LG U830: Chocolate Folder II

You've probably heard of the Chocolate phone but may have missed its slightly less famous sibling, the Chocolate Folder KG810. It could be because when it launched it was exclusive to Phones4U, but this modest clamshell phone is another design classic. LG has now launched another incarnation of this Chocolate clamshell called the U830. It looks just as good and packs in even more features, including support for 3G.

The U830 or Chocolate Folder II (LG is less than consistent with its names) is the 3G version of the KG810 and features HSDPA connectivity, giving you broadband on the go. You can browse the Web on it, send and receive emails and make video calls.

It measures 49mm wide by 98mm tall by 15mm deep and weighs 93g. There's a 2-megapixel camera and a small colour screen on the front of the case. The U830 also features the characteristic Chocolate touch-sensitive music buttons on the front for direct access to the music player. You can listen to music using the proprietary headphones or using your own via the 3.5mm adaptor that comes in the box.

The KG810 supports A2DP (aka stereo Bluetooth) so you can listen to music wirelessly with a pair of stereo Bluetooth headphones. Unfortunately, there's only 185MB of on-board memory and no expandable memory slot, so you won't be able to store hundreds of tracks on it, but it's enough to carry about 60, which should get you through the odd short bus ride.

Another disappointing feature is that the camera doesn't have auto focus or a flash, so photos may not be that sharp, particularly in low light.

The U830 is currently available for free on a monthly contract, as is the KG810 if you're not interested in 3G connectivity, but bear in mind that the KG810 only has a 1.3-megapixel camera and 128MB of on-board memory. -AL

Update: We now have a full review of the LG U830 live in our Reviews channel.