LG Mach LS860
LG MACH LS860 REVIEW
A
quick look on the LG’s new Android Smartphone of a model LG Mach LS860 has been
leaked recently. Though it is not yet announced officially but the sketch of
the upcoming new device has been mentioned and there may be a slight change
latter before release. Well, the features of the device as per the information
are Android OS, v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), Dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait processor,
4.0 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display, 8 GB memory, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB
microSD, 5 MP camera and QWERTY key board which is of sure. A keyboard slider
isn’t going to win thin and light contests in the smartphone world, but the LG
Mach is pretty svelte for a phone of this type. It measures 0.48 inches thick
with a 4.6 x 2.6 inch footprint but weighs more than you’d think just by
looking (5.9 ounces). This phone also won’t win any beauty contests. The design
is utilitarian and, while not ugly, it’s not attractive either. The faux
brushed-metal back and chrome band around the edge keep it from looking like
it’s made from plastic (it is). The back edge is beveled enough to make it
comfortable in the hand both when the keyboard is out and when it’s not. Sliding
the keyboard out is easy and the hinge feels sturdy enough to handle thousands
of uses. In addition to the power button on top and the volume toggle on the
left side, there’s also a shutter button for the camera. The Micro USB port is
on the left and the microSD slot can be found under the battery cover. A small
speaker sits on the back in a corner and delivers tinny sound that’s muffled if
you set the Mach on a table. Though this is an Ice Cream Sandwich phone, the
Mach has capacitive Back, Home, and Menu buttons below the screen instead of
utilizing the operating system’s on-screen buttons. To access the Recent Apps drawer,
tap and hold the Home button. The 4-inch screen means that the Mach sports a
well-sized keyboard, though the keys don’t quite fill the available space.
Overall, the layout is good with only a few missteps. We’re glad to see a
dedicated number row along the top and arrow keys, and we also like that the
comma gets its own key. We also couldn’t type as fast as we’re used to thanks
to the stiffness of the keys. It took more work to press them, slowing us down.
Things improved the more we got used to the keys, but speed typers may not like
the overall experience. The LG Mach ships with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream
Sandwich). The company is mum on whether or when it will get an upgrade to 4.1
(Jelly Bean). The new custom user interface LG layers on top of Android (this
has the same one as the Optimus G) isn’t as extensive as Samsung’s TouchWiz UI
or HTC’s Sense, but it is clean and has some nice eye candy on the unlock
screen and in the homescreen animations. Beyond that, there’s not much flair or
differentiation from competitors. There are a few nice touches. We always
appreciate a Lock screen that allows users to swipe to open an app right away,
choose the apps listed, and customize the look. Users can also customize the
Home screen swipe animations. In the Notifications drawer you have access to
Quick Settings at the top, and it’s possible to edit which settings to put in
the four slots. Still, some of LG’s additions and features felt too much like
those found on competing phones. For instance, QuickMemo turns your screen into
a notepad, allowing users to quickly write a note convenient for writing down
numbers on the fly. Despite the lack of pen, we like this feature. LG also
included a few motion gestures, such as the ability to snooze an alarm, mute
incoming calls, or pause video by turning the phone screen down. We don’t
object to these additions they can prove useful it’s just that Samsung does
them better. Though the Mach has a physical keyboard, we appreciate that the
on-screen keyboard isn’t difficult to use when needed. It’s big enough to use
on the 4-inch screen and accurate, with decent word suggestions. The text
prediction engine is also active when using the physical keyboard a nice touch.
The LG Mach is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor with
8GB of internal storage. It’s capable of running on Sprint’s 4G LTE network.
When not present, it falls back to 3G. In our hands-on tests, the Mach
performed well, opening apps quickly and responding to swipes without delay. We
also saw high frame rates on games and video. On the Quadrant Benchmark test it
averaged a score of 5,300, which is just above the Motorola Photon Q (around
5,000). The one slow aspect of the phone is Sprint’s 3G connection. We tested
the speed in New York City, Boston, and outlying suburbs. The fastest download
speed we recorded was 0.59Mbps and the fastest upload speed got to 0.63Mbps.
The Mach should be much faster on LTE, but we didn’t hit any areas with that
service active during testing. (Sprint is still rolling out its LTE network.) Pictures
produced by the 5-megapixel rear-facing camera aren’t very impressive. Shots
captured outside or in decent light are color rich, though lack crispness.
Indoor shots contain noticeable noise. After adjusting white balance, pictures
still come out with more of a yellow tinge than they should. The camera app
offers quite a few settings and options for adjusting the shot, including
exposure control, white balance, and HDR. These help a little, just not enough.
We do like the Smile Shot feature that takes a picture when you say “smile.” The
0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera on the front is the bare minimum required for a
decent video chat, but don’t expect much in low light. We experienced only
so-so call quality during testing. Voices coming through the earpiece lacked
clarity and the speaker produced tinny voices. On the other end, callers
reported that our voices came through clearly, even in noisy environments. The
1,700mAh battery offers good but not stunning longevity. We were frequently
able to get through an entire day with medium to heavy usage and around 7.5
hours with heavy usage. Unlike the Photon Q, the Mach only sips power when
idling, which means your battery shouldn’t die on you when you’re not using the
phone. It's a bit of a niche device, although a very handsome and nicely
thought out one. We'd love to see a larger, more powerful touch screen and
slide-out keyboard combo, something with a screen and hardware like the LG
Optimus G. However, such a device will likely never come along if the market
fails to embrace the LG Mach. We look down to putting it through its paces with
a full specification.
SPECIFICATION & FEATURES
LG MACH LS860 PRICE
Price in USA $308
Price in UK £180
Price in EURO €230
Price in PAK Rs.34,500
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