Hands on: LG Optimus L9 for T-Mobile
updated 03:02 am EDT, Wed October 10, 2012
Lightweight, midrange Android phone
LG recently expanded its Android lineup with the Optimus L9, a midrange handset that is set to launch at T-Mobile. The handset sports a 4.5-inch display and a high-density battery, helping to maintain a thin profile without sacrificing battery life on the carrier's 4G network. The L9 has yet to arrive in stores, but Electronista had a chance to try out the new phone ahead of its formal launch.
The L9 is surprisingly light, though its plastic construction does not provide a feeling of substantial durability. That said, it does not feel nearly as frail as many other phones in the same weight class.
Aesthetically, the L9 reminds us of Samsung's Infuse 4G. Both share a 4.5-inch display and a generally squarish build, and both are around 9mm thick. The L9 offers several upgrades, including a dual-core 1GHz processor, Android 4.04, a 960x540 display and a 2150mAh lithium-polymer battery. We also like the thin bezel around the display and soft-touch surface on the battery cover.
We were not frustrated by LG's custom interface overlay, which retains more of the core Android experience than many other devices. The phone kept up with our limited actions without encountering any glaring performance issues, but it was clearly not as fast as current Android flagships.
The L9 is a decent phone that competes well against other midrange Android alternatives. We are still curious to know the price, pending an official announcement from T-Mobile.
