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LG Optimus L5 sauntering into UK this month

The mid-range LG Optimus L5 is coming to the UK this month, packing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Luke Westaway Senior editor
Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.
Luke Westaway
2 min read

The LG Optimus L5 will be out in the UK this month, sashaying into shops with a 4-inch display, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

LG has confirmed the mid-range mobile will be making its debut here before July, also arriving in Germany and France, following the more powerful quad-core LG Optimus 4X HD.

Along with the latest version of Android, the Optimus L5 has a 5-inch camera, NFC and measures 9.5mm thick. A bit of software called QuickMemo lets you scribble memos or notes from any screen, without having to fire up a specific app.

My intrepid colleague Andrew has already gone hands-on with the Optimus L5, and was left feeling positive about the build quality, but noticed some definite downsides in the hardware stakes.

The 4-inch display packs a paltry 320x480 pixels, for example, which isn't much compared to rival mobiles such as the Samsung Galaxy S2, and pales into blocky nothingness when stood next to 720p phones like the Galaxy S3 or HTC One X.

The processor doesn't pack much punch either. Clocked at just 800MHz, don't expect this single-core chip to handle graphically intensive games, and even simple tasks like swooping around the homescreen could be subjected to annoying judder. The same chip features in Sony's new Tipo and Miro mid-range phones.

One upside is a rather slick design. As the company behind the recent Prada Phone, LG has a reputation for focusing on stylish smart phones for fashionable folk, so while it hasn't made as big a splash as Samsung when it comes to making brilliant blowers, the L5 might be worth a look if you're a fan of chrome edging and seductively textured plastic.

Are you keen on the phone? Find out by watching our hands-on video of the LG Optimus L5, then measuring your pulse, and be sure to post your results in the comments or on our Facebook wall.

Watch this: LG Optimus L5 hands-on