The beginning of the first half of 2013 was marked by the release of the second generation of the LG Optimus L7 smartphone. Everything about its hardware and software stuffing, strengths and weaknesses will be discussed in this article. It should be noted right away that this is not one device, but a whole group. Behind this name are devices P710, P713 and P715. There are no significant differences between them. The only exception is the number of SIM cards. The first two gadgets can only work with one, and the last model is already equipped with two slots for installing them.
Package
Not quite standard equipment for the second generation LG Optimus L7. Inside the box there is a compact charger, a USB cable for charging and connecting to a personal computer, a smartphone itself, and a battery. Among the documentation, there is a mandatory warranty card and user manual. All this is in Russian. But the headphones are not included. It is difficult in this case to understand the logic of the Korean company. In any case, she saved money on it. But the calculation, probably, is made on the fact that the potential owner either already hashigh-quality stereo headset, or he will buy it additionally.
Flagship Focus
LG Optimus L7 Dual, like all other smartphones of this line, is equipped with a very powerful processor model MCM8225 from Qualcom. It should be noted right away that this manufacturer occupies a leading position in the segment of mobile chips for smartphones. Only now such a decision at the time of the release of the device belonged to the middle class. Now it is an entry-level smart phone. But anyway, if we compare MCM8225 and MTK6572, then it is better to choose the first one. It has more performance. This single-chip system is based on two revision A5 cores, which operate at a clock frequency of 1 gigahertz at peak load. Other "chips" are also supported, which can significantly save battery life. For example, if there is no load on the core, it stops. Or, when performing a simple task, the CPU frequency may drop to 250 megahertz.
Graphics and touchscreen
All devices of this line are equipped with a screen with a diagonal of 4.3 inches, which is based on a fairly high-quality IPS matrix. At the same time, its resolution is 800 pixels in height and 480 pixels in width. Pixel density - 217 PPI. The screen itself is not covered with a protective glass and in this case you can not do without a special film. Only two touches on the touch screen are processed at a time. The weak link in this smartphone is the graphics adapter. We are talking about"Adreno 203". Its performance is enough to run video in HD quality, but only with the help of special media players that unload the video card programmatically. For the Internet, reading books and undemanding toys, its hardware resources will be enough. But for demanding applications it will not be enough. This is the main drawback of all modifications of the second generation LG Optimus L7. The price of $ 125 today compensates for this shortcoming to a certain extent. But still I would like more from a device of this level.
Memory and its capacity
The memory subsystem is doing much better. First of all, it is worth highlighting the RAM. Unlike most similar smartphones, the 2nd generation LG Optimus L7 is equipped with 768 MB of high-speed DDR3 memory. But competitors can boast most often 512 MB. Such a solution can significantly increase the performance of the device by offloading the hardware resources of a smart phone. Not bad things are with the built-in flash memory. 4 GB is integrated into this device. The system itself takes up 1.2 GB. 0.8 GB reserved for software installation. The rest of the flash memory allows the user to store their data. For example, music, movies, photos. Also, the smartphone is equipped with a slot for installing microSD memory cards with a maximum capacity of 32 GB. True, there is no such drive in the kit at all. Therefore, it will have to be purchased separately. The capacity of 8 GB is enough forcomfortable and normal work on this gadget.
Ease of use and case
L7 second generation is a classic candy bar with touch input. The front panel is made of ordinary plastic. Fingerprints remain on it, and it can be easily damaged. To prevent this from happening, you need to protect it with a special film. Alas, it is not included in the package, and it will have to be purchased separately. All corners in the device are rounded. This is a significant difference from its predecessor, which was a classic rectangle. A metal insert is made throughout the frame. Unlike most similar devices, this model has 4 physical and 4 hardware buttons. In addition to the off button (on the right) and the volume rocker (on the left), there is also a programmable button (the user can configure it at his discretion). Above the screen is a speaker, front camera and proximity sensor. Below the tap are four touch buttons. In addition to the usual "Menu", "Home" and "Previous", there is also one that allows you to quickly select the required active SIM card. The back side of the smartphone case is made of textured plastic. If dirt is not very noticeable on the black surface of the device, then the white one gets dirty quickly. Therefore, without a cover it will be difficult
get by. It is also better to buy immediately. Fortunately, it is not so difficult to find cases for LG Optimus L7, and their prices are quite affordable.
Photos & Videos
There are two cameras installed in this device at once. The one thatbrought to the front of the device, designed to make video calls in third-generation mobile networks or using special software (for example, Skype). Its quality leaves much to be desired - only 0.3 megapixels. But on the back side is the main camera. It belongs to the advantages of LG Optimus L7 II. Feedback from buyers who like to take a lot of pictures and shoot with a smartphone confirms this. There is already a matrix of 8 megapixels. There is a system of LED backlighting and image stabilization. It also supports the ability to record videos at a resolution of 720 by 480 pixels. This, of course, is not FullHD, but the picture quality is acceptable, the color reproduction is excellent.
Battery and its capabilities
Another undeniable advantage of LG Optimus L7 2nd generation is the battery. It is equipped with a 2460 milliamp/hour battery. Among its direct competitors, there is not a single device that could boast of a similar indicator. According to the manufacturer, this capacity is enough for 12 hours of continuous listening to MP3 songs or radio, 6-7 hours of video playback. With an intense load on the device on a single charge, you can stretch 2-3 days. If you use your smartphone minimally, then maybe 5 days is enough. Another advantage of this model is that the battery is removable. That is, when it runs out of its resource, it can be replaced without any problems.
Operating system
An interesting situation with the system software atsecond generation LG Optimus L7. A review of the documentation suggests that in this case we are talking about an outdated version of the Android OS with serial number 4.1. Additionally, a proprietary development of the Korean manufacturer was installed on top of it. In general, the software part in this smartphone does not differ from LG's flagship Optimus G. Among the pre-installed applications, the Memo utility can be distinguished. It allows you to immediately launch 2 applications and switch between them as needed, that is, full-fledged multitasking is obtained.
Exchange of information with the outside world
LG Optimus L7 II has a fairly large set of communication capabilities. Feedback from buyers and experts confirm this. It has everything you need to exchange data. First of all, this is the Wi-Fi module. The most common versions of this standard are supported: b, g, and n. The maximum information transfer rate using this method is 100 Mbps. An alternative option for connecting to the global web is mobile networks of the second and third generations. In the first case, the information transfer rate is measured in hundreds of kilobytes (it will be possible to communicate on social networks and view simple sites). But in third-generation mobile networks, this figure increases significantly and can reach a maximum of 21 Mbps. This is enough to watch videos from the Internet, download "heavy" sites and make video calls. Also integrated into the device bluetooth for data exchange with similar devices. To navigate throughterrain, the smartphone is equipped with a ZHPS module. Therefore, the gadget can be used as a navigator in the car. There is also a microUSB port. It allows you to connect to a personal computer, but its primary function is to charge the battery. Separately, a 3.5 mm jack is output for external acoustics. Moreover, both headphones and speakers can be used.
CV
LG Optimus L7 2nd generation turned out to be quite balanced. He has practically no weak points. We can only highlight the lack of a protective glass, a plastic case that is not resistant to scratches and other damage, and a weak graphics adapter. The first two problems are easily fixed by additional purchase of a protective film and a case. But with a video card, the issue cannot be resolved, and this must be taken into account at the stage of choosing a smartphone. But this model has many advantages. First of all, it is a productive dual-core processor from a leading developer. The increased amount of RAM in comparison with analogues is another plus. Also an important advantage is the large battery capacity. Let's sum it up: LG Optimus L7 phone is an excellent mid-range gadget, buying which you will get a friend and helper "in one person".
