LG Star confirmed in Korea as Optimus 2X

LG confirmed the existence of the Starearly tonight as it has brought out the phone in its native Korea as the Optimus 2X. The phone is the first to carry NVIDIA's 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 and can both play and capture 1080p video with its eight-megapixel camera. An HDMI output also makes it one of the first phones to have 1080p video output as well as advanced 3D gaming.

The phone revolves around its four-inch 480x800 display. LG ships the phone with a 1.3-megapixel front camera for video chat. The phone takes a cue from the iPhone 4 and Nexus S with a gyroscope to provide better motion control in games. As with most newer LG phones, DLNA media streaming is an option to push media to TVs and other devices on the local network.

A "hefty" 1,500mAh battery helps power the phone, although it's not known how the Tegra 2 will affect the lifespan of the phone compared to single-core rivals. About 8GB of storage is built-in, but a microSDHC slot supports up to 32GB more. Android 2.2 ships to start but will be upgraded to 2.3 in time, LG said.

The Optimus 2X should reach shops quickly and will be in Korea in January through SK Telecom. Asia and Europe will follow later; no mention has been made so far of a North American release.

Phones based on NVIDIA's Tegra 2 may tip the balance in smartphones. Early tests from leaked prototypes have had the devices running nearly twice as quickly as most current devices and could provide an especially large lead in 3D graphics, where the iPhone 4 and Nexus S are currently the top performers. Apple's graphics edge has often been considered a cornerstone of its app platform by attracting game developers that would have passed over Android and other platforms in the past.

Other phones should have the Tegra 2 in the near future, including the Motorola Olympus.

By Electronista Staff