LG VX10000 Voyager Review

The new VX10000 Voyager is the latest phone from Verizon. It is the upgrade to the vx9900 enV. Some people are calling it Verizon's, dare I say, iPhone!

It features:

• Touchscreen
• QWERTY Keyboard
• Stereo Bluetooth
• 2mp camera
• microSD w/ support up to 8gb
• New web browser
• New messaging applications

Exterior
On the front touch screen the user can open up contacts, message menu, call logs, camera, and other applications, such as v-cast tv and music player (AAC/MP3/WMA). The screen itself is very clear. The front has send, clear, and end keys at the bottom. On the left side is a lock key, dedicated camera key and volume, which doubles as a zoom in/out for the camera. On the right side is the microSD slot and 2.5mm headset jack. The back, of course, is the 2mp camera.

After unlocking the phone, tapping anywhere on the screen brings up the main shortcut menu. Four home keys are on the bottom; messaging, calls, menu, contacts. The phone has an 'feedback' feature. When touching certain applications, like the calendar, it vibrates a little, as to say 'cool, you're touching my calendar'.

Interior
When opening up the phone, the layout is very similar to the vx9900. The QWERTY keyboard is about the same size. The 5 way navigation button on the right, end and send keys, stereo speakers are very similar. The menus for the vx10000 have been updated slightly. Instead of tabs they have been replaced with icons. The software itself is a little more 'flashier' and friendlier, but remain basically the same.


Camera
The camera has good amount of features in itself. When hitting the camera it prompts you to turn the phone sideways and use it like a camera. There are a number of different adjustability features that allow you do adjust the picture. As stated above, the volume buttons are now used as your zoom in and out. The camera is sharp, but 2mp is no upgrade from the vx9900. Verizon should've made it a 3mp or higher.

Usability
Navigation on the phone is what you would expect from Verizon. Simple, easy to get around, and user friendly. Touching the phone button brings up the traditional keyboard to dial a number.

The vx10000 has a slightly new feature of 'scrolling' right and left. Depending on the program you're in, you use the left and right scroll buttons to go to the next or previous screen. 'CLR', naturally, is your universal back button. The touch screen takes a little getting used to if you've never used one before. The menus themselves scroll and move around, which seems to be a new thing for any Verizon phone.

Messaging on the phone is much like the vx9900 as well, if you use the keyboard. Messaging on the exterior touch screen is a little different. The regular dial 'buttons' appear and pressing them multiple times gets you the letters you need, much like on a regular phone keyboard. (it has t9 of course)

Watching Video on the phone with vcast is nice and clear. This screen is the biggest that verizon offers (on non-pda phones) Wireless TV never looked so good

Overall, the vx10000 is a wonderful new phone and a great leap for Verizon into the next generation of multimedia smart phones. Is it an iPhone? Absolutely not, but it is as close as Verizon will come at the moment, and it has an actual keyboard.

Rumors say this phone will be released Nov 21st. No official price has been released, but we can take a guess at ~$300 w/ 2 year contract.


From the Verizon site:

The Voyager™ by LG from Verizon Wireless
The LG Voyager* is the first phone from Verizon Wireless that features a large external touch screen. Packaged in a lateral-clamshell design that hides a full QWERTY keypad, The LG Voyager is exclusive to Verizon Wireless and comes packed with a number of cool features, including a HTML browser for enhanced Internet browsing, full V CAST-capabilities - including V CAST Mobile TV, V CAST Music and the ability to play .mp3, .wma and unprotected .aac files, and V CAST Video. These capabilities, coupled with Verizon Wireless' high-speed wireless broadband network, make downloading music or surfing the Web while on-the-go quick and easy.


Edit:

A couple new tutorials:
http://cellphoneforums.net/lg/t26297...r-vx10000.html
http://cellphoneforums.net/lg/t26297...r-vx10000.html

Some detailed pics here: Cellphones: Verizon's LG VX10000 Voyager Revealed and Groped (with Gallery) - Gizmodo

If you are looking for information on Verizon having an actual iPhone, it will never happen. Check out why here:
Do you think that Verizon will get IPhone?

Is the front screen at all scratch resistant or is there a cover for it? I currently have a LGVX8500 (Chocolate) and after a while, the screen starts getting scratched and smudged from holding it against ones face. Quite annoying....kinda miss the days when the screen on the front of the phone were somewhat inset.

Sure it is scratch resistant, as for the cleaning, you can wipe it gently with soft cloth wetted by alcohol.





_________________
Bluetooth made free

I'm using the LG Voyager and left the clear scratch protector on the phone and it works fine even with the touchscreen.

I usually put a protector on all my phones I carry in my purse. I still have the Belkin protectors I bought at the 99 cent store for a Pocket PC. I just cut them down and put them on the screen and then when it get dirty or scratched, I just remove it and put another protector on it.

Thanks for the review.
I've never had a touchscreen cell phone. I think I would like it though.

I have a Voyager, and i like it a lot. however, i also own a macbook and have all my music on itunes and cannot put music on my phone because of compatibility reasons. (as far as my knowledge). SO, if anyone out here knows of a program or someway to help this please let me know

johnny

Every review of the Voyager that I have seen, whether video or text, has ended up comparing the phone to the Apple iPhone. With what I've seen, the iPhone beats out the Voyager with aesthetics, but the Voyager seems to blow the iPhone away with functionality. Is this the case? I'll take functionality over aesthetics anyday!

Also, what are the odds of LG/Verizon releasing an updated/improved Voyager prior to next June (I am up for a new phone at the end of next May. )

What is the retail price on this cell phone nowadays? Is it more expensive then Iphone.
Review is good though. Thanks

How-to on free ringtones:

http://cellphoneforums.net/lg-voyage...r-vx10000.html

How-to for videos:
http://cellphoneforums.net/lg-voyage...r-vx10000.html

Just a few questions about the Voyager:

1) How is the battery life? I will be using it as an MP3 and a phone so I would hope it could last a full day doing that.

2) If i downloaded a movie or something could I put it on the phone and watch it?

Thanks.

The only advantage that the iPhone has over the Voyager is multi-touch...and songs are cheaper if you are uisng in-house services (which most people won't).

You didn't even mention the navigation system in the phone, that is a huge feature in my book, and probably many others. Also the buttons on the keyboard are a lot bigger, and also the 2nd display is A LOT bigger than the VX9800 or 9900. Also you don't mention that you can do Multimedia Messaging on the Voyager...and you can't on the iPhone. Also becaue it uses Micro SD cards instead of internal memory, you can potentially carry a lot more songs with you. Also when 16mb and 32mb micro sd cards are released, they will support that as well. Another featrue that the iPhone doesn't have and the Voyager does is Stereo sound, which is weird since the iPhone is a music phone. And you don't even mention the internet usage...it uses Verizon's 3G netowrk, yes there is no Wifi, but who needs it when you have probably the fastest internet you can find on ANY phone. Not to mentions that the clarity of calls is 10x better on verizion than AT&T.

Yeah iPhone has more talk time, and such, but if you really wanted long talk times you take the free phone that you get with a new contract instead of a Voyager or iPhone.

I know you gave it a positive reveiw, but I really think you should have added these things in...even if you didn't think they are good features...they are worth mentioning.

can anybody help me out on this....

I used bitpim to transfer ringtones to my voyager and the directions made it very easy (thank you)

but i was wondering if it is possible to transfer games to it. my friend has an enV and she has the game chuzzle on it, but it is no longer offered in the verizon games catalog. I found the folder on her phone and saved all the files for it on my computer, but I dont know where to put them onto my phone to get it work.

if anybody could help, thatd be great

thank you.