Timing is everything and this holds particularly true with the LG Optimus G Pro Android-powered smartphone. By all accounts this larger than life phablet (a cross between a phone and a tablet) was destined for greatness with its laundry list of impressive features. However, given its late arrival to the States, months after the launch of the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S 4, and its closest phablet rival, the Samsung Galaxy Note II - all of which have already won the title of America's sweethearts, we have to wonder...has the LG Optimus G Pro's ship already sailed?
Don't get me wrong. This is an Awesome phone. Yes, that is with a capital ‘A’. It seems LG never falls short in the electronics industry, from home appliances to smartphones, and the Optimus G Pro is no exception. Since this phone is considered an LG flagship device, the manufacturer pulled out all of the stops. And AT&T clearly agrees since they are the exclusive carrier to offer this device beginning 05/10/2013. But, the question remains, are its specs game-changers or is this just another case of "too little, too late"?
As a phablet, this device is a great contender for the Samsung Galaxy Note II. Both devices boast a 5.5” screen but at 5.91 x 3 x 0.37, the Optimus G Pro is slightly narrower, slimmer and shorter, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Optimus G Pro is among the first smartphones loaded with the newly-announced 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, so it out performs and uses less battery compared when compared with the previous Optimus G by LG and even the Note II for that matter. The G Pro has higher pixel density, 1080p display resolution which beats out the Note II and some may argue that its True Full HD IPS LCD by LG color accuracy is better than Note II's Super AMOLED. You can also capture those important moments in life with a higher quality 13MP Camera with HDR support, however, the quality of the images fall short of the Note II. The LG Optimus G Pro also has a super fast CPU and GPU, which makes it incredibly easy and fast to multi-task on the device.
Overall, the phone is powerful and its size impressive and may possibly win the phablet competition. However, strip it of its size and speed, it lacks the bells and whistles that consumers have now come to expect from smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S 4's Smart Pause, Smart Scroll, and Air Gesture or the HTC One's UltraPixel™ camera with Zoe™, BoomSound™ with Beats Audio integration. So, if size matters and you are O.K. with AT&T, then the Optimus G Pro may be something to consider, but if you still yearn for a phone that fits comfortably in your pocket, have an affinity for another carrier - Verizon, Sprint & T-Mobile, and want those 'extras' that are now coming standard in other smartphones of this caliber, there are plenty of other devices out there that will certainly fit the bill...and then some.
Specs:
• 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor
• 5.5-inch Full-HD 1920x1080 IPS display with 440 ppi
• 13-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video
• 32GB of internal storage with an SD card slot for up to 64GB more
• Long Battery Life (3000 mAh Li-Po battery)
• Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• 2 GB of RAM
