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Review: LG Rumor

Form Basics Extras Video Wrap Up Comments 11

Screen

The Rumor has an average-sized screen. It isn't too big, but it isn't too small, either. Because it has somewhat low resolution (176 x 220 pixels), images were, well, pixelated. There were lots of noticeable edges to pictures and images on the screen. It was plenty bright indoors, but outside was an altogether different story. it just couldn't stand up to the power of the sun, and was washed out and difficult to read when in sunlight. Colors seen in the viewfinder when the phone is being used as a camera were muted and not as vibrant as they should have been.

Signal

The Rumor performed on par with other Sprint phones we've tested in Northern NJ. It generally held onto two or three out of four bars in my hometown. Signal strength dropped to a single bar or no bars in my basement. The NJ vault test (the local ShopRite) bested the Rumor. It lost signal entirely in there, and dropped two phone calls. Those were the only two calls dropped, though. The Rumor maintained phone conversations every other time we used it.

Sound

Sound quality of the Rumor was surprisingly good. Calls were clear and free of any noises, pops or hissing when using the earpiece, the speakerphone, or a Bluetooth headset. The external speaker performed well. It may not be the loudest phone we've ever tested, but when set to the highest volume level, the sound was clear and free of distortion. It was audible from several rooms away, but not in an obnoxious way. We did manage to miss a few calls when in noisy environments, though, and had to leave the room to take calls, as the Rumor wasn't quite loud enough to let you hear conversations well in places like coffee shops.

Battery

The Rumor's battery performed well. It lasted 3.5 days after its first charge, and 3.25 on its second charge. This included perhaps 15 minutes worth of phone calls per day, plus some mild messaging, browsing, downloading items from the Sprint portal, and listening to music. Bottom line: you can travel for the weekend without your charger.

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LG Rumor / Scoop / UX-260

2" display 176 x 220 pixels
950 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Hardware Text Keyboard