The LG GW550 is a QWERTY-enabled candybar smarphone running on Windows Mobile 6.5 standard edition, which means that there’s no touchscreen.
Key Features
* Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard (non-touchscreen)
* Size and Weight: 116.3 x 61.5 x 12 mm. 122 gm
* Display: 65,000 colours. 320 x 240 pixels, 2.4 inches
* CPU: Qualcomm MSM7225 528MHz processor
* Data: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA (3.6 Mbps), HSUPA
* Camera: 3.2 MP, 2048×1536 pixels
* Memory: Over 200mb Internal + microSD slot (no card in retail box)
* Connectivity: USB. Bluetooth 2.0
* Text Input: QWERTY keyboard
* Mesaging: Threaded SMS, MMS, EMail, Instant Messaging
* Web Browser: Internet Explorer Mobile 6
* Large capacity Li-Ion 1300 mAh battery
* Wi-Fi/WLAN
* Video call with secondary VGA videocall camera
* Office documents viewing and editing; PDF viewer
* Built-in modem (internet sharing)
* Image editor
* MyEmail: Gmail, Yahoo, Twitter, Facebook, PhotoSharing et al
Strengths
* Very good battery life
* Very good loudspeakers (Dual speakers/Stereo sound)
* One-handed use and interface
* Highly usable QWERTY keyboard with large keys
* Good display
* Windows Mobile 6.5
* Easy mail and social networking setup with MyEmail application built-in
* A-GPS
* Internet sharing, PAN, Remote access to internet, A2DP via Bluetooth
* Web browser with advanced IE8 features: Flash, AJAX/Javascript, DirectX and ActiveX Control support
Weaknesses
* No flash with the 3.2 mega-pixel camera
* No auto-focus in camera
* No 3.5mm audio jack
* No multiple tabs in Internet Explorer Mobile
The LG GW550 reminds me of the Samsung B7320 (and somewhat of the Nokia E71 and E72).
Brief Comparison with the Samsung B7320
Compared to the B7320, the GW550 has larger buttons on the QWERTY keyboard, making for a more pleasant typing experience, especially if you have large fingers.
The display is the same size and resolution as that of the B7320, making it slightly larger than that of the Nokia E72.
In terms of construction, the GW550 is made of materials (plastic and metal) that ooze class, while the B7320 feels more plasticky. The phone feels quite good in the hands, and build quality is excellent. Side-by-side the B7320, the LG GW550 is better looking and better built. The B7320 is not bad. Its LG cousin is just better.
While the B7320 we reviewed earlier ran Windows Mobile 6.1, the GW550 comes with WM 6.5 running out of the box. Note though that the B7320 is upgradable to v6.5.
Windows Mobile 6.5 Standard Edition
WM6.5 does not bring much changes in terms of visuals, as there is no touchscreen and no need to have the user interface optimised for touch. However, it brings other benefits, including:
- Microsoft My Phone sync and backup built-in
- Windows Mobile MarketPlace built-in
- Pocket Internet Explorer 6
The GW550 leaves one with a very good first impression. But does it deliver on the goods? We will examine that in more details in part two of this review.
This post was written by
Mister Mobility – who has written 926 posts on Mobility blog.
Founder, Mobility blog, serial lifestyle entrepreneur, speaker, & writer. Charming, passionate, tenacious & non-conformist. Will dance! Follow him on Twitter @Mister_Mobility.
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April 3rd, 2010 at 9:28 pm Browsing with
Wait a minute, is it just me? This phone looks so much like Nokia E63. Wait… (searching for my thick convex lens glasses)…. Ah yes, it does look like Nokia E63.
Have they run out of design ideas like the car industry where Korean cars are looking more and more Japanese?
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April 3rd, 2010 at 9:35 pm Browsing with
archie,
Here’s a side-by-side image:
The GW550 seems to be similar to the E63 only in the same way that the Samsung Jet is similar to the iPhone 3GS. The differences in appearance are distinct enough for me.
The GW550 looks and feels waaay better than the E63. But then, that may be just me.
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April 4th, 2010 at 5:48 am Browsing with
Testing text entry on the web with Internet Explorer Mobile 6 on the LG GW550.
Will review web browsing in one of the sequels to this first part of the review.
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April 4th, 2010 at 7:32 am Browsing with
Yom,
Nice review. Looks like d Samsung B7320 made a convert of you, and the LG is reinforcing that.
The beauty of smartphones in this category is that they offer a middle ground between regular form factor and slider QWERTYs. They also offer a good middle ground in pricing. they the best of both worlds for those who want to eat their cake and have it.
I’m not sure that they are my type of devices though.
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July 16th, 2010 at 2:25 pm Browsing with
I want to work on this company i love it
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