LG Chocolate 3G (KU800)

After having sold a reported 4 million units of the original Chocolate phone (KG800) worldwide, it didn't come as a surprise when LG announced it was introducing a 3G version of its popular slider. Called the Chocolate 3G (KU800), the new handset also features several upgrades over its predecessor, among them a higher-resolution 2-megapixel camera and expandable memory card slot.

Upside:
One of the key reasons for the success of the original Chocolate lay with its clean yet sexy design, which the Korean company has retained in the 3G edition. Thus like its predecessor, the new KU800 comes in a sleek slider form factor complete with by now familiar glossy piano black finish and buttonless touchpad navigation keys. Interestingly, the new Chocolate 3G is a mite smaller, though it's also become marginally thicker and heavier.
There are some distinct cosmetic differences between the KG800 and the new KU800. For starters, the primary camera is now at the rear rather than hidden within the sliding section. This being 3G, a second VGA camera sits beside the phone speaker for 3G video calls. The microSD card slot on the left edge is certainly a welcomed addition as the 128MB onboard memory on its predecessor was simply insufficient for storing images and music. The irony is that the use of the microSD card is capped at 1GB for the phone. Music lovers who want to carry more MP3s on the Chocolate or users who aim to store videos may chafe at this limitation.

Battery capacity has been increased from 800mAh to 1,000mAh, probably to handle the increased power load due to added features such as 3G, video calls and microSD card slot.

Downside:
While 3G is a useful feature to have, particularly if you plan to travel to Korea and Japan, we wonder if LG should have gone with the faster HSDPA standard instead, considering that rival Samsung has already introduced several new models with the new technology. There's also the omission of an FM tuner and A2DP Bluetooth stereo support which are increasingly standard features on handsets these days.

Our biggest gripe, though, has to lie with the touchpad navigation controls. In our hands-on with the KU800, these were still not as easy to use or intuitive as regular buttons.

Outlook:
LG's 3G makeover will doubtless appeal to the fashion-conscious set, though time will tell if the KU800 has sufficient weapons in its arsenal to repeat the success of the older KG800. The Chocolate 3G is slated to ship in February for about S$638 (US$405.90) without contract.

SPECIFICATIONS :

Phone type Triband
Networks GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900
Connectivity options 3G, GPRS, WAP, Java, Bluetooth, USB
Calling Features Speakerphone
Form factor Slider
Dimensions (W x D x H) 94.6 x 45.6 x 17 mm
Weight w/battery 99 g
Primary display type TFT
Secondary display type None
Secondary display resolution x pixels
Interchangeable covers? No
Available colours Black
LCD display size 2-inch; QVGA (176 x 220-pixel)
Color LCD? Yes
Primary Display Color 18 bit
Operating system Others
Battery type(s) supported Rechargeable 1000mAh Lithium-polymer battery
Max. talktime (in hours) 3.3 hours
Max. standby time (in hours) 200 hours
Internal memory 64 MB
Expansion slot(s) TransFlash / microSD

Included accessories Stereo earphones handsfree with wired music playback remote, 512MB microSD card, USB data cable, AC adapter, screen cleaner, CD and user manuals.

Additional functions Touchpad navigation (digital touch sensor); second VGA camera for 3G video calls.
MMS? Yes
Predictive text input? Yes
Ringtone composer? No
Polyphonic? Yes
Built-in vibrate alert? Yes
Game Supports Java MIDP 2.0
Built-in digital camera? Yes