LG Optimus V (Virgin Mobile)

-I'm Nicole Lee, Senior Associate Editor for CNET.com, and this is a first look at the LG Optimus V for Virgin Mobile. The LG Optimus V is almost identical to the LG Optimus S. In fact, it has the same design and everything. However, the only difference is that the bottom placement is slightly different. For example, at the bottom here, you do get the hard sensor keys for the menu key, the home key, the back key, and the search key. Otherwise, the overall interface is pretty similar to the other LG Optimus phones. You get up to 5 customizable home screens and the LG Optimus V comes with its own Virgin Mobile skin. It's nice and slim as you can see here, and it's coated a nice, comfortable, soft-touch finish. On the back is the 3.2-megapixel camera. The LG Optimus V is built as an entry-level smart phone but that doesn't mean it's lacking any features. In fact, it has Wi-Fi, GPS, as well as EVDO Rev A. It also ships with Android 2.2. However, it doesn't have Flash video in the browser, and it does not allow mobile hotspot tethering. Aside from the usual Google Maps that include Gmail, Google Voice Search, and more, it also has Virgin Mobile apps like Virgin Mobile Live that lets you view and stream music videos from Virgin Mobile Festival artists. A few other apps included in here are, of course, Google Maps, as well as YouTube, and WHERE (a location-based app). The LG Optimus V is very affordably priced at only $150 without a contract. I'm Nicole Lee. This has been the first look at the LG Optimus V.