The beefy LG Optimus Vu 'phablet' (pictures)

With its 5-inch IPS LCD display, the $900 LG Optimus Vu is considered to be LG's answer to the novel "phablet," which first began with the Samsung Galaxy Note.

Though it's used in conjunction with the Optimus Vu's TV and radio app, and not signal quality, the handset's antenna is definitely reminiscent of the early cell phone era.

The antenna is collapsible and embeds within the Optimus Vu. When pulled all the way out, it measures 8 inches long.

This shortcut QuickClip button accesses the QuickMemo function on the Optimus Vu, which is a note-taking feature.

The Optimus Vu comes with a stylus that LG calls "Rubberdium." It's thicker than the Note's S-Pen, so it feels sturdy like a real pen, but it cannot store into the device itself.

The Vu sports an 8-megapixel camera in the back and a 1.3-megapixel camera in the front.

The Vu measures 5.5 inches tall, 3.5 inches wide, 0.33 inch thick, and weighs 6.08 ounces.