Released in 2006 during the second quarter, the LG U8290 quickly became a popular feature phone among consumers. With its sleek design and impressive features, it stood out amongst other devices of its kind. Let's take a closer look at this device and what made it a must-have for many.
Design and Specifications
Weighing 125g and measuring 24.5mm thickness, the U8290 was a compact and lightweight phone that easily fit into pockets or bags. It came with 20MB of internal storage, with the option to expand via a microSD slot. This provided users with enough space to store their contacts, messages, and media files.
The phone had GSM and UMTS technologies, with support for 2G bands (GSM 900/1800/1900) and 3G bands (UMTS 2100). This allowed for fast data speeds, with a speed of 384 kbps. The U8290 was also equipped with a Mini-SIM card and featured a TFT display with 65k colors. Its primary display had a resolution of 176 x 220 pixels, while the second external CSTN display had 65k colors with a resolution of 96x96 pixels. Users could also download customizable wallpapers to personalize their phone's appearance.
Camera and Sound
The U8290 came with a 1.3MP main camera with an impressive feature - a 180-degree rotating lens. This allowed users to capture photos and videos from different angles, making it convenient for group photos or selfies. The camera was also equipped with an LED flash for better quality pictures even in low light settings. Unfortunately, the phone did not have a selfie camera, but this was still not a major drawback considering its other features.
In terms of sound, the U8290 had vibration and downloadable polyphonic ringtones as alert types. While it did not have a loudspeaker or 3.5mm jack, these features were still not commonly found in phones of its time.
Features and Battery
Some of the notable features of the U8290 include SMS, EMS, MMS, and email messaging capabilities. It also had a WAP 2.0/xHTML browser, allowing users to access the internet on their phone. The phone came with pre-installed games and the option to download more. It also had Java, MIDP 2.0, and an MP3/AAC/MP4 player for entertainment purposes. For organization, the U8290 had predictive text input and an organizer.
The U8290 was powered by a removable Li-Po 1400 mAh battery, providing users with up to 300 hours of standby time and up to 3 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. This was considered impressive during its time, making the device ideal for everyday use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the LG U8290 was a well-rounded feature phone that offered users convenience, functionality, and entertainment. Its compact design, impressive camera, and decent battery life made it a popular choice among consumers. Despite being discontinued, it remains a memorable device that marked the beginning of LG's success in the mobile phone market.
LG U8290 Full Specifications
Network
Technology
GSM / UMTS
2G bands
GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands
UMTS 2100
Speed
Yes, 384 kbps
Launch
Announced
2006, Q2
Status
Discontinued
Body
Dimensions
89.5 x 47.5 x 24.5 mm (3.52 x 1.87 x 0.96 in)
Weight
125 g (4.41 oz)
SIM
Mini-SIM
Display
Type
TFT, 65K colors
Size
Resolution
176 x 220 pixels
Other
Second external CSTN, 65K colors display (96x96 pixels)
Downloadable wallpapers
Memory
Card slot
microSD (dedicated slot)
Phonebook
500 entries, Photocall
Call records
10 dialed, 10 received, 10 missed calls
Internal
20MB
Main Camera
Single
1.3 MP
Features
180 deg rotating lens, LED flash
Video
Yes
Selfie camera
Other
No
Sound
Loudspeaker
No
Alert types
Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic ringtones
3.5mm jack
No
Comms
WLAN
No
Bluetooth
1.1
Positioning
No
Radio
No
USB
Proprietary
Features
Sensors
Messaging
SMS, EMS, MMS, Email
Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML
Games
Yes + downloadable
Java
Yes, MIDP 2.0
Other
MP3/AAC/MP4 player
Predictive text input
Organizer