked perfectly with the KRZR. Card Reader/Writer Users: Format the card in your phone first. Folders for music, flix, and pics will be created. Finally just place the proper files into the correct folders.
Bluetooth: 5/5 stars
The Bluetooth (v1.2) on the enV now supports many new profiles, which include: headset (mono), hands free (ex. car), data modem, stereo speakers, image printing, contact cards, file transfer, and wireless keyboard. Supports saving up to 20 different device “pairings”.
Overall we would recommend this phone for people who take a lot of photos, heavy email users, music listeners, and “computer geeks”. If you usually only use your phone for making calls I’d suggest finding a smaller phone, which you will definitely appreciate more. If you do plan to get it, it will be available in stores and online starting Monday, November 27, 2006. If you are a current Verizon customer and are eligible for the every two year upgrade, the phone can be yours for as low as $50 + tax. However it will cost new customers signing up for a 2 year contract $150. New customers can get the phone for FREE after a Mail in Rebate online. (link below) For the features this phone has its an extremely good deal.
DEAL ALERT: FREE LG enV w/ New Plan (via Amazon)
Links: Verizon Wireless – LG VX9900
Related: LG VX9900 Data Sheet (.pdf)
Recent Reviews: Motorola KRZR Review
LOADING MUSIC ON ENV WITHOUT BITPIM (the computer illiterate version). If you have an SD Card reader in your computer and are using media player 10, I found that transfering music to the card automatically places it in the My Sounds folder which doesn’t play on the phone (and you can’t click and drag the files in media player). What you have to do after you transfer the music to your memory card, go to My Computer on your computer desktop, open the SD Card drive where you’ll see all the folders and the music you just transfered. THEN, you can click and drag all the files to your My Music folder from here and they should play just fine after that.
Ok. I WAS wondering if its possible to be able to hang anything off of the EN V phone. i have it. and what i mean by hanging off i mean like an accesorie type thing. Some other phones have a small are on the tips of them to hang off little things. And i was wondering if the En v is capable of doing that?
The next EnV aka VX9100 is coming out in Europe end of 1st Quarter – Beginning of 2nd Quarter. The Voyager is not the replacer of EnV, which some people may have thought. Please check the link below and also search on youtube “LG VX9100” Chat with me about EnV or new cell at AIM eatfishy
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Updated-LG-VX9100-and-VX8610-coming-to-Verizon-article-a_2454.html
My camera doesn’t work all the time. I was wondering if anyone has a solution for me. I will hit the camera button and the please wait screen comes on and eventually the phone will restart. The camera doesn’t work all the time. I have called Verizon on this and no one seems to have an answer. Maybe I need a software upgrade or something. Please email me with any information on this. Thanks!
[Comment ID #41656 Will Be Quoted Here]
If it is a software thing….dial *228 from your Env and select the “Program you phone” option (its either 1 or 2) you phone will reboot when it is done…now after ypu do that, you security code will be changed to the last 4 digits of your phone number but that will give you a software upgrade if you needed it…otherwise just get a new one
how do you cut the song down to a 20-30 sec clip???
Help. I cant get music to play. I downloaded from my pc to the memory card, but it doesn’t show up on my phone. How do I play the music. It shows up when I plug card into computer and plays fine. Also, having trouble with sync. Purchased package, but shows “phone not connected” on computer when I try to sync and “connect failure” on phone. What am I doing wrong.
Format the card in your phone first. Folders for music, flix, and pics will be created. Finally just place the proper files into the correct folders.
I just did the drag and drop of “music” to “my music” as explained by Curt and when I try to play it I get a player error. Now whats wrong.
My card was formatted and I have all my music in the “my music” folder. When I try to play it says theres no music there.
Sometimes, my main screen just goes black and I’ve touched the clear or ok buttons, but nothing happens, so I end up having to turn the phone off/on to get the screen back up. My phone has even frozen up too when I’m IMing thru yahoo. Has this happened to anyone else?
Ok guys I nEED HELP !!!! I hope someone knows how to do this !!!…
I just purchased my new ENV and i still haven’t activated it in verizon …but i locked the phone by mistake…and i dont know the phone lock code….when i checked in the user manual it says that it’s the last 4 numbers of your cel number!!! but i dont have a number yet and my phone is locked !!! HELP ME PLEASE
Well for those who have questions about ring tones and why you cannot forward them isn’t simply the DRM protection/Removal it’s the file size of the song if you clip ya ring tone and keep it under 400kb you will be able to use that tone to forward to any carrier but remember to forward /send tone it must be saved in My Sounds not Ring Tones in order to send,So in this case when you have a tone sent to your Inbox you can save it in both folder’s.Ventones/Myxer cool sites Ventones also allows you to make animated .Gif Peace!
0000 to unlock or 1111
how do you change the time on the env if it didn’t change automatically for daylight savings?
It won’t change, automatically, until 2 am Sunday.
[Comment ID #41834 Will Be Quoted Here]
Yup, most of these CDMA phones get the time from cell phone towers, so you there won’t be any options regarding setting the time. Only smart phones like blackberry will allow modification. So as long as Verizon doesn’t make an time error, you have nothing to worry about. Time will be correct.
Hey I’m ordering a orange enV right now, and was just wondering (because I want to buy a memory card to hold music for it) what kind works nicely with the phone. Or if some dont work with the phone. let me know thanks.
so i just synced three songs from computer to my LG Envy. for some reason i thought onced it said sync complete that the songs would show up in my ringtones folder or the my my sounds folder. i used the vcast music manager by the way. how do i found the songs i just uploaded, and can i set them as ringtones w/o the SD memeory card thing?
okay so after further review, i found the songs on the vcast site.for some reason i thought once i uploaded songs i could use them as ringtones.question still remains though, is there a way to get songs and use them as ringtones w/o having a SD memory card
Hello everyone long time no see, but I do read all the comments through my e-mails. For those of you who wish to download ringtones the easy way. Myer.com is workinging great again. I received 3 new ringtones the other day in a matter of minutes. Don’t know how long this will last. But, for the present it seems just fine.
So sorry everyone I must be groggy, MYXER (myxertones) not myer, my apologies.
anyone point me in the direction of the usb drivers for the enV?
Does anyone know what the symbol (icon) on the Front Screen #3 key and on the Inside Screen F key is for and how to use it?
Thanks…
Hey Dee! That is to turn the flash on and off while using the camera. Hope that helps!
I just got a LG enV last week. It kept freezing when I texted on it and I would have to take the battery out. It did this every time I would text. It stopped for a little while. But like 2 days later it has started agian. What should I do?!
Take it back asap and get a new one. I’ve had mine almost a year and it’s never done that.