By 
Last week Verizon Wireless announced the true successor to the popular LG enV (VX9900), the LG enV2 (VX9100). I was wrong to have previously concluded that the LG Voyager (VX10000) was the replacement. The Voyager seems to have been a “premium” version of the enV meant to take on iPhone sales, while the compact and affordable enV2 remains in the same class as the original. When the VX9900 originally was released it was quite a robust and powerful phone featuring the latest technologies, however the enV2 doesn’t seem to have any revolutionary features. The phone seems to be merely a simple upgrade to its predecessor with a new user interface, a compact body, a better build quality, and other minor improvements. There’s plenty of good and some bad, so lets get started.
LG VX9100 Specifications:
- Provider: Verizon Wireless (800MHz / 1.9GHz CDMA )
- Form Factor: Laptop-like w/ QWERTY keyboard
- Internal Display: 2.4-inch 320 x 240 pixels
- Media: MP3, WMA, AAC plus WMV, MP4, 3GP
- Imaging: 2.0 mega pixel camera and camcorder
- Other: Bluetooth, microSD (8GB max), stereo speakers
- Battery Life: 320 Mins Talk-Time or 520 Hrs standby
- Dimensions: 4″ H x 2.13″ W x .65″ D (inches)
- Price: $130 after $50 rebate plus a 2 year contract
LG enV2 Body: 4/5 stars
The enV (VX9900) was a more compact version of the LG V (VX9800) and now the enV2 is even smaller. The phone is quite small and can fit in just about any pocket. It’s a bit heavier than I had imagined (4.23 oz), but it’s still lighter than the enV. The enV2 is a whole lot shorter and thinner than the enV, however it is slightly wider. Both the front and back are pretty flat and all edges are smooth and rounded. It’s a pretty good looking phone and is easy to handle as well. On the front you’ll find a tiny display at the top and improved numeric keypad right below. The backside of the phone has the removable battery and the 2.0 megapixel camera. The right side of the phone has the 2.5mm headphone jack and microSD card reader/writer while the left side has the volume toggle keys and the camera button. As for the inside of the phone, the top portion features the 2.4-inch display with stereo speakers on the sides and the bottom portion has the QWERTY keyboard. And finally a micro-USB port can be found on the bottom under a socket cover for charging and data transfer. The only thing that I found disappointing was the extremely small screen on the front which has been rendered almost entirely useless. I feel that there would have been more to gain by making the keypad a bit smaller and by adding a larger screen.
The Screen(s): 4/5 stars
In terms of brightness and colors, both the internal and external displays are top notch. The internal screen is much bigger and brighter than the one on the enV. It looked quite good especially when I was able to view images I had taken in a full screen mode, which the enV didn’t allow. Watching videos on the internal display was quite decent as well. The external screen is now a rectangular strip which doesn’t offer enough room to perform most tasks. The external display on enV was more of a square and it’s menu system was quite fulfilling. Both screens were bright enough to be visible in direct sunlight.
User Interface: 4/5 stars
After messing with the internal interface of the phone I’ve got to say there’s a lot of improvements. Everything was quick and easy to learn and use. The interface will be quite familiar for previous enV owners. The phone also offers a layouts for messaging or multimedia, in case you plan on using one or the other more. I personally opted for the standard menu interface. Some of the stylish curves seems to have eaten up some screen estate which could have been used for displaying more information, however it wasn’t a problem. Overall the internal interface has been improved and works smoothly. The main fall back of the phone would have to be the external interface which I feel is a disaster. First off to get into the interface you’ll have to unlock the keyguard using the OK button. Next since there are no true soft keys, the up and down buttons launch the your contacts and message, respectively. The clear key which is usually centered on most phones has been placed at the top right which was quite awkward to use. The top left button is now the ‘Music’ button which should have just been one of the two customizable soft keys. The contacts list can only display two contacts at a time, however you’ll survive since it has a search function. The phone allows sending a text messages from the tiny front display, however the interface is confusing and slow. Even viewing ‘recent calls’ was quite tedious. If LG had offered a larger display and Verizon had built a better interface this would have had potential.
Media Playback: 4.5/5 stars
The interface for playing back music on the enV2 is pretty much the same as what it was on the enV. There doesn’t seem to be too many changes. I do however feel that it is about time that the player got a new look. Despite that caveat, the has and continues to player run without any problems. For those who have not used the interface on a previous phone, it allows searching or browsing by Songs, Albums, Artists, or Genres. It supports MP3, WMA, and AAC formats. It’s good news for both iTunes Plus and Amazon MP3 customers since all that content will be compatible. The V CAST Video also has been improved, streaming seems to function smoother than before and there wasn’t as much frame rate drops as there was on the enV. If you want to add your own video clips onto the phone, you can do so easily using 3rd party software and converting the content into WMV, MP4, or 3G2 formats.
MicroSD + Syncing: 5/5 stars
The LG enV2 doesn’t have too much room for storing content on it’s internal memory, however it has a microSD expansion which solves the problem. The phone now supports up to 8GB microSD cards, which should be plenty for the majority. Syncing music onto the phone is also a cinch. You can either use a micro-USB cable and sync content using a program such as Windows Media Player 11 or use a microSD card reader to copy content into the automatically created folders on the card. Even those with limited computer knowledge should be able to figure it out easily!
Speakers & Headphones: 5/5 stars
LG has once again improved the speakers on the enV2, making it better than those on the enV. I’m glad they improved on this, I was worried after I heard the speakers on the expensive LG Voyager. The speakers are clear at even full volume and manage without beginning to crackle. The sound great both for listening to music and when used as a speaker phone. If you plan to use headphones you’ll need to purchase a 2.5mm to 3.5mm converter to use with standard headphones. Listening with headphones will satisfy the average consumer, however don’t expect top notch music playback out of this phone.
Digital Camera: 4.5/5 stars
The main improvement in the digital camera on the enV2 would probably have to be the speed it takes pictures at. The enV constantly lagged and it often took forever for the camera to focus, snap, and save the image. The enV2 acts almost instantaneously. There are few disappointments with the enV2 such as the loss of the build in flash, which made a big difference for closeups taken in under-lit situations. The camera is also still a 2.0 mega pixel which was the same as what was on the enV, so no improvement there. And finally the lens cover has also been removed leaving the camera exposed. The video mode functions smoothly as well, there were no problems there. The front screen can be used to take photos and can also be used for self portraits when flipped open, however due to the small screen size, only a small strip of the full image will be visible. Overall the enV2’s camera functions as it should with some speed improvements, however the camera hasn’t been upgraded and there are no new features.
GPS VZ Navigator: 5/5 stars
I have to mention this feature, since it is one of my favorite part of Verizon Wireless phones. The VZ Naviagor, now on version 4, now includes tons of new features including traffic alerts. The interface is quick and easy to use and the phone can detect your exact location in a matter of seconds. It’s actually much more accurate than the locater on the Apple iPhone. The application will be an addition to your monthly bill unless you have a premium plan. The maps offer live turn-by-turn directions with voice overs which actually state the street names. Address can be saved into the phone. The local search can help find businesses or restaurants instantly. The program also displays the phone number of the address and can dial the number for you. And finally it can lookup movie showtimes near your location and assist in booking tickets. The new version also locates the cheapest gas in near your location.
Messaging (IM, Email, & Text): 5/5 stars
This is a great phone for those who message a lot. It’s got a built in chat client which supports AIM, MSN, and Yahoo!. The software now allows viewing your full contact lists, which was previously limited. The new Mobile Email client supports Yahoo Mail, Windows Live Hotmail, AOL/AIM Mail, and Verizon. If you use another provider, you can just enter the POP3 or IMAP servers and it should work perfectly. The Email Client also can be setup to notify you each time an email arrives in any of your inboxes. The text messaging component is vastly the same, but there are some improvements. The inbox and outbox is no longer limited to 50 messages. (In addition the phone can now hold 1000 contacts.)
Conclusion:
This is a great phone for those who love to message others wirelessly since it has a QWERTY keyboard. The phone is also a great improvement to the enV with a whole new look and a compact design. I wasn’t too fascinated by the maroon color, but I found the black version to look a whole lot better. It does lack some features such as a flash, a lens cover, and auto-focus all for the camera. It also doesn’t yet have a HTML browser. The main complaint I have would have to be the tiny external display, but if you set that aside the rest of the phone is quite impressive. The phone is also quite affordable and will be of interest to many Verizon Wireless customers looking for a new phone. The phone is now available on Verizon’s website and in Verizon Wireless stores for $130 after a $50 rebate and 2 year contract.
Limited Time Deal: LG enV2 for $50 with a 2 Year Contract
Links: Verizon Wireless | Data Sheet (.pdf)
Related: LG VX9900 Review | LG VX10000 Review
[Comment ID #50149 Will Be Quoted Here]
If you subscribe to a unlimited texting plan, then yes.
this phone is great! I loveee it! The only downfalls
— of course the keyguard. Not such a big deal tho!
–personalize msgs tones.. i wish i could set a different text message tone for all my friends/family.
ive had this phone since may and just the other day my send button and 7, 8, and 9 button stopped working!! I’m so frustrated! I cant answer my calls unless i open my phone!! They are sending me a new one.. but WHY would i want the same refurbished phone they are gonna send me when it will happen to this phone too? AND I have spent so much $$ on ringtones i dont want to lose everything! BUt i really do love this phone.. the front i love the big buttons. im a big texter so i love the keyboard!!
this phone is terrible! it doesnt work and i’ve gotten 5 new ones in 3 days!!!!!!!!!!! they break to easily! i mean i shud b able to trow it and it b fine but eb=very time i throw it i have to get a new one! =(
[Comment ID #55906 Will Be Quoted Here]
I truly hope you were trying to make some lame attempt at a sarcastic joke :)
If not, I think I, along with many others here, may know why your phones keep breaking …
please do not get this phone. i thought it was amazing at first and it was, but ive had mine for 3 months and ive only dropped it twice. after a short time the keypad on the front doesnt want to work. sometimes it wont work on my 7, 8 and 9 numbers and if you have keyguard on and you try to press ok to unlock it the ok button wont work. ive talked to some of my friends who also have the env2 and they said their’s is doing the same thing. so please do not get this phone. get a different one unless you want to have problems ith your cell phone.
looking at both pros and cons of this. these reviews are excellent since i am looking for a replacement of my orange enV
is this phone really that bad? because i really want it! and my best friends have it and they love love loveeee ittt! but they have only had it for about a week… so nothing has happened yet.. and i have at&t so my parents said that they might get it for me but it would be a lot of money to switch.. and i really dont want to have my parents spend a ton of money on a sucky phone.. so i reallyyyy need to know.. is it that bad?
I advise you not to buy that phone. the first time I buy that I think that is very cool. It is very cool when you have just bought. But just after a few weeks. I meet many trouble with that. Some of the buttons that won’t work. That makes me mad. so I gave back to them and take the money back. And I bought nokia n95. It is a very cool phone which have all the function you need. But just a little expensive. So I advise you not to buy env2. I am sure that.
I’ve had the phone over two months now and it is great. The ok/lock button kinda sucks. Besides that it’s a great phone. I haven’t had any issues with any buttons. And I keed the phone in my pocket at all times. Hundreds of thousands of these are sold. You are only hearing from the people who have had problems. I don’t think you’ll be dissapointed with it.
i’m getting this phone soon for my birthday. . . i thought it would be a good choice, but after reading these comments i’m not so sure. i’ve already told my dad i wanted it and i think he might have gotten it already, so i hope it’s good or else i’ll be really upset lol.
I have had two of these phones since August, but I still really like it. I was worried about the keyguaard, but after reading some of the tips on here, I am good to go. I am, however, a little weary about something I found out today after going through the internal part to lock it: I tried to see if I could really lock it from the external part. I held the “0” key for about 5 seconds then I tried to push buttons on the phone. The only button that worked was the “CLR/voice command” key. I actually had to open the phone to unlock it. Thank goodness everything worked properly on the external part though.
Oh, and I wanted to know if the *228 was how you get the software updates? Thanks for the great help.
i have had this phone since april. i love it.
the only problem i have is the mp3 player is locked.
now when it comes to keygard i don’t have a problem, i set my to 7 sec but if that takes too long i just hold zero and it locks.
to open u hit ok twice that is it.
i love the phone but i only dropped it once and it has a protector on it. However the inside screen just turned black. any suggestions i do not have the insurance on it. :(
i am not a fan of this phone. the original was better. on the front of the phone buttons 4-9 DO NOT work, neither does up or send. and also the corners of this phone the silver paint is chipping away. i bet your thinking a kid who drops his phone constantly and its scratched and doesnt work. I HAVE NOT DROPPED THIS PHONE ONCE…
That’s funny. Cause I’ve dropped mine a couple dozen times on a concrete floor at work. And not only do all of the buttons work as good as the day I bought it, but the corners have no damage- IT’S 5 MONTHS OLD TOO!
I’ve had this phone for about two months now, and I’ve dropped it about 3 or 5 times, three being on a rough tile floor in my basement. All of the buttons work, and the screen hasn’t died. No chips on the silver paint either. I’ve even dropped it on the BUS to school (which has so much dirt and sand its incredible), and it slid forward two seats, face down. the only damage is two microscopic scratches that are only visible if you hold it at an angle to the light. The other damage was to the front screen, which obtained some scratches and a nick or two. However, I kept my front screen protector on that comes on the phone, like the side strips of plastic you peel off when you first take the phone out of the box. So that’s still perfectly fine. I also use the front buttons to txt sometimes, like when I’m walking. to the bus stop or I’m multi-tasking. No button non-functionality. The only things that bugged me was the up-down nav buttons and the puny front display, as well as the OK=Unlock feature. that was just annoying. Other than that, this phone has filled up its inbox (all 300 spaces of txt messages) probably 40 times already. And I found the internal speaker audio quality to be top-notch, but still had than metallic sound that all phones do, though much less so. It was hardly noticeable. The SD-Card slot is also a fantastic quality.
All in all, I recommend this phone, as long as you don’t depend on the front screen too much.
please i really need help! i have an env2 and i really want to put music on it. i recently got a SanDisk card but have no idea what to do with it! the guy at verison just gave it to me for free and said i could download music with it and the somehow put it on my phone! please tell me how to do this!
You need to download the music from a computer onto your card 1st. Just google it for instructions- “How do I download music to a memory card?”
I have had the phone since May, with no problems except today. I have never dropped it or put it through any misuse or strain on it,(unless you count the countless times I have passed out on it after a long night of drinking) but today I pulled it off my charger and it was off. I thought nothing of it, I powered it on, I only got about 15 seconds of main screen time before it suddenly turned off. Now I bearly gets throught the start up screens before shutting off.
guys, does this fone us simcards? please answer me :D
The camera on this “upgrade” is horrible! The reason it can take a picture so fast is because it does not focus and all of the pictures look like crap. The original was tons better.
I loved this phone until it started randomly shutting off. Its only 4 months old and it shuts down on its own 6 or 7 times a day. Very annoying. I have been reading lots of reviews from people who say the same thing. Right now its at Verizon getting a “software updgrade”. But I don’t hold high hopes for that working given the other reviews.
Despite a few things going bad on my phone recently I absolutely love this phone. I don’t know why so many people have had so many problems. I got mine in May and only now have started having problems, but I’d say minor. The front 7, 8, 9, and send don’t work most of the time. Which stinks, but at least you can still text from inside. And if someone calls just open then close your phone, it doesn’t end the call. Anyways, I’m sure this can be fixed easily but I’d suggest getting the phone. I love everything about it, and it takes great pictures. =)
I have had this phone since August and it shuts down all the time. It is very annoying as I have a cellphone so I can receive important messages. Besides that it is good but come on Verizon, seriously.
so yeahh i rele rele want this phone! my bestfriend has it nd she loves it 2 death. my brother has the black env2 nd his front ok button doesnt work 2 unlock it so he cant use the front screen.nd also the sliver on the sides r pealing off. but i still want this phone. im not one of those ppl that throw there phone around nd then complains it doesnt work. well duhh it doesnt work u keep throwing it around lol. so yeah i think this phone is pretty cool.